How to Protect Appliances From Rust Stains

Keep appliances dry to prevent rust stains.

For all their usefulness and ubiquity, home appliances are still machines and, like any machine, appliances last longer and work better when treated with care and kept out of harsh environments. Most appliances find themselves subjected to water and moisture on a regular basis. The moisture, left unattended, can bond with oxygen and exposed metal on the appliance to form rust. Rust weakens the integrity of metal and spreads like wildfire. If an appliance becomes rusted, fixing it can require a lot of time and expensive supplies. Protecting appliances from rust stains before they form is much easier than removing rust after the fact.

Things You'll Need

• Rag
• Appliance touch-up paint
• Mild liquid dish soap
• Paste car wax

Instructions

1. Situate the appliance in a dry, climate-controlled location. Avoid exposing appliances to shifting temperatures and humidity, which can cause rust-encouraging condensation to form on the surface of the appliance.

2. Dry the appliance immediately if any water spills on it. Wipe up the water with a clean rag.

3. Repair any scratched or chipped paint to minimize the chances of the metal underneath rusting. Apply appliance touch-up paint -- found at hardware and appliance stores -- to the area following the directions on the bottle. Check with the store staff to see if your appliance requires a special type of paint -- for example, ranges need a special, heat-resistant appliance paint.

4. Clean the appliance regularly -- the exact timeline will depend on the frequency of use. Wash the appliance with a mixture of three or four drops of a mild, nonabrasive liquid dish detergent and 3 cups of warm water. Dry the appliance immediately afterward. Follow any special cleaning instructions specific to your appliance's make and model.

5. Cover the exterior of the appliance with a paste car wax, which adds an extra layer of moisture protection. Apply a small amount of wax following the directions on the product label. Spread the wax thinly and evenly over the surface of the appliance.

References

• Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers: Prevent Rust on Your Appliance Finishes
• LG Knowledge Base: General Maintenance: Rust on Stainless Steel

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish