# WD-40 Multi-Use Product Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/wd-40/ 18 people recommended WD-40 Multi-Use Product in Hacker News comments, 20 had mixed feelings and 35 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 2 of 12 months, in 2 threads. It does not meet the Hacker Approved badge rule. 17 of the 18 people who recommend it commented in one thread, “People who know the formula for WD-40”. **Verdict:** Criticized more than recommended: critics say it is a poor long-term lubricant; those who recommend it see it as a cheap, widely available all-rounder for loosening, cleaning, and displacing water. Summary written by Claude from the comments below. ## What people warn about - Poor long-term lubricant (6 comments in the sample): "if you're looking to lubricate something and have it last for a reasonable time, then WD-40 is a poor choice" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46781852)) "It's not a good lubricant, as many people have noted, as it evaporates and concentrates contaminants." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46773007)) "It does lubricate moderately for a small period of time." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46778808)) - Evaporates and leaves residue (4 comments in the sample): "it not only has poor ability to stick around under load, but also likes to oxidize, forming a varnish or horrible goo" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46772391)) "all that is left are sharp little crystals, and these are the source of future squeaking" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46778122)) "it doesn't leave much lubricant behind, which you need for a properly functioning chain" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46776083)) - Often misused as lubricant (2 comments in the sample): "It was also not really intended as a lubricant but as something to get water off equipment and mechanical components." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46779304)) "If you use regular WD-40 in a garage it is a degreaser essentially, and your squeaking goes away momentarily, and then comes back." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46774411)) ## Why people recommend it - Cleans grease, gunk, and rust (7 comments in the sample): "there is value to having a product that stops squeaks, cleans rust and de-goo's gunk" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46774605)) "WD-40 is great for cleaning, particularly threads, but also metal surfaces." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46775034)) "You're supposed to use it to flush out the gunk and grime by dissolving it" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46779443)) - Trusted brand that works reliably (4 comments in the sample): "a brand name that can be trusted to work well more often than most alternatives" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46772372)) "all of them better for a specific application, but none of them as universal as the original" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46779830)) "Being a recognized household name makes it infinity less likely you'll have someone complaining if you use it in a "nice" setting." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46772276)) - Good for machining aluminum (2 comments in the sample): "I use it for two things: as a lubricant for machining aluminum and as a way to remove built up, old ass grease." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46774451)) "It's also a pretty good cutting fluid for aluminum." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46774540)) - Removes seized parts and old grease (2 comments in the sample): "WD-40 helped me in the past opening an old door lock" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46775764)) "can usually be fixed with some WD-40" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48962131)) ## Where to get it - [Visit the official site](https://www.wd40.com/) ## The badge A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged. ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "WD-40 Multi-Use Product", https://hackerapproved.com/p/wd-40/ (18 recommend, 20 mixed, 35 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026). Counts updated 2 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.