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Man discovers what actual meaning of WD-40 is after loads of weird guesses

Home> News

Updated 14:53 12 Apr 2023 GMT+1Published 14:49 12 Apr 2023 GMT+1

Man discovers what actual meaning of WD-40 is after loads of weird guesses

WD-40 has over 2,000 uses but many aren't sure of what it actually stands for

Ben Thompson

Ben Thompson

No tool box is complete without a can of WD-40, is it?

Whether it's preventing rust or displacing moisture, the product is a staple in any handyman's arsenal.

Many people realised they didn't know what WD-40 actually stood for.
Shuttershock

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In fact, over 2,000 uses have been found for it since it was created in 1953 to prevent rusting on the outside of the US Atlas Missile.

Chemist Norm Larsen created it in his Californian lab and decided it would sell well with the general public.

After going on sale in the US in 1958, its reach expanded and now the product is available in 187 countries around the world.

But have you ever wondered what the actual meaning of WD-40 is?

I admittedly haven't, but I've also not done a bit of DIY in years, so what do I know?

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Journalist David Muir posed to the question to his thousands of Twitter followers and asked: "What does WD-40 stand for?"

Although there were some who knew the answer right off the bat, many had to turn to Google to figure out the acronym.

Many had already come up with their own answers in their head and, it's safe to say, some of them were way off.

One tweeted: "Whistling doohicky 40," while another remarked: "Something degreaser."

A fellow follower joked: "World Domination 40 is what it should be named!"

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Another person was along the right lines with their suggestion: "WD-40 means wrong decision 40 times to make the correct formula."

One baffled Twitter user simply wrote: "I was today years old when I learned this."

WD-40 is used in 187 countries around the world and has over 2,000 uses.
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Some have even taken the name as an inspirational cue.

One person tweeted: "WD-40 got its name because it took the inventors 40 times to get its formula right. 40! Don't give up!"

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I never thought I'd be getting pep talks based around something you find on a garage shelf, but I'll take it.

And if you haven't already Googled the meaning yourself, WD-40 stands for Water Displacement 40th formula.

This is pretty obvious when you think about it, as it was the scientist's 40th attempt at making the formula.

The list of WD-40's uses seems endless as it includes untangling jewellery chains, keeping lawnmower wheels running smoothly and removing rust from saws.

It's also handy in getting chewing gum of pretty much any surface... which alone is worth buying WD-40 for.

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As one woman wrote on Twitter: "I'm convinced men feel they can fix anything with some beer, duct tape, and a little WD-40."

Why not?

Featured Image Credit: Shuttershock

Topics: Twitter, Viral

Ben Thompson
Ben Thompson

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