Finally! Thank you!!!!

Won't that leave things all greasy?

So interesting! I never even noticed this before. Now I have something new to look for.

Ready for my peeve? I can't take faucets that have the sprayer integrated into the faucet and the sprayer bit hangs down from the faucet a little bit.

I was just reading about this yesterday too -- we have stainless steel appliances and children.

Apparently, some people also swear by baby oil.

And our appliance store gave us a can of Stainless Steel Magic (which has just run out, hence yesterday's quest, as I couldn't find a place to buy it), which really, really does work.
(not sure how well it would do in sinks though).

WD-40 is actually a degreaser. It's "lubricating" power is more about cleaning dirt and corrosion and not actually oil. This makes sense to me - looking forward to trying it out!

The MSDS information for this product states among other things, that it is flammable, if swallowed can enter lungs and cause severe lung damage as well as death, and should be disposed of as hazardous material. That's enough for me to say no. Get rid of your stainless if it bothers you so much. WD40 is bad for you and the environment. Read it yourself, the link is below.

http://www.wd40.com/files/pdf/msds-wd494716385.pdf

Is this safe to use in a sink that also comes in contact with food? I frequently wash heads of lettuce or a bunch of kale in my sink, it doesn't seem like the most food safe product.

also try Bar Keeper's Friend for all your stainless steel and copper - it'll make a sticky tea kettle shiiiiiiiine. I'm glad to see something that will mean I don't have to scrub as often though, the BKF only gets stuff gone, doesn't keep it off.

@patmac (and others) Agreed, WD-40 is not something I would use in my home as a cleaning product. It's not really something that you should rub onto the appliances you touch every day...especially those that you touch just before handling food. Please don't advocate adding more harmful chemicals to our homes. Keep the WD-40 were it belongs, in the garage/basement/shed.

Yeah, WD40 is surely petroleum-based. I don't really want that coming into contact, even indirectly, with things I eat.

And no, I don't use Vaseline or petroleum-based chapsticks, either.

Sarah: explain to me how cleaning your countertops or any surface you touch often with WD40 is a good idea? Especially if you have children?

Here's the MSDS if anyone here cares that it's not really good for mouths or eyes. I realize this post is not advocating spraying it in someone's face but really, it is not meant for this.

WD40 is primarily a water repellent, if that's what you're after for the SS in your kitchen find yourself a good food-grade oil instead.

patmac is correct.. it's not safe to be using WD-40 anywhere it will come into contact with food or dishes, as it's toxic, or anywhere you spend a lot of time, because it's not something you want to be breathing in.

WD-40 is a fantastic product, but keep it's use limited to the garage, where it belongs.

@patmac, @GreenGeek - Consumers using small quantities of WD-40 in the recommended manner should have no adverse effects. The MSDS has a section for "Normal Consumer Use," and the recommended protection methods are simple common sense: use in well-ventilated area, avoid eye contact, spray away from your face, avoid prolonged skin contact.

There is more potential for adverse effects from inhalation of gasoline vapors while fueling your car! (No, I do not work for the WD-40 company.)

@batya7: your logic is like saying it's ok to put a tiny bit of bleach in your humidifier to kill the mold because you breath more mold in your basement anyway. That is, there is no relation, and it's faulty logic.

The normal consumer use section is for how to use it safely for assumed applications (sqeaky hinge for example), not what applications are appropriate. Apple does not equal orange.

Try baby oil folks.

Really.

@urbantree123: I love BKF. We revitalized a stove that was nearly replaced, improved a cast iron clawfoot tub, and this stuff works wonders in our porcelain sink!

On WD40, I just can't trust myself to clean the sink well enough to ensure prevention of any adverse effects (and I don't have a stainless sink)... especially if I don't know if those effects would be cumulative. But for the outside of my stove or microwave, I'm in. Otherwise, white vinegar has always worked great for me.

I've found Pledge works well on stainless stell appliances and the sink. It doesn't leave a oily film plus water doesn't leave spots.

Gross. Just use baking soda.

Dang - i just used it in my sink. OK, I'll go get some BKF....

I'll be honest here, I didn't read the article. I just wanted to skim the comments...

Is that Joe Rogan in the image? Haha.

Eww. Not in my kitchen! I'm a convert of microfiber cloths--the smooth ones are amazing for polishing stainless or glass. You don't even need any chemicals.

My little brother started using regular ol' lemon Pledge. He swore by it; I tried it and it works wonders. Not that it's the most non-toxic thing ever, but I think it's better than wd40. Try it.

So you use it in the sink and then clean the sink out and the Wd40 goes down the drain and you just forget about it? Folks, that water goes to a wastewater treatment plant or worse yet a septic system. In most cases, the treated effluent then goes to some river and eventually becomes drinking water for downstream users. Please stick to the Green Cleaners please!

And a big THANKS to Jennifer, for thinking beyond herself and the immediate, see-able situation. When will we stop looking for solutions to "appearance" problems that don't factor in what happens after everything looks good? Good design and good home hacks are more than just addressing looks.

You should take this post down before someone actually tries this!

I second sonyala's request to take this post down. This strikes me as a seriously dumb idea.

I work for a supermarket and most of our prep areas and sinks are stainless. After cleaning and sanitizing we usually apply a safe mineral oil to get a nice shiny look to everything.

At home, I usually use plain jane mineral oil. The same stuff I use to oil my cutting boards with. It is safe and non-toxic. Especially compared to WD-40.

I have had really good luck using olive oil on my stainless appliances. Rub a small amount with the grain of the stainless steel and then buff with a microfiber cloth. Keeps fingerprints at bay for a couple of weeks.

Give me a break, people! I've been using petroleum jelly products for years on my face, lips, feet, etc., and I'm still alive and kicking at 40! This disparaging of products people have used for decades all over the world seriously gets to me.

Oh, and true that on the microfiber cloths. Get a pack of 30 at Costco for under $15!

Oh, and true that on the microfiber cloths. Get a pack of 30 at Costco for under $15!

Used Wd40 to remove some glue off my new stainless steel fridge..it has left a mark... Any suggestions on how to get rid if WD 40 mark?

Stainless Steel Cleaner Ltd have a fantastic product called Ultimate 40 it's an aerosol can and it will clean and polish stainless steel and help protect against fingerprints, smears etc. It is brilliant for all 'normal' cleaning of stainless steel. If it's a stain that's been there for a long time, has gone rusty or is completely black eg burnt on stains, their product called Quickleen will do the job. Both products are available from stainlesssteelcleaner.co.uk.