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Silicone spray is typically seen as a lubricant for noisy door hinges. But you can also use silicone spray on car handles and hinges to protect against freezing or spray it in a rusted lock to loosen the internal mechanism, allowing you to turn the lock or at least recover a stuck key.
To find the best silicone spray for your intended purposes, it’s important to consider whether a food-grade product is necessary or if it will be used outside of the kitchen on fabric, metal, wood, plastic, or rubber surfaces. Our Best Overall pick is the WD-40 11-Ounce Quick-Drying Specialist Silicone because it’s perfect for a wide range of materials, including rubber, plastic, metal, and vinyl. Our recommendations for more of the best silicone sprays are listed below.
- BEST OVERALL: WD-40 11-Ounce Quick-Drying Specialist Silicone
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: WD-40 2-Pack 14.4-Ounce Smart Straw Metal Protector
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR RUBBER: DuPont Surface Safe Silicone Lubricant
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR GARAGE DOOR: 3-in-One Garage Door Lube
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR FABRICS: Sprayway SW946 Heat-Stable Silicone Release Agent
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOOD-GRADE: CRC Food Grade Multi-Purpose Silicone Spray
↓ Jump to Review - BEST HIGH-TEMPERATURE: Design Engineering Hi-Temp Silicone Coating Spray
↓ Jump to Review
Our Top Picks
Our top picks for sprayable silicone products are some of the best on the market for home and workshop repairs. These items were selected based on several factors discussed later in this article.
Best Overall
WD-40 11-Ounce Quick-Drying Specialist Silicone
Product Specs
- Quantity: 11 ounces
- Compatible materials: Metal, rubber, plastics, and vinyl
- Temperature resistance: -100 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit
What We Like
- Creates clear, nonfriction, water-resistant coating
- Ideal as a protective film against rust
- Penetrates oil, rust, grime, cleaners, solutions, and other debris
- Indoor and outdoor use across a range of applications/materials
What We Don’t Like
- Some users report issues with the spray nozzle; can be quite sensitive
This 11-ounce silicone spray from WD-40 can create a water-resistant, low-friction coating on cables, pulleys, valves, hinges, locks, and guide rails that will also protect against rust. It can also be used on a range of materials, including rubber, plastics, metals, and vinyl. Use the spray to regain movement lost to rust, grime, oil, cleaner, solutions, and other built-up debris.
Once applied, the spray dries in moments into a clear, stain-resistant, waterproof film. The silicone spray remains effective between -100 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit and repels water after curing, making it an ideal product to keep on hand for a number of different purposes around the home.
Get the WD-40 Specialist silicone spray at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
Best Bang For the Buck
WD-40 2-Pack 14.4-Ounce Smart Straw Metal Protector
Product Specs
- Quantity: 14.4 ounce per can
- Compatible materials: Metal
- Temperature resistance: -100 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit
What We Like
- High-penetration formula
- Works especially well on gears, threads, and door hinges
- This silicone waterproof spray protects against rust, expels moisture
- Smart straw provides multiple spray functions
What We Don’t Like
- Only suitable for metal applications
Silicone sprays can be used on many different materials but, depending on the project, users may want to use a specific lubricant. This affordable value pack comes with two cans of multipurpose lubricant that is an excellent option for metal-to-metal friction points, cables, pulleys, and loosening up rusted bolts or hinges with a high-penetration formula that works quickly and effectively.
These silicone sprays lubricate and protect against moisture and rust. Once applied with the smart straw or spray function, it dries quickly and doesn’t leave a sticky residue, though it still takes about 24 hours to properly cure.
What our tester says: “WD-40 has been around for a long time, and I always keep a can on the shelf to fix squeaky doors or remove rust and gunk or lubricate small moving parts. I’ve even used it to clean yellowed headlights, leaving them looking clear and bright again.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester & writer
Get the WD-40 Smart Straw silicone spray at Amazon, Lowe’s (single-12 ounce can), Ace Hardware (single 12-ounce can), The Home Depot (two 12-ounce cans), or Target (single 12-ounce can).
