When we see a product on a shelf at a hardware store or supermarket, we usually choose it based on the “advertised memory” we have of it. We rarely consider the other uses for the product.

Take a can of penetrating oil like WD-40 or Buster (the brand we distribute), for instance. Not too often people think about using it to inflate a flat tire when they are miles away from a service station or without an inflator.

Or those annoying orange “warning” stickers for parking violations that stick to our car windows? The glue residue is a real pain to remove. But did you know penetrating oil can help with that too?

Exploring the composition of chemicals in these products can enhance our understanding of their functionality. On the website Engineering for Change, Rob Goodier, the site’s editor and writer, authored an article titled “How to Make Penetrating Oil.” According to this article, engineering students at Drexel University in Philadelphia discovered that “vegetable oil with 10% acetone performs as well as WD-40 in freeing seized bolts.”

The students used automatic transmission fluid (ATF), WD-40, acetone, and vegetable oil for their experiments. Their findings were as follows: “The finished product was decided to be the 87.5% vegetable oil and 12.5% acetone mixture. According to the results gathered over the span of two weeks of testing, the mixture responded well to removing corrosion and providing lubrication to the assigned task. Acetone, being the primary corrosion remover element, mixed very well with vegetable oil without the need of adding paraffin. Vegetable oil as a standalone does not do well in removing corrosion; however, the vegetable oil lubricates very well and is a great replacement of ATF (automatic transmission fluid). The final design is an eco-friendly design as well since vegetable oil is bio-degradable while acetone evaporates very quickly and causes no harm to the environment.”

The marvel of science and large-scale chemical products make life significantly easier. No need for complex measurements or mixtures—just a simple call or visit to the hardware store, and you can remove that corroded screw in an instant.

This principle applies to other products as well. The only requirement from the user is to read the instructions.

What is the Impact of Chemicals in Today’s world

While these products are helpful, they must be store and used with caution. Even when we believe they are safe, the key is to manage them with the right safety measures and proper care. Take bleach, for example. Here some notes about its history:

“The history of chlorine use is quite unconventional. During World War I, in 1915, German soldiers, under the direction of Fritz Haber, released chlorine gas from storage cylinders. The wind carried this large gas cloud west across ‘No Man’s Land.’ Unfortunately, the use of poison gas, including chlorine, during the war violated international agreements, such as the 1899 Hague Declaration Concerning Asphyxiating Gases and the 1907 Hague Convention on Land Warfare, which prohibited the use of ‘poison or poisoned weapons in warfare.”

When managing any kind of chemicals at home or in the office, we must exercise the utmost caution. It is not merely enough to keep these substances “out of the reach of children;” we must also be vigilant about the storage conditions, including the temperature and the VOC (volatile organic compounds) levels. Awareness of what other items can be safely stored with these chemicals and the necessity for proper protective gear, such as safety goggles, gloves, and N95 masks, is crucial.

Leaving chemicals unattended for extended periods is a significant risk. Due to their nature, chemicals are prone to reacting to changes in humidity, temperature, and light. Many compounds can cause the container itself to degrade over time.

By committing to strict safety measures, we ensure that chemical compounds can effectively clean, lubricate, and disinfect our environment. This commitment involves diligently following all safety instructions before and after use to safeguard our health and well-being.

Why don’t we cheer together over two or three olives and continue these ideas? You never know, we can extend the conversation and find common ground!

What do you think? I am here to listen.