Whether it's a squeaky door or a rusted bolt, many's a time when we'll reach for the can of WD-40 to solve a household issue. But it's doubtful that many people actually know what the name stands for.
And that was certainly true when people online tried to have a guess. While they discovered the answer, many also shared some amusing guesses.
The product is a staple of many a home, tool box or garage. It has many uses - from freeing rusted parts to pushing out moisture from where it's not wanted.
Created in 1953, there are more than 2,000 uses for WD-40. It actually began life as a way to protect the outer skin of the US Atlas missile from corrosion.
It was created by chemist Norm Larsen, who worked in a small lab in California and soon came up with the idea of selling it to the general public. The product was made available across the US in 1958 and today it is available in 187 countries around the world. Although many keen DIYers will have a can of WD-40 in their cupboard, few actually know what the acronym stands for, reports the Mirror.
In a recent tweet, American journalist David Muir asked his near-800,000 followers: "What does WD-40 stand for?"
Several people gave David the answer, but many had to Google it for themselves. However, many were surprised to learn it stands for Water Displacement, 40th formula. The name is actually painfully obvious – it was the 40th attempt at making the formula.
One person shared: "It stands for 'Water Displacement,' which the inventor finally got right on his 40th try."
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However, some people had their own ideas of what they thought it stood for. One person suggested: "Whistling doohicky 40" and another said: "Something degreaser".
"World Domination 40 is what it should be named!" joked a third.
Another person was quite close with their suggestion: "WD-40 means wrong decision 40 times to make the correct formula."
