Why Do You Need WD40 In Your Faucets? (Explained)

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WD-40 is a multipurpose lubricant that was created in 1953 and is now used in everything from cars to airplanes. It’s also used for household items like garbage disposals, locks, and hinges. So why add it to faucets?

WD-40 is one of the best remedies that you can use in the faucet for cleaning off any rust (if it’s made of material that’s easy to rust). WD-40 can also be used for other purposes like fingers stuck on the faucet, and as a lubricant which helps out a lot in its overall performance.

How Do You Use WD-40 On A Faucet?

The WD-40 can be used in a lot of ways in the faucet. The things mentioned above will be explained further as you progress further in this article, along with other surprising uses of WD-40 for your faucet. Once you’re done reading this, you will realize that WD-40 is not just some garage emergency tool for removing rust off your vehicle or bike.

What Is WD-40 Made Of?

But before you learn the amazing things that it can do to your faucet, you need to learn what this amazing solution is made of. WD-40 is a renowned solution that has existed since 1953 and has never lost its charm thanks to the secret behind developing it: its ingredient that a lot of its users are curious about.

Before, it was never patented, making its ingredients top-secret to the company only. But due to demands set by the Hazardous Communication Regulation, the ingredients became known to experts regarding these types of material such as emergency responders.

This is why a data sheet for WD-40 was made known to some people, which then revealed the main ingredients of the product.

The WD-40 is made of a solvent called Stoddard, which has a known name in the market called Varsol. Aside from Varsol, the WD-40 is made with a propellant composed of CO2. The WD-40 is also known to contain mineral oil as a key ingredient as well.

The Stoddard solvent is also called “white spirit”, which is derived from petroleum and is a clear liquid. This is an organic solvent mixed for painting solutions. This solution is also known for its strong scent, which is known in paints and the WD-40 itself. Due to this component, along with the mixture of mineral oil, WD-40 has been a very useful agent in removing impurities from metallic materials.

The mysteries of the WD-40 mixture eventually became popular in removing rust and corrosion caused by water. But hobbyists, homeowners, and repairmen noticed that WD-40 has even more other uses.

Just like the known purpose of the WD-40, it can only be applied to metallic material and other hard materials that might corrode or get stained over time.

How To Apply WD-40 In The Faucet Then?

Now that you know the nature of WD-40, for sure you already have a hint on how useful it can get once you apply it to the faucet. But first, you should understand the right use of the WD-40 to your faucet. Gladly, WD-40 can easily be removed by water and does not cause further issues.

Well, unless if you inhale or intake WD-40, then that’s the only time you will be having a problem with your health.

All you have to do is to apply the WD-40 anywhere around the faucet. You can go ahead and apply it at the valves, at the bolt where the pipeline is, or even inside the faucet! There is no problem in applying WD-40 all over the faucet, and it will not affect the water at all.

Just make sure that you leave the WD-40 solution for it to take effect when applied over the faucet. Otherwise, the water will just wash the solution down the drain or the ground.

Why Would You Shoot WD40 Up Your Faucet?

As said earlier, the WD-40 can be applied anywhere around the faucet, even inside- it. Some repairmen and hobbyists would like to shoot the WD-40 solution up in the faucet. The main reason why some do this is that it can work as lube and a diverter to keep the quality of your water good.

Over time, hard water on most taps leaves deposits made of minerals, which can get into the areas of the plumbing where water moves the most. Spraying it inside the faucet is enough to remove the deposits.

You do need a plumber or some serious plumbing skill to use WD-40 to maintain the whole pipeline of your faucet since the pipeline is wide enough to avoid deposit buildup. But the faucet is small enough, which is why it’s more prone to buildup that can clog it.

All you have to do is curve the nozzle upwards so then it can get into the spout. The nozzle is flexible and does not easily break, which is why it can reach the diverter valve. The diverter valve is the area most prone to deposit buildup, which is why you need to spray that area. Just two sprays would do to loosen the faucet and allow water to run smoothly.

The benefit of doing this is to ensure that you are getting what you are paying for. It also avoids damage inside the faucet due to the buildup of clogged water, which can break the faucet itself.

This potentially saves you a lot of money for repairs, replacement, as well as unfair water bill charges.

Don’t worry about thinking if the solution can affect the water running down the tap. WD-40 can be cleansed with water if it’s newly applied. WD-40 easily evaporates with water, which is why it’s safe to be applied. Just be sure not to put too much inside the faucet, since it’s unnecessary.

This is why it’s best to know first what the WD-40 is made of, as it gives you a bit of an idea of the benefits that it can provide to your faucet. In this way, you can feel assured that WD-40 is very safe to use for your tap once the situation calls for it.

What Happens When You Spray WD-40 Up Your Faucet?

Spraying WD-40 has a lot of unexpected benefits that will surely make your opinion about it positively different. You might even start keeping one at home just in case there’s an emergency in your faucet where the WD-40 can get useful. Here are the following:

As A Lubricant For Removing Water Deposits

To summarize what I discussed earlier, take note that WD-40 can act as a lubricant to remove built-up deposits left by the hard water as you use the faucet over and over.

Just apply two sprays of WD-40 into the faucet, let it stay there as instructed on the label, then run the water for 30 to 45 seconds to cleanse the WD-40 off, as well as the deposits.

Got Your Finger Stuck In It? No Problem!

There could be times where some kid might have played with the faucet, and got their finger stuck in it. You might also accidentally slip your finger in it as you either repair or replace the faucet.

Thankfully, WD-40 is not that harmful to the skin if a little amount of it is applied, and it’s made of oil. Just spray WD-40 around the end of the spout, and slide your finger out of the faucet. This is a popular remedy for toes that got stuck into a bathtub faucet, too!

Anti-Rust and Corrosion

The classic benefit of WD-40 is also helpful for your faucet if it can get rusty or stained. Some of the bolts and the pipeline itself can be rust and stain-free if you apply WD-40 around it.

It can also remove stains on or around the faucet. But take note that it’s still best to go for stainless steel material to save WD-40 instead.

Conclusion

WD-40 has been a very useful agent and remedy for various metallic materials not just on your vehicle or bike, but even inside your home.

Its potential has been proven to be great for some problems with your faucet so you won’t have to needlessly replace or remove it based on the given scenarios above.