A bathroom loses its looks faster than any other room: steam, water and toiletries dull the chrome, marks appear on the enamel and the valves on the risers seize up. The longer it is neglected, the harder it is to put right.
An ordinary can of WD-40 helps with several jobs here at once: it lifts water marks and sticker residue, displaces moisture from metal, protects against rust and frees up stiff valves. Below are six practical techniques.
What you will need
Important: Do not leave a film of WD-40 on the bottom of the bath, the shower tray or the floor: it will be slippery. After treating enamel, always wash it with detergent and rinse. Test on a hidden area of acrylic and plastic first.
Step 1
Protect the shower head from tarnish
Constant contact with water, shampoo and soap leaves a chrome shower head dull and spotted. Spray WD-40 Multi-Use onto the head and handle, wait a few seconds and buff with a dry cloth.
Treating it every few weeks keeps the shine and stops deposits from building up.
Step 2
Remove labels from cabinets and drawers
Shop labels on new jars and old labels on drawers and cabinets peel off easily if you treat them first. Shake the can, spray WD-40 Multi-Use over the label, wait a few seconds and lift it from one corner.
Wipe off any adhesive with the same cloth, then clean the surface with a damp cloth and detergent.
Step 3
Remove marks from the bath
Grey marks on the sides of the bath eventually stop responding to ordinary cleaners. Spray WD-40 Multi-Use onto the mark, wait a few seconds and wipe with a damp cloth, repeating if needed.
Then always wash the bath with detergent and rinse with cold water so that no film is left.
Step 4
Freshen up the taps
Hard water droplets leave white spots on taps. Treat the mixer with WD-40 Multi-Use and buff with microfibre: the spots disappear and a thin layer protects the metal from corrosion.
If a handle is stiff, spray around its base and turn it from side to side a few times.
Step 5
Free a stiff stop valve
A ball valve on the riser that has sat unused for years often will not turn just when you need to shut off the water urgently. Use the straw of WD-40 Smart Straw to spray the spindle under the handle and the nuts, then wait a few minutes.
Turn the handle smoothly, without jerking, a few times in each direction. The spray lubricates the mechanism and lifts surface rust and dirt.
Step 6
Tackle limescale in awkward places
A limescale line under the toilet rim and along the waterline in the bath appears in any home with hard water. Spray WD-40 Multi-Use onto the deposit, let it work briefly and scrub with a brush, then flush or rinse and wipe with a damp cloth and detergent.
Limescale on taps comes off the same way, after which the metal should be buffed dry.
Tip: Keep
WD-40 200 ml in the cabinet under the basin together with a microfibre cloth. Five minutes a week on the chrome and taps means you never have to scrub off heavy deposits.
What next
After a deep clean, keep up the shine weekly and turn the riser valve every six months. For more household techniques, see our other home guides.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».