Preventing Rust on Outdoor Furniture and Toys

When living anywhere close to the coast, you are going to get your fair share of rust.

How many of you live close to the ocean? I do and while I love the easy trips to the beach, the fresh ocean breezes and the laid back seaside lifestyle, I hate the rust that comes with it.

The over spray of the ocean combined with the salt water and oxygen in the air can cause anything made out of iron to rust and corrode.   Even if you are living inland, you may still find that your outdoor furniture and toys are prone to rusting over time. And while some people love the look of rusted outdoor chairs, I would prefer my stuff to remain rust-free.  After all, it’s a lot harder to sell second hand outdoor furniture and toys that are tarnished with red flakes.

We put together a guide to preventing rust, protecting your belongings and getting rid of the reddish brown flakes that are taking over your outdoor furniture, prams, play equipment, bikes and trikes and more! Check out our easy guide in preventing rust on outdoor furniture and toys.

Rust Removal Must-Have

When removing rust off any item, make sure you do it outside, preferably on grass or concrete where you can hose it afterwards since reddish rust flakes tend to get everywhere. Here are some easy fixes for rust removal that you can find in your pantry:

Baking Soda

One option you have when preventing rust on outdoor furniture is to add a couple of tablespoons of baking soda mixed with water. Place the mixture in an empty weed killer or fertilizer container and spray the mixture over your rusted items. After you have used the baking soda mixture, scrub down with an abrasive cloth and hose the items off with water from the garden hose. This should be done often in order to prevent the rust from appearing again.

Vinegar and Aluminium Foil

Another trick to get rid of rust is to use diluted white vinegar (and water). Add half water and half white vinegar to an empty spray bottle and spray directly onto the rusted items. Use aluminium foil to gently rub the rust off and hose down with water afterwards. You may wish to wear gloves for this job as it can get dirty.

Dehumidifying Packets 

Another way to prevent moisture and rust is by using dehumidifying packets which contain silica gel. The dehumidifying packets will suck up the extra moisture in the air keeping your items moisture and hopefully rust-free. You may wish to place one or two in your garage where you store the bikes, tools, camping chairs and other outdoor toys. You can purchase these at Woolworths, Coles, K-Mart, Bunnings or any other house & home store.

Rust Guard Products

Sometimes DIY items are just not enough and thus you may need to hit your local hardware shop and invest in rust guard products.  There are a number of different brands on the shelf  so read reviews and ask the experts at the hardware shop what items are best for your specific rusted items. Some furniture and toys may require different products than others.

What other natural ways you know in removing rust?

Jenna Gallina is Stay at Home Mum’s advertising content writer. She lives in Cairns and with her two young children, handy hubby and dog. She is a firm believer in DIY, as long as someone else is doing it, preferably her husband and preferably shirtless.