Why is WD-40 Suddenly Flying Off the Shelves in Arizona?

My dad could fix anything. Give him a roll of duct tape, a flat-head screwdriver, and a can of WD-40, and he could conquer the world. Or at least McGyver just about anything until he could fix it properly.

WD-40 can fix just about anything. // Canva

WD-40 Works for Everything that Squeaks and Siezes

When I was about eleven years old, I remember walking into the kitchen. My dad was standing in front of the door leading to the garage and giving it serious study.

He opened the door. He closed the door.

He opened the door, then moved it back and forth a few times.

"Ah-ha!", Dad exclaimed, then disappeared. I was perplexed, until moments later, Dad reappeared, this time with his trusty can of WD-40.

Psffffftt. Psffffft.

Two spritzes each, first on the top hinge. Two spritzes on the bottom hinges, and the door was squeak-free.

"Ya, see, fixed her right up?!" Dad could fix just about anything with WD-40!

That WD-40 constantly saved us from squeaks and seizing parts. But there's one use for WD-40 I'll bet my dad never knew.

The History of WD-40

Let's go back for a little history to understand why any of this works. According to the WD-40 website,

In 1953, a fledgling company called Rocket Chemical Company...set out to create a line of rust-prevention solvents and degreasers for use in the aerospace industry.
Working in a small lab in San Diego, California, it took them 40 attempts to get the water displacing formula worked out.

What do Jack-O-Lanterns and WD-40 have in common? // Canva

The 40th attempt was a charm, because the original (and secret) formula is still in use to this day. And by the way, WD stands for Water Displacement. The 40th try was a charm because the name WD-40 is about the only thing that is still stuck to this product.

Water Displacement and Treating Your Jack-O-Lantern

That's why WD-40 is suddenly disappearing from the shelves in Arizona's hardware stores.

Wonder How-To Food Hacks shares this advice on preserving your pumpkins, even if they've been carved into Jack-O-Lanterns. The trick is to leverage the water displacement aspect of WD-40.

Spray your pumpkin to protect it.

One of the main secret ingredients in the formula is mineral oil, which repels water. Spraying your pumpkins down with WD-40 will help keep out excess moisture and keep your seasonal gourds fresh-looking, possibly through the fall holidays.

How to Protect Your Pumpkins and Make Them Last Longer

Follow these simple directions:

Grab a can of WD-40
Completely spray the outside of your uncarved pumpkin. This will keep it looking shiny and new looking.
For carved jack-o-lanterns, spray both the inside and outside. Ensure the entire area is saturated to lock out the moisture.

Don't forget that mineral oil is flammable, so you may want to be cautious about putting a lit candle inside.

WD-40 Bonus: Wildlife Hates It!

Wildlife like javelina and coyotes love a tasty pumpkin, and the sweet scent of jack-o-lanterns sitting on your porch is too much for them to resist.

Wildlife hates the smell! // Canva

However, they'll move along if your gourds have been treated with WD-40. Not only do they DISLIKE the smell, but your pumpkins will no longer be giving off the enticing fragrance of a quick meal.

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