Here are 10 unusual ways to use WD-40 around the house

WD-40 has been de-squeaking door hinges in American homes since 1958, but this handy spray lubricant -- originally created as a degreasing solvent for the aerospace industry -- is surprisingly versatile.

Grab a can of WD-40 the next time you need to perform any of the following household tasks.

1. Remove gum
Chewing gum stuck in carpet fibers or hair makes a horrific mess, but instead of reaching for scissors to cut it away, reach for WD-40 instead. Spray the lubricant onto the gummy fibers and gently comb out.

2. Release zippers
Stuck zippers will run smoothly again with a few drops of WD-40. Use the straw nozzle to precisely place the lubricant on the zipper without soaking the fabric, then run the zipper up and down a few times to distribute.

3. Remove adhesive
Use WD-40 to cleanly remove old stickers, decals or wall adhesive. Simply spray and peel or rub off until all stickiness is gone.

4. Keep shovels lightweight and snow-free
A coating of WD-40 on your snow shovel before heading outside prevents ice from building up and making the shovel heavy.

5. Clean up toaster accidents
For those sleepy mornings when the bread bag gets a little too close to the toaster and melts onto the appliance: WD-40 and some careful rubbing removes it completely.

6. Loosen stacked items
Use WD-40 to help loosen stacked glasses, cups, flower pots or LEGOs.

7. Rust removal
Buff with WD-40 to remove rust from tools, saw blades, car parts or anything else.

8. Oil stain removal
As a degreaser, WD-40 is ideal for removing oil stains from concrete. Spray the stain liberally with the solvent and let it sit for 30 minutes before hosing the stain away.

9. Clean permanent marker and crayon
Life is messy with little artists practicing their craft on walls and floors, but a soaking of WD-40 will wipe away the evidence.

10. Glue removal
Ultra-strong glue sometimes gets away from us; use WD-40 to dissolve the glue from places it isn't supposed to be -- including fingers!

What are some of the ways that you use WD-40? SHARE this article and tell us about your WD-40 adventures in the comments below!