How To Stop Outside Furniture From Rusting

Outside or outdoor furniture graces the front and backyards of almost every American home. Common metallic products include patio furniture, gates, fences, seats, barbecue grills, swings, and monkey bars. These products are made out of metal since it is durable and strong. However, metal looks excellent if it is well-maintained. Rusting metallic products in your compound makes the place look derelict and abandoned.

Below we list ways that you can embrace to stop outside furniture from rusting

Embrace a Cleaning Routine

Metal outdoor furniture should always be clean. The process involves using a rust remover mixed with warm water and a liquid detergent. In addition, it would help if you used a sponge to scrub the surface and rinse the place with water.

Avoid Clinking Metal

You can prevent rust from forming by treating your furniture with care. For example, do not scrub your metallic seats with a metal brush. It is equally important to avoid dragging it on a rough surface since that removes the paint coat and triggers rusting.

Cover the Metallic Items

You should cover the furniture in harsh weather using a waterproof, breathable cloth. The process ensures that the metal is not exposed to weather elements. Alternatively, you can store the items in your basement to avoid damage from bad weather. Keeping the items indoors means that you do not need to repaint them.

Use the Bluing Method

Bluing is one of the safest processes of protecting metal from rust. Gun owners use the technique to protect their guns from corrosion. The method involves oxidizing the surface of the steel to block rust formation. However, the bluing method leaves your metallic items with a unique blue color.

• Cold Bluing – You purchase a premixed bluing solution and rub it on the metallic furniture to create a coat. The method is effective for cutlery, metallic tools, and anything made from iron.
• Hot Bluing – The process is a bit complex and involves time and heat. First, you heat the metal in a chemical mixture
  to ensure it is well-coated.

Galvanize

Iron element in metal is prone to rust. The best way of protecting your metallic items is to ensure that you galvanize them using zinc. Most metal sheets and nails have been galvanized. You can buy products that have galvanized metal. However, if you want to undertake the process at home, you could be limited since you need a zinc smelter which is quite expensive.

Use Cold Galvanizing Elements

Most home improvement outlets have aerosol spray cans. You can purchase them and spray them on your metallic furniture to prevent them from rusting.

Make Repairs When You Detect Faint Rust

One of the easiest ways of maintaining metal is to check out any rust traces. You don’t have to wait for a large patch of rust to take action. If your item has a small patch of rust, clean the area and lightly sand it. Wipe off all the grit with a smooth cloth, then apply a metal primer. Leave it to dry completely and apply special paint to the metal.

Purchase Furniture Made From Coated Metal

When shopping for furniture, choose metals that are coated. You will get products with excellent longevity with the least maintenance needs. Powder-coated or baked-on enamel surfaces could be more expensive but will take long before they chip and rust. These items are less vulnerable to flaking and peeling and will last for years. You should also paint all your outdoor items with metallic paint.

Strip The Metal and Redo It From Scratch

If your furniture has undergone extensive damage due to rust, you need to take a different approach- refinish the metal. First, use a wire brush to make it fast. The wheel attachment on your power drill can grind the old coating. It would help if you took care of crevices to ensure that you do a perfect job. Next, wipe the place with a damp cloth and apply primer and metal paint.

VCI Packaging

VCI (Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors) packaging is a simple, clean, and dry choice for prohibiting metal furniture. The chemical protects metals with iron from rust. The chemical is added into emitters, poly films, and desiccants. VCI is the best way to protect metals without using oils, grease, or other coatings that are time-consuming.

Final Thoughts

Outside metal furniture rusts if it is not protected from weather elements. You can cover the seats using loose, breathable covers or taking them into the house. It would help to galvanize and use the bluing technique or the VCI method. Embracing maintenance practices such as cleaning metallic furniture would remove rust.