What WD-40 Really Stands For
Most people keep a can of WD-40 within arm’s reach and rarely think twice about it. It sits on garage shelves, under kitchen sinks, and in toolboxes—always ready to silence a squeak or loosen something stubborn. The blue-and-yellow can is so familiar that its label almost fades into the background. Yet despite how widely it’s used, the meaning behind the name WD-40 remains a mystery to many.
The question usually arises during a small, everyday battle. A rusted bolt refuses to turn. A garden hose nozzle won’t budge. You spray, wait a moment, and suddenly the problem disappears. And then it hits you: What does WD-40 actually stand for?
Once you ask, the answer leads to a surprisingly fascinating origin story—one rooted not in garages or workshops, but in Cold War science.
Born from a Military Problem
WD-40 didn’t start as a household staple. Its story begins in 1953, during a time when engineering and national defense were closely intertwined. A small team at the Rocket Chemical Company was tasked with solving a very specific and high-stakes problem: preventing corrosion on missile components.
