The meme that fixed the internet. Is it real? The world wants to know. Or at least, thousands of viewers of the viral videos circling the internet and social media are decidedly curious. Before we get into the story behind the “WD-50” meme, let’s acknowledge what the internet has already decided:

• WD-50 doesn’t fix squeaks. Squeaks apologize and leave.
• WD-50 doesn’t loosen rusty bolts. Rust files for unemployment.
• WD-50 doesn’t drive out moisture. Humidity checks the forecast and cancels itself.
• WD-50 doesn’t prevent corrosion. Corrosion takes one look at the can and reconsiders its life choices.

That’s the energy of the meme, and its many stitches & variations. If you’ve spent any time online lately, you’ve probably seen it: a beat-up hinge squeaks, someone dramatically reaches for a bright blue and yellow can labeled WD-50, and the comments explode. Is it stronger? Is it industrial grade? Is it the next evolution? Short answer: no. Long answer: this is the internet having fun.

Somewhere along the way, the fictional “next-level” version of WD-40_® Multi-Use Product became the superhero of maintenance culture. In posts and comments, WD-50 is portrayed as stronger, faster, almost mythic—solving not just stuck hinges, but apparently gravity, entropy, and possibly awkward family dinners.

Of course, WD-50 isn’t real. But the joke works because the original is so iconic. WD-40 Multi-Use Product gets its name from “Water Displacement, 40th formula.” Scientists at Rocket Chemical Company took 40 attempts in the lab before landing the winning formula in 1953. It worked. It still works. In garages, workshops, factories, and toolboxes for over 70 years, the brand has earned its fame as a household name.

The WD-50 meme is a perfect example of how the internet remixes brands into shared inside jokes. Someone misreads the label. Someone edits a can. Someone makes a parody video where WD-50 solves everything from squeaky doors to existential dread. Suddenly, it’s everywhere. And honestly? We see it as a compliment.

When fans riff on a brand, it means the brand is part of culture. The blue and yellow can is recognizable enough that changing one number becomes comedy. That only happens when a product has gained trust and familiarity across generations. Our online community has embraced the joke in the best way possible. You’ll see comments like:

• “WD-50 must fix my entire life.”
• “Still waiting for WD-100…”
• “Did you say WD fifty? Ain’t no way. Do you have to have a permit for that?”
• “WD-50 sounds like the maintenance equivalent of a lightsaber.”
• “Spray some WD-50 on it. Hope for miracles.”

The meme reminds us of something powerful about the WD-40 Brand fan base. Our community isn’t just buying a product. They’re participating in a shared culture of fixing, maintaining, restoring, and yes—having a little fun along the way.

We’ll always celebrate creativity, even when it comes in the form of a fictional upgrade. But for now, we’re sticking with the formula that made it to number 40 and never needed to count higher.

Bottom line: WD-40 Multi-Use Product was designed to solve real problems—loosening stuck parts, driving out moisture, silencing squeaks, protecting metal. It’s simple. It’s reliable. It works. No sequel required.