Hints on Preventing Rust on Your Metal Outdoor Furniture Home Decoration Home Furniture Home Garden by Lillian Connors - June 24, 2015November 17, 2015 Hints on Preventing Rust on Your Metal Outdoor Furniture Metal furniture has many perks for outdoor patio use. Aside from being elegant and attractive, enhancing the patio décor, it is also very durable and long lasting, and with minimal care it can last for a lifetime. Preventing rust on it is crucial for its longevity. Here’s what you should know about it. Metal and Weather As itself, metal is hugely resistant to weather changes, sunlight, ice and rain, but it is prone to rusting. In most cases it is the surface rust, that can be removed easily, but at the end of the days it mars the elegance and beauty of your metal furniture, not to mention that rust will color the pillows and other fabrics. The rust problem is especially present in more humid climates, like tropics or in the dampness of the oceanic weather. Salty water actually acts as rust accelerator. We can claim that metal outdoor furniture is weather resistant but it is not weather proof. It will withstand a lot, but its coloration will change. Luckily, there are many effective measures for preventing rust. Image- flickr.com Most Important – Keep it Dry As we said, if water or moisture sits on metal surface of your furniture, it reacts with the metallic components and rust is created. The rust in itself is good as it should protect the metal from further corrosion, but the problem is that it chips and crumbles and facilitates that unseemly reddish color. While metal furniture is more water resistant than wicker or wooden furniture which can develop molds and eventually rot, it won’t benefit from the moisture either. Wiping the spilt liquid or rainwater from the furniture surfaces will keep the rust at bay. It also doesn’t help to leave metal furniture unattended for prolonged periods of time. Keep Furniture Covered when not in Use Image- flickr.com Upholstery has multiple benefits for metal patio furniture. While giving the chairs a stylish new look, it also protects them from the elements. And the best part is, if it gets soiled or moldy, you can always remove it and get it washed. You can also use cushions, chair-backs and arm covers. These will minimize the moisture exposure, but also the heat, which helps the rusting process. Store it away in Off-Season No matter how durable it is, metal patio furniture is best stored inside when not used, like from late autumn to early spring, or when you leave home for prolonged periods. Store it in the garage or a dry shed, where it will be out of the moisture reach. There are even large waterproof outdoor covers that can be bought from reputable sources, and used for covering the patio furniture when not in use or when the weather is constantly changing, so indoor storage is not an option. Applying Protective Products Image- flickr.com You can also use some of commercial rust protection products, like paste wax, which is not only water resistant but it keeps your outdoor metal furniture neat and shiny throughout the year. Before applying paste way, you should clean the metal surfaces and let it dry completely. The best results are achieved by a wide paint brush, which helps you apply the coat over the entire surfaces. You can also use quality products for rust prevention based on grease or oil, for regular maintenance of metal surfaces. Rust and oiled metal don’t go hand in hand. No matter what technique you use, remember that the most important thing is to keep the moisture away. You can achieve that with storing the furniture inside when not in use, using protecting covers, or covering it with a layer of paste wax or rust resistant oils.