Consumers have a lot of different options in terms of removing stubborn rust from different surfaces. From store-bought rust removers to using at-home materials, there are many tools you can choose from. WD-40 is a great tool and can be used on a lot of different surfaces, but does it remove and prevent rust?
WD-40 will remove rust, as well as prevent future rust from forming. It works well because it’s a product that was designed to tackle rust, and it does so successfully on many different surfaces. While removing rust does require patience, WD-40 is a powerful option that delivers.
In this article, we’ll be discussing how WD-40 removes and prevents rust, as well as how you can use this product correctly in order to see results. If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, keep on reading.
How Does WD-40 Remove and Prevent Rust?
WD-40 can help remove rust on multiple different surfaces.
From iron, chrome, and stainless steel, you can tackle rust on a lot of different surfaces with the help of this product. While some might know and use WD-40 solely as a lubricant, it’s also instrumental in loosening and removing surface rust.
This WD-40 Multi-Use Product will definitely do just that. It’s lubricating qualities loosen the bonds between the rust and the metal surface it has clung to. Not only does this product remove rust, but it prevents future rust as well.
This WD-40 Specialist Long Term Corrosion Inhibitor adds a protective layer on metal surfaces that stops rust from forming. This product will protect your surfaces from corrosion and rust for up to 2 years.
It’s obvious that WD-40 is a great tool for removing and preventing rust. There are multiple products available that consumers can choose from, and that choice depends on the materials that you’re looking to treat.
Below, we’ll explore how you can successfully use WD-40 to gain the best results and say goodbye to rust once and for all.
How to Use WD-40 Successfully
As we discussed above, there are multiple products available for consumers to choose from. Factors like the severity of the rust, as well as the surface area you’re treating, will play a role, and you may need to do some research to find the right product for you.
Below, we’ll go over where you can apply WD-40 and what products you should look out for that will help you get the job done.
Cars
Are you looking to remove the rust that’s built up on the outside of your car, but worried about damaging the paint? WD-40 won’t damage the paint on your car, unlike other rust removers that contain harsh chemicals.
To remove rust from the infected area, just spray your WD-40 onto the rust and wait about 10 minutes. In those 10 minutes, the WD-40 is quickly breaking down the rust that’s built up on the surface area.
Once it’s loosened, it can be easily scrubbed away with a light abrasive such as aluminum foil or a toothbrush. You can also just simply wipe down the area with a soft cloth to remove the residue. You’ll be able to successfully remove any rust on your vehicle while keeping the paint intact.
Another plus to WD-40 is that after you’ve applied it and cleaned off the rust, its corrosion-resistant formula will keep your vehicle rust-free for a long time.
Garden Tools
WD-40 has an entire lawn and garden range that will help keep your tools rust-free and in top tier condition. Garden tools especially are very prone to rust build up as they spend a large amount of time outside, and can have outdoor elements like dirt and bacteria build up.
This WD-40 Specialist Penetrant will penetrant deep into crevices and leave behind a protective layer that will keep rust at bay. WD-40 also has multiple different lawn and gardening products available. If you’re interested in learning more about that, you can click here.
It seems like a no brainer to use WD-40 the next time you’re looking to tackle rust on your garden tools. Not only will it remove any stubborn rust you’re dealing with, but it’ll add a corrosion-resistant layer that will prevent your tools from future rust and damage.
Bikes
Your bike needs functional chains to move, and it allows you to enjoy your ride. Giving your bike and its chains the proper maintenance it needs is key to keeping your bike free from damage and rust.
This WD-40 Chain & Metal Parts Degreaser will cling to your rust and allow it to break down. This citrus-based, foaming action formula will quickly clean your bike’s necessary equipment while also protecting it.
Just allow this formula to sit on the infected surfaces for at least 10 minutes before you clean it off. Using this product is a great way to eliminate rust off of your bike’s chains and gears.
Not only will this product quickly remove rust, but its protective layer will keep the formation of future rust far away from your materials.
Concrete
Removing built-up rust that’s formed in the concrete is doable with the right WD-40 product.
Your best bet for tackling rust that’s formed in concrete is the WD-40 Multi-Use Product. Once you’ve applied the product and you’ve allowed it to sit on the rust for a few minutes, using an abrasive tool to scrub is the next step.
Like we mentioned earlier, an abrasive tool can be anything from aluminum foil to an old toothbrush to sandpaper. If you’re not quite happy with the results afterward, you can also go ahead and repeat this process.
Thankfully WD-40 has multiple different versions of their anti-rusting formula, so there are plenty of formulas to try for many different purposes and surfaces.
Bathroom/Shower
Anything constantly surrounded by water is bound to rust faster, and your bathroom is no exception. Rust can also form here if you place your aerosol cans on the floor, as they are made from metals that corrode.
When moisture and oxygen meet, rust can form in the shower, toilet, and bathroom sink. Thankfully you can use WD-40 in these areas of your house as well, and the results will be outstanding.
For bathrooms, the same multi-use WD-40 we discussed earlier will do the job just fine. Similar to the other surfaces we covered, you’ll want to spray the formula onto the rusted surfaces and wait a few minutes before you start scrubbing.
For indoor uses of WD-40, there are low odor versions available, so the next time you’re in the shower, you’re not breathing in such strong fumes.
This video below shows you how beneficial low odor indoor WD-40 formulas are, and on what surfaces you can use them on.
Conclusion
WD-40 is such a useful tool for removing rust as well as protecting surfaces from rusting and corroding in the future.
There are multiple different products available that you can choose from, depending on the surface you’re trying to treat, as well as the environment you’re in. We explored how WD-40’s formula loosens rust in order for it to break down, while also creating a barrier so future rust can’t form.
There are so many areas that you can treat when rust finds a way in. From your gardening tools to your bike’s chain and gears, WD-40 products offer a wide range of formulas to help you tackle even the most stubborn rust formation.