The Mystery Behind the Blue-and-Yellow Can: The Story of WD-40

Most of us have a blue-and-yellow can of WD-40 tucked away in a garage or under the kitchen sink, ready to silence a squeaky hinge or free a rusted bolt.

It is one of those household staples so familiar that we rarely stop to question what the letters and numbers actually mean. For decades, the name was just a brand, but the true story behind it is far more interesting than a simple marketing choice. It turns out that WD-40 wasn’t designed for homeowners at all; it was a high-stakes solution born from Cold War engineering and the grueling reality of scientific trial and error.

The name “WD-40” is actually a literal, technical summary of the invention process rather than a catchy brand name. After a relentless series of experiments, the team failed to meet the necessary standards thirty-nine times. Each attempt fell short of providing the perfect protective layer until they finally hit the mark on their fortieth try.