How To Use Your WD40 To The Last Drop

(Taken from this post by WD-40. Republished with permission. Edited for point of view, recency and relevance.) 

WD-40® Multi-Use Product can be used upright or upside-down only. When the can is upright, the product will flow through the dip tube. When upside down, the product will dispense directly from the valve at the top of the can. 
 
If a WD-40® Multi-Use Product is sprayed at a horizontal angle, or any angle that lifts the dip tube out of the liquid, then propellent can escape within seconds. This results in “out of gas”, or liquid left in the can that cannot be sprayed out. Once a can is out of gas, there is no way to get the rest of the liquid out. 

To maximise the use of all liquid from your WD-40 Multi-Use Product aerosol, follow the steps below. 

In this article, we discuss three steps to remove all product from a WD-40 can: 

1. Shake can 
2. Spray upright or upside down 
3. Orientate the dip tube using the classic spray or smart straw 

Step 1: Shake can

Shake the can well. This will quickly mix the additives and solvent together so that you get an even mixture and the best results. 
 
Pro tip: This is standard practice and a good habit to get into as most aerosol products require this step.

Step 2: Spray upright or upside down

If you want to get the most out of your can, you need to hold it correctly. Many people make the mistake of spraying horizontally, but this can cause the gas to escape. For best results, the can should be held in an upright or upside-down position, as this ensures the liquid will readily flow out when the nozzle is pressed. You will need to orientate the dip tube by following Step 3. 

Illustration courtesy of WD-40

Step 3: Orientate the dip tube using the classic spray or smart straw

Before spraying an aerosol, you need to make sure that the dip tube is correctly aligned to reach the lowest point of the can when spraying. 

Classic Spray: The dip tube is curved so that it will always be seated at the bottom edge of the aerosol can. This, combined with the domed shape at the bottom of the aerosol can, allows you to extract all the liquid from the can if positioned correctly. 

Pro tip: Some aerosols display a blue dot on the top of the valve which indicates the curvature of the dip tube (for example, the WD-40 Multi-Use Product without the Smart Straw).

Smart Straw: To check that the position of the dip tube of the smart straw is correct, lightly press the nozzle to ensure product comes out. If no product or small amounts of product come out, stop spraying immediately and turn the nozzle to the right by a quarter (¼) and try again. Repeat the quarter (¼) turn until product comes out. 

There you have it -- the simple way to get all the product from the can! 

Disclaimer: The uses shown and described for WD-40 Multi-Use Product were provided to WD-40 Company by the users themselves. These uses haven’t been tested by WD-40 Company and do not constitute a recommendation of suggestion for use by WD-40 Company. Common sense should be exercised whenever using WD-40 Company products. Always follow the instructions and take heed of any warnings printed on the packaging.