WD-40 Is The Secret To Getting Rid Of Tomato Stains All Summer Long

Stain removal products are popular, with the market being worth almost $20 billion, according to Grand View Research. However, a little WD-40 applied to the stain can do just as good of a job. If you're a fan of everything DIY, then you likely already own a can of it yourself. This nifty little product has a whole range of tricks up its sleeve — from fixing creaky doors to eliminating grime – in fact, WD-40 is even capable of cleaning up tree sap. It can really do it all! However, it is also an excellent tool against stains — in particular, tomato stains. 

Tomato stains are notoriously difficult to remove and can bewilder even the best of us. According to BBC Science Focus, a substance known as lycopene is responsible. However, all you have to do is grab some WD-40, spray it on the stain in question, and the rest is history. Of course, you may even wonder why you haven't tried this trick before. Below, we'll look at the steps you need to take to make this multipurpose ingredient work for you.

First, you'll need to arm yourself with a can of WD-40 before applying an ample amount of product onto the stain in question and then placing it in your washing machine. Now you just have to sit back and wait for the product to work its magic on those pesky tomato marks. When you retrieve it from the wash, there should no longer be any stains. 

However, it should be noted that if you let the product sit on the stain beforehand, it will allow it to start breaking down those tomato marks. Anywhere from several to 15 minutes will suffice — try to use your best judgment. This will likely also depend upon the severity of the stain. Although you don't have to be strict with timing, you should be able to get a sense of what works and what doesn't. This hack should work on any color of clothing, including white. In addition to tomato stains, you could also try this on any other stains as the lubricating formula also helps to break down oils and fats. 

So, how exactly does WD-40 work to break down those annoying tomato stains? As it turns out, it all boils down to the ingredients inside the product. What makes this product so great is its ability to break down substances due to its solvent nature, using ingredients such as naphtha and petroleum base oils, to name a few. As a result, it can easily penetrate tomato stains, thus making them easier to come off when you wash them. This makes it a great option for removing stains in general, especially if you have already tried using other methods that usually work for you. 

Aside from removing tomato stains, there are also plenty of ways you can use WD-40 in your home, which can be equally as helpful. Of course, you should always take care while using aerosol products, ensuring that the space you're using has plenty of airflow. All these capabilities arguably make WD-40 a versatile product to have in your home, and it is readily available in most hardware stores.