We’ve been down this put to other/new uses road before, but it’s a good road and worth another stroll: Here’s a site called Wacky Uses, by former advertising copywriter Joey Green, who’s written a series of books on how to use everyday, name-brand products for other uses.

He’s gathered lots of them, and message boards at the site allow users to post even more. Did you know that Worcestershire sauce removes tarnish from copper; Jif peanut butter doubles as axle grease; Miracle Whip conditions dry hair; Efferdent cleans diamonds; and Spam works as furniture polish?

Green’s site also includes histories of some favorite products. Here’s some backstory on one beloved product, WD-40:

Norman Larsen, president and head chemist at the Rocket Chemical Company, developed a water displacement formula on his fortieth try, naming it WD-40. The aerospace industry needed a product to eliminate moisture from electrical circuitry and to prevent corrosion on airplanes and Atlas Missile nose cones. The newly developed WD-40 worked so well, engineers working at the Rocket Chemical Company began sneaking it out of the plant for home use on squeaky doors and stuck locks. WD-40 became available to the public in 1958. In 1964, John Glenn circled the earth in Friendship VII, which was covered with WD-40 from top to bottom.

Thanks to Tara Calishain for the link.