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Duct tape has long-held the status of the tried-and-true solution for almost any home improvement project or problem. Hailed by any quick-fix do-it-yourselfer, entire books have been dedicated to its many uses (although, I use the term "uses" rather loosely... I am quite sure duct-tape origami, or "ductigami" as it's called, hardly qualifies as a "use"). If you are creative however, the sky seems to be the limit on what duct tape can do.

But there is another DIY cure-all that deserves a place in your home, and that's WD-40. Origami aside, it seems as though it has a wide breadth of uses, justifying it being referred to as the 'handyman's secret weapon', a title that has traditionally been reserved for the classic duct tape.

WD-40 has been around since the 1950s and has made a name for itself for its ability to subdue pretty much anything that squeaks or creaks. Now, almost 60 years later, its uses extend far beyond just stopping squeaks. With every passing year, more and more unexpected, and sometimes unusual, uses for this unassuming lubricant are discovered.

No longer limited to being an anti-squeak agent, WD-40 enthusiasts claim that it can be used to remove grime from barbeques, prevent fog from forming on bathroom mirrors, and to take away the sting of fire ant bites. Here are just some of the uses for WD-40 that can be found in DIY books and blogs today.

In your car, WD-40 can be used to restore and clean your roof rack, leather dashboard and vinyl bumpers, and remove bug guts from the front grill of your vehicle. Use it to remove tar, and even spray paint, from your vehicle without damaging the paint job.

As a household cleaner, consider WD-40 if you want to make those nasty water spots on shower doors disappear, or want to make your stove as shiney as the day you bought it. Use it on your floors for that 'just waxed' look, or remove black scuff marks without making them slippery. WD-40 can remove stains from stainless steel sinks, and crayon from your walls.

In the laundry room WD-40 is being touted by some as an excellent cleaning agent to remove difficult stains such as lipstick, tomato and other difficult stains from clothing.

When it comes to its lubrication ability, think beyond that squeaky door hinge. It can clean and lubricate guitar strings, loosen stubborn zippers, keep scissors working properly, and make untangling jewellery chains a snap. Use it to lubricate gear shifts, and make stuck windows slide with ease.

WD-40 also has great protective qualities for certain materials. It can protect silver from tarnishing, restore and clean chalkboards, help to prevent ceramic and terra cotta pots from oxidizing, and camouflage scratches in ceramic and marble floors. It can also protect rust from forming on saws and other tools.

Uses for WD-40 that border on the unusual include repelling flies from cows and pigeons from your balcony. Who knew? Alternatively, it can be used to attract fish if you rub some on your bait, though be aware that chemical attractants are not allowed in some states. Want to take the neighbourhood park to a whole new level? Rub some on the slide for a super-fast ride. With the main ingredient being fish oil, some swear by it as a way to relieve arthritis pain and rub it into their hands and other joints!

Before you start applying WD-40 to everything (including the kitchen sink!) remember to always do a spot test, and in the case of rubbing it on your joints, well, perhaps you should consult your doctor first.

So is WD-40 the next duct tape? The scope of its uses certainly makes it a contender, but it's got a few things going against it. For starters, it's hard to get past the smell, and well, how does one compete with a duct tape origami rose? More importantly, WD-40 has been 'outed' as not being environmentally friendly, and it's too early to say if the green alternatives, such as Chesterlube, have the same properties to allow for it's uses to be as broad.

But I'm not ready to write it off quite yet. Whether WD-40 can eventually over-take duct tape and gain the coveted title of "the handyman's secret weapon" remains to be seen. Who knows what uses are yet to be discovered!