Winter leaves plenty of work behind: the heating season spreads dust into every corner, the bathroom collects stains, drawer runners squeak, and roller shutters and garden tools are not ready for the season. Spring is the time to sort it all out over a couple of weekends.
Below is a zone-by-zone plan: bathroom, wardrobes, kitchen, outdoor roller shutters and garden. Ordinary detergent does most of the work, and where you need to dissolve stubborn dirt, displace moisture or lubricate moving parts, WD-40 helps.
What you will need
Important: Do not spray the lubricant on floors, the bottom of the bath or the shower tray: the surface will become slippery. Treat electrical connections only with the power switched off. Test the product on a hidden area before treating a new surface.
Step 1
Bathroom: grout, tiles and shower enclosure
Apply WD-40 Multi-Use Product to darkened grout lines and stubborn stains, leave it for a few minutes, then work over with a brush or sponge and rinse the loosened dirt away with warm soapy water.
Wipe the glass panels of the shower enclosure with a cloth lightly moistened with the product: water marks come off more easily and the thin film helps water run off afterwards. Then rinse the enclosure and always wash the floor and shower tray until they are no longer slippery.
Step 2
Wardrobes and chests of drawers: hinges and runners
While swapping winter clothes for spring ones, empty the drawers and check the mechanisms. After the heating season, runners collect dust and begin to stick.
Flip up the straw of WD-40 Smart Straw and give a short spray to the runners on both sides of the drawer or sliding door, then open and close it several times to spread the product. Treat cabinet door hinges the same way and wipe off any excess so it does not mark clothes.
Step 3
Kitchen: hob, oven, cooker hood and sockets
Apply WD-40 Multi-Use Product to greasy marks on the outer surfaces of the cooker, the oven door and the hood casing, wait a few minutes and wipe the loosened film away with a clean microfibre cloth. Afterwards always wash the surfaces with soapy water, especially wherever food may come into contact.
Switch off the power and treat the contacts of extension leads, plugs and other connectors with WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner. It evaporates quickly, leaves no residue and removes dust and oxidation, not only in the kitchen but throughout the home.
Step 4
Outdoor roller shutters
Over winter, roller shutters collect dirt, airborne salt and moisture, so spring is the best time to look after them. Spray WD-40 Multi-Use Product onto a cloth and wipe down the slats.
Then apply generously to the moving parts: guide rails, slat ends and friction points. The product loosens dirt, displaces moisture and lubricates the mechanism. Lower and raise the shutter several times and wipe off the excess.
Step 5
Garden: tools ready for the season
If your tools were not prepared for storage in autumn, deal with them now. Treat secateurs, shears, pivots and springs with WD-40 Multi-Use Product: it helps lift light rust and lubricates the mechanisms. Work the handles a few times and wipe off the residue.
Before digging, apply a thin coat to the spade blade: soil sticks less, and even ground compacted over winter gives way more easily.
Tip: Clean from top to bottom and from clean areas to dirty ones: dust shelves and wardrobes first, then the kitchen and bathroom, and the floors last. That way you never clean the same thing twice.
What next
Repeat the care of runners, hinges and roller shutters twice a year, in spring and in autumn before the cold sets in. Keep WD-40 Multi-Use Product handy both at home and in the garage.
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».