This story came from a friend,and it has been verified on Snopes as essentially quite accurate.
> WHO KNEW?
>
> I had a neighbor who had bought a new pickup. I got up very early
>one Sunday morning and saw that someone had spray painted red all around
>the sides of this beige truck (for some unknown reason).
>
> I went over, woke him up, and told him the bad news. He was very
>upset and was trying to figure out what to do probably nothing until Monday
>morning, since nothing was open. Another neighbor came out and told him to
>get his WD-40 and clean it off. It removed the unwanted paint beautifully
>and did not harm his paint job that was on the truck. I'm impressed! WD-40
>who knew?
>
> Water Displacement #40. The product began from a search for a rust
>preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was
>created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical
>Company. Its name comes from the project that was to find a "water
>displacement" compound. They were successful with the fortieth formulation,
>thus WD-40. The Corvair Company bought it in bulk to protect their atlas
>missile parts.
>
> Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in
>WD-40 that would hurt you.
>
> When you read the "shower door" part, try it. It's the first thing
>that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic, it
>works just as well as glass. It's a miracle! Then try it on your
>stovetop... Voila! It's now shinier than it's ever been. You'll be amazed.
>
>
> Here are some of the uses:
>
> 1) Protects silver from tarnishing.
> 2) Removes road tar and grime from cars.
> 3) Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
> 4) Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery.
> 5) Keeps flies off cows.
> 6) Restores and cleans chalkboards.
> 7) Removes lipstick stains.
>

> 9) Untangles jewelry chains.
> 10) Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
> 11) Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
> 12) Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
> 13) Removes tomato stains from clothing.
> 14) Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
> 15) Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
> 16) Keeps scissors working smoothly.
> 17) Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes
> 18) It removes black scuff marks from the spam floor!
> Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It
>doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard
>to get them off. Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of
>marks.
> 19) Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed
>quickly! Use WD-40!
> 20) Gives a children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast
>slide.
> 21) Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling
>on riding mowers.
> 22) Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises.
> 23) Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier
>to open.
> 24) Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.
> 25) Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as
>well as vinyl bumpers.
> 26) Restores and clean s roof racks on vehicles.
> 27) Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
> 28) Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles
>for easy handling.
> 29) Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them
>running smoothly.
> 30) Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.
> 31) Removes splattered grease on stove.
> 32) Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.
> 33) Lubricates prosthetic limbs.
> 34) Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
> 35) Removes all traces of duct tape.
> 36) Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve
>arthritis pain.
> 37) Florida 's favorite use is: "cleans and removes love bugs from
>grills and bumpers."
> 38) The favorite use in the state of New York WD-40 protects the
>Statue of Liberty from the elements.
> 39) WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a LITTLE on live bait or lures and
>you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than
>the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind
>though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not
>allowed in some states.
> 40) Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately
>and stops the itch.
> 41) WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark
>and wipe with a clean rag.
> 42) Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed
>and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick
>spots with WD-40 and re-wash. Presto! Lipstick is gone!
> 43) If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace
>the moisture and allow the car to start.
>
>
> P. S. The basic ingredient is FISH OIL.
>
> P. P. S. I keep a can of WD-40 in my spam cabinet over the
>stove. It is good for oven burns or any other type of burn. It takes the
>burned feeling away and heals with NO scarring.