Why the Number 40 Matters
The team didn’t get it right immediately.
They tried 39 different formulas, and none worked the way they wanted. On the 40th attempt, they finally achieved the perfect balance—one that displaced water effectively and left behind a protective film.
Instead of renaming it or making it sound flashier, they stuck with the honest name:
Water Displacement, 40th Formula.
And history was made.
How It Became a Household Legend
Workers reportedly took cans home for personal use, discovering it could:
Stop squeaks
Loosen rusted parts
Clean grime
Protect tools
Displace moisture in electronics
Word spread quickly, and WD-40 transitioned from an industrial solution to a household staple found in garages, kitchens, and workshops around the world.
Today, the WD-40 Company lists hundreds of uses, many discovered by everyday people—not engineers.
