Winter brings beautiful scenery, but also plenty of small annoyances: frozen locks, car doors stuck to their seals, snow clinging to the shovel, creaking gates and electrical glitches on a frosty morning.
In Ukraine, where thaws alternate with hard frosts and the roads are full of moisture and de-icing chemicals, most of these problems can be prevented in advance. Here are six simple ways to do it with WD-40 products.
What you will need
Important: Do not apply lubricants to the windscreen, wiper blades, brakes or tyres. Never thaw a frozen lock with boiling water or a naked flame: the water refreezes and fire is dangerous.
Step 1
Stop locks from freezing
Thanks to its water-displacing properties, WD-40 Multi-Use is ideal for protecting locks in winter. Use the thin straw to spray it into car door locks, front and garage door cylinders, and padlocks on gates and sheds.
It works deep into the mechanism, drives out moisture and leaves a thin protective film, so water cannot get in and turn to ice. Treat locks before the first frosts and again after a thaw.
Step 2
Protect car door seals
After wet snow or a car wash, doors can freeze shut so hard that opening them risks tearing the rubber. Wipe the door, boot and sunroof seals with a cloth dampened with WD-40 Specialist Silicone.
Silicone repels water and stops rubber freezing to the body or drying out in the cold. Repeat every few weeks throughout the winter.
Step 3
Treat your snow shovel
Wet snow sticks to the shovel, making every throw heavier. Apply a thin coat of WD-40 Specialist Silicone to the blade and leave it for a few minutes: the snow will slide off and clearing goes faster. The auger and chute of a snow blower can be treated the same way.
Step 4
Look after electrical contacts
In frost, damp and oxidised contacts cause trouble: hard starting, flickering lights, failed sensors. Switch off the ignition, unplug the connector and clean the contacts with WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner. It evaporates quickly and leaves no film, so the connector can go back on almost straight away.
Step 5
Lubricate gates and garden doors
Outdoor gate hinges, bolts and latches suffer from snow and moisture. A thin layer of WD-40 Specialist White Lithium Grease resists rain and wet snow, stops squeaks and keeps them opening easily even in frost.
Step 6
Prepare tools for winter storage
Wipe garden tools, the lawnmower, the bike and any metal parts that spend winter in a cold garage with a cloth dampened with WD-40 Multi-Use. The thin film protects metal from condensation and rust, so everything is ready to go in spring.
Tip: If a lock has already frozen, spray into the cylinder, wait a minute and turn the key gently without forcing it. Snapping a key in a frozen lock costs far more than a minute's patience.
What next
Ideally, carry out all these jobs in autumn before the first frosts, and re-treat locks and seals after every significant thaw. That way winter passes without broken keys or torn seals.
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».