Best For Rubber
DuPont Surface Safe Silicone Lubricant
Product Specs
- Quantity: 14 ounces
- Compatible materials: Rubber, plastic, vinyl, leather, metal, and wood
- Temperature resistance: -40 to 392 degrees Fahrenheit
What We Like
- Great temperature resistance; perfect spray for snow tools
- Also suitable for gaskets, seals, and rings
- Can be used as a food-grade lubricant
- Works well on a variety of materials
What We Don’t Like
- No straw spray nozzle for precise application
- Some users report that the odor can be quite strong after application
This DuPont Teflon silicone lubricant comes in a 14-ounce can and can be used on rubber, plastic, vinyl, leather, metal, and wood. It’s also considered a food-grade lubricant. Rubber gaskets, seals, and rings can become dry over time, causing them to crack and break. Given that rubber fittings are typically used to seal a portion of a system or connect two parts of a system without leaks, a cracked or broken seal can lead to big issues.
To prevent this problem, users can lubricate and moisturize their rubber seals with this silicone spray that will also help to return the waterproof properties of the rubber. This silicone lubricant spray can protect and preserve the rubber so that users can extend the life of their gaskets or O-rings, though they will still need to be replaced at some point. This option dries in minutes but takes over 24 hours to fully cure.
Get the DuPont silicone spray at Amazon.
Best For Garage Door
3-in-One Garage Door Lube
Product Specs
- Quantity: 11 ounces
- Compatible materials: Metal
- Temperature resistance: -29.2 to 495 degrees Fahrenheit
What We Like
- Lubricates gears, hinges, tracks, chains, pulleys, and electrical components
- Permanently attached straw is less clumsy to use than regular straw sprays
- Multiple spray modes
What We Don’t Like
- More delicate silicone spray; may be too thin for some hinges or tracks
A seized garage door can damage the tracks and springs, causing a potential safety hazard every time the door is opened or closed. With this silicone spray to lubricate sticking points, including the hinges, tracks, chains, pulleys, or any other metal components, users can return their door to its normal operation. The spray both lubricates the parts and creates a protective barrier against corrosion.
With this product, buyers get an 11-ounce can of silicone spray that has a permanently attached straw for precision application. The straw is on a hinge so that users can adjust the angle while they spray the quick-drying formula. This silicone spray doesn’t leave behind residue, so there’s no worrying about the accumulation of dirt, grease, and other contaminants on garage door mechanisms.
Get the 3-in-One silicone spray at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Walmart, or Acme Tools.
Best For Fabrics
Sprayway SW946 Heat-Stable Silicone Release Agent
Product Specs
- Quantity: 11 ounces
- Compatible materials: Fabric, glass, plastic, metal, and rubber
- Temperature resistance: -40 to 392 degrees Fahrenheit
What We Like
- 11-ounce spray can size provides ample quantity
- Colorless and nonstaining
- Great choice for DIY projects
- Can be used in compression molding for easy release
What We Don’t Like
- No included straw for precision application; can only do broad sprays
Silicone sprays are not commonly used on fabrics. Still, there are a few circumstances where users will want a fabric-friendly spray like the Sprayway silicone spray to properly lubricate, seal, and protect appliances that come in contact with clothing or other fabrics. This can include lubricating the hinges on the clothes washer, the dryer, or using the spray on a sewing machine.
This colorless, nonstaining silicone spray can be used on metal, glass, rubber, or plastic to help protect the material and extend the life of appliances. The 11-ounce can of silicone spray doesn’t come with a straw for the precision application, so users will only be able to spray broad surfaces or by bringing the can much closer to the target object.
Get the Sprayway silicone spray at Amazon.
Best Food-Grade
CRC Food Grade Multi-Purpose Silicone Spray
Product Specs
- Quantity: 10 ounces
- Compatible materials: Metal and plastic
- Temperature resistance: 0 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
What We Like
- Suitable for stoves, knives, fridges, blenders, and other kitchen appliances
- Colorless, odorless, and nonstaining
- Recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) H1; safe to use on kitchen items
What We Don’t Like
- Thicker straw casts wide misting; can be tricky to aim into tight spaces
Preparing meals, serving, and cleaning up are just a few of the daily tasks that are completed in most kitchens every day, but when appliances begin to squeak and food preparation tools show signs of rust, it’s time to use this food-grade silicone spray. This spray can be used in fridges, the hinges of stoves, or the moving parts of a blender to lubricate and extend the life of appliances.
