Those magic erasers are awesome for most household applications (although I think they leave a residue). But you got me curious, I will have to try it out.
On the topic of Neoprene vs WD40:
Neoprene is a vulcanized polymer (making it in fact a [synthetic] rubber). I am no chemist, but I just spent some time reading about neoprene and WD40. I have found that adverse effects of WD40 when applied to neoprene are nearly nonexistent.
According to the "
Technical Data Sheet" for WD40:
"Surface Compatibility
For all variations : WD-40
demonstrates none to negligible deleterious effect to plastic, rubber, and metal hard surfaces. This includes Acetal,
neoprene/hard rubber, HDPE, PPS Copolymer Polysulfone, Teflon, Viton, steel, galvanized steel hot dip, electroplated, copper, brass, magnesium, nickel, tin plate, titanium, and zinc."
However, the same document does note:
"Surface Cautions
Nearly all surfaces interact with WD-40 as they would any high grade ali-phatic petroleum spirit.
Certain types of rubber will swell upon prolonged immersion. Wax polishes and certain wax coatings may be softened by WD-40. Clear polycarbonate and polystyrene may stress craze or crack. Always test surfaces first."
This reminds me of my idiot friend putting power steering fluid (a purely petroleum product) in his brake master cylinder, because the power steering fluid will make the rubber seals swell, he flushed and replaced several parts to the brake system.
Alas, WD40 is not power steering fluid. I lost the link, but some guy soaked some rubber o-rings in WD40 for an entire month and they performed just fine after, although they were probably not neoprene; however, this illustrates that the petroleum prowess of WD40 is quite low.
WD40 FAQS:
"WD-40 Multi-Use Product can be used on just about everything. It is safe to use on metal, rubber, wood and plastic. It can also be applied to painted metal surfaces without harming the paint.
Polycarbonate and clear polystyrene plastic are among the few surfaces on which to avoid using a petroleum-based product like WD-40 Multi-Use Product."
As far as I can tell, neoprene is neither a polycarbonate or clear polystyrene plastic.
Then again, I hear that WD40 will dissolve neoprene gloves...
Either way, I find it interesting that according to the interwebs, WD40 can cure arthritis, keep flies off cows, attract fish when used on bait,
prevent squirrels from climbing into a birdhouse,
free a tongue stuck to frozen metal in winter, et cetera.
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