A ubiquitous product—yes. Thousands of ideas on how to use it—definitely. But 300,000 individual submissions?!

That is the unbelievable number of entries sent to WD-40_® Company by consumers throughout the U.S. and Canada over the course of WD-40’s Search for 2,000 Uses Sweepstakes, which ended last week.

"We set out to see if we could get 2,000 unique uses," said Tom Barman, brand manager for WD-40 Company. "As the campaign progressed, one thing became glaringly obvious as we reviewed more than 300,000 submissions—people everywhere love WD-40."

WD-40 Company announced the 100 winners of the contest this week, randomly selecting Helen Flaaen of Dickinson, N.D. as the grand prize winner and recipient of $10,000 in WD-40 Company stock.

Flaaen, whose winning submission suggests using WD-40 to help remove leftover adhesive on picture frames, is a self-proclaimed WD-40 user for life.

"I have a can in my kitchen, my garage, under my sink and even in my truck," said Flaaen. "I never know when or where I’ll need to use it. I’ve always been a big fan of WD-40, but now I’m an even bigger fan!"

WD-40 Company, long aware of the affinity their customers have for their multi-purpose product, decided that a quest to uncover 2,000 uses would pique the creative juices of users while providing them a forum to share their ideas. WD-40 plans to share the results by compiling a comprehensive list of 2,000 of the most common—and most wacky—submissions.

Some of the most popular entries include using WD-40 to:

    * Keep snow from sticking to windows, snowshovels and windshields
    * Remove dead insects, road tar and adhesives from car bumpers
    * Prevent rust and corrosion on patio furniture, tools and outdoor locks during winter
    * Stop squeaks on door hinges, bed springs and office chairs

Also included in the more than 300,000 submissions was the occasional off-the-wall idea such as using WD-40 to remove gum from hair, properly lubricate prosthetic limbs and polish glass eyes.

WD-40 Company, with headquarters in San Diego, is a leading player in the global market for multi-purpose lubricants and general maintenance products. WD-40 Company produces multi-purpose lubricants, WD-40 and 3-IN-ONE_®, as well as the Lava_® brand of heavy-duty hand cleaners. WD-40 Company markets its products in more than 160 countries worldwide, and recorded sales of $152.7 million in 2000.