This food-grade silicone spray operates effectively at temperatures ranging from 0 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and it has a colorless, odorless, nonstaining appearance that is ideal for kitchens. The spray has passed certification for both the NSF H1 and FDA regulations for incidental food contact, so it can be used safely on appliances.
Get the CRC silicone spray at Ace Hardware or Grainger.
Best High-Temperature
Design Engineering Hi-Temp Silicone Coating Spray
Product Specs
- Quantity: 12 ounces
- Compatible materials: Engines, grills, ovens, and other hot appliances
- Temperature resistance: Up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit
What We Like
- Withstands rust and oils to help extend the life of vehicles and appliances
- Protects against spills, abrasions, and grime
- Heavy-duty silicone spray won’t cause cracking, peeling, or flaking
What We Don’t Like
- High temperature tolerance makes this spray pricier compared to other products
When working on engines, barbecue grills, or ovens, this silicone spray is a good choice because it can be used on surfaces that reach extremely high temperatures of up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. This high-temperature silicone spray penetrates through built-up rust and oils to create a lasting seal that extends the life of vehicles and appliances.
The 12-ounce can of silicone spray can be used to protect exhaust headers, pipes, and engine block from abrasions, road debris, and oil. Just apply the spray and allow it to fully cure, which takes only 2 hours. Once it is cured, users can use their vehicles regularly without worrying about the spray melting or burning off.
Get the Design Engineering silicone spray at Amazon, Advance Auto Parts, or AutoZone.
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Chose the Best Silicone Sprays
We researched the best silicone spray lubricants in their respective categories and discovered that the top options are determined by their quantity, temperature resistance, drying time, compatibility with multiple surfaces, and other special features included by top brands.
While searching for the lubricant sprays, we included products that come with ample 8.5- to 14.4-ounce quantities that last through multiple uses or projects on rubber, wood, vinyl, metal, plastics, glass, and fabrics. Some of these silicone-based lubricants are able to tackle high temperatures of up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit on hot appliances or vehicles, while select picks can be used to lubricate garage door components, doors, hinges, and household appliances.
For added ease of use, these silicone lubricants dry immediately or take 24 hours to cure for long-term protection against moisture, rust, grime, dirt, and other debris. Plus, select picks are colorless, nonstaining, odorless, and come with multiple spraying methods.
What to Consider When Choosing a Silicone Spray
Before choosing a silicone spray, you’ll want to keep the following important shopping considerations in mind.
Application
If you decide to use silicone spray around the home or in the garage, consider how you intend to use the spray. Depending on the purpose, you may want a compact product you can carry in your car, or you might benefit from something that comes with a straw so you can direct the spray to a narrow location with high precision.
Silicone sprays also come in either a wet or a dry form. The wet spray is ideal for vertical or upside-down surfaces because moisture in the formula helps the spray to adhere to the surface while it dries. Dry sprays are suitable for working on more sensitive equipment because the mist evaporates quickly and leaves behind a protective film.
Formula
To ensure that a product meets your needs, consider the silicone spray formula. You can typically find the chemical composition used in the product by reviewing the manufacturer’s website, where a material safety data sheet for the spray must be available.
Silicone sprays normally contain about 1.5 percent silicone, but this can increase to 3.5 percent while still remaining a spray. High-silicone sprays are best for lubricating heavily used joints and machinery. You will also want to review the formula and the manufacturer’s recommendations to determine whether you can use silicone spray on certain metal, wood, plastic, or other materials.
Food-Grade
A food-grade silicone spray can be used on many kitchen tools and appliances, including the hinges on your fridge or the slide on a meat slicer. Although a food-grade spray will contain flammable components like 1,1-Difluoroethane to help penetrate through rust and other contaminants, these harmful ingredients in the spray evaporate away after applying it, leaving a protective lubricating film that won’t end up in your food.
While a food-grade spray is safe to use in and around the kitchen and other food preparation areas, it should not be confused with an edible product. What this means is that it is not safe to eat silicone spray, regardless if it is food-grade or not, because the product’s composition is harmful to humans.
Temperature Resistance
The silicone lubricants you use will need to be able to remain effective at the temperatures they are exposed to regularly. For example, suppose you use silicone spray on your grill to protect it from rust and moisture damage. In this case, it’s important to invest in a silicone spray with a very high maximum temperature to ensure that you won’t be burning the spray while you cook and having to reapply immediately afterward.
Depending on the product, the effective temperature range can vary significantly, with some silicone sprays having minimum temperatures of -100 degrees Fahrenheit and others have high-temperature maximums that exceed 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. If using the silicone spray on windows or doors, choose a product that will hold up to seasonal temperatures.
Drying Time
Silicone sprays dry at different rates depending on the spray’s viscosity, the material it is used on, and the amount of spray applied. However, most silicone sprays dry very quickly, typically taking only a few minutes to achieve a consistency that is dry to the touch. This is because many silicone sprays use flammable components for penetrating oil and grime to form a better seal, but these penetrating components rapidly evaporate, leaving only the protective lubricant and silicone spray sealant.
If you are using the silicone spray for waterproofing or sealing, you will want to wait at least 24 hours to ensure that the spray is properly cured. Otherwise, you can use your appliances, doors, windows, tools, or other products almost immediately after application.
Versatility
A silicone spray’s versatility refers to the materials it can be used with and whether its primary design is for lubricating, sealing, or a combination of both. If you are looking for a general-purpose silicone spray for around your home, then you will want to find a product that can be used on wood, metal, plastic, vinyl, and rubber surfaces.
Consider finding a silicone spray that is nonstaining so that you don’t have to worry about leaving a permanent reminder on your appliances or door frames. While most silicone sprays are both sealants and lubricants, there are products specifically designed to provide better waterproofing and others for easily penetrating through layers of rust for more efficient lubrication.
Tips for Using Silicone Spray
Spray lubricants are a great addition to the garage or workshop with many different applications. You can easily apply the spray to the surface you want to silence squeaky hinges, lubricate stuck metal parts, protect against rust, and prevent moisture damage. When you set out to apply silicone spray, keep these tips in mind:
- Avoid spraying walking surfaces with silicone spray. The mist creates a slippery coating that can quickly become dangerous.
- Do not use silicone spray on painted surfaces. The paint tends to absorb the spray, making it very difficult to apply a new coat of paint over the silicone-infused layer.
- Focus the silicone spray on the mechanical parts. Even in the situation of loosening a lock on a car door handle, you won’t want the spray to coat where you grip because it will make the surface slippery and hard to grasp. This is the case for any items you may need to handle― fishing rods, chainsaws, guns, and more―so that they do not slip out of your hand while using them.
FAQs
Before investing in a new silicone spray, take a look at these frequently asked questions and their answers below.
Silicone spray is used to properly lubricate metal, wood, rubber, and plastic while providing a water-resistant barrier. However, once a surface has been sprayed, it becomes difficult to paint, so you will want to plan out your projects before applying it to every exposed door hinge.
Most sprays are not completely waterproof lubricants, but most are water-resistant and naturally repel water from any surface you spray. One option that is waterproof is the effective and multipurpose WD-40 Multi-Use Product.
No, silicone sprays won’t damage plastic. They actually work very well to lubricate and protect plastic surfaces.
Silicone spray can improve rubber and help keep the material soft and pliable.
It normally takes just a few minutes for spray lubricants to dry but can take up to 24 hours to fully cure.
You can remove silicone spray using a rag or cloth and denatured alcohol. If you don’t have denatured alcohol, you can use rubbing alcohol or another solvent. After wiping the area clean of silicone spray, you’ll want to rinse it with warm water before drying.
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