Metal items inside and outside a home at the beach rust much faster than metal items in homes farther inland.
Fixing rusted items is a constant maintenance chore for beach houses.
Here are a few tips & tricks to keep metal items from rusting at your beach house, or at least reduce the rust.
photo courtesy of Thomas Ricker flickr.com/photos/trixer/2596939875/
Clean Things Constantly
At the beach, the salt from the ocean gets on everything (including in the air), which is what causes it to rust about 10 times faster than inland.
In order to remove the salt, clean your items as much as possible.
For items that you take to the beach, clean them after every use.
If you take anything on a beach trip (chairs, canopies, your car, etc), then wash them thoroughly at the beach to get the sand off, then wash them again immediately when you get home to get the salt from the air off.
Stainless Steel
When using metal items while constructing your beach house (nails, screws, hinges, etc), use stainless steel instead of cheaper metal building supplies.
Stainless steel might rust over time, but not nearly as quickly as cheaper metal.
Some stainless steel is stronger while other stainless steel is more resistant to rust.
The stainless steel most resistant to rust is 18-8 (about 18% chromium and 8% nickel).
Rust Prevention Paint
Use specialty rust preventative paint #ad on items that can be painted to eliminate or slow the rust process.
If the metal item is already rusty, it should be sanded prior to painting.
Cover
If your patio furniture, bicycle, garden tools, car, or other outdoor items tend to get rusty, consider covering them when not in use.
You can put them in a garage or protective building, use specialty covers made especially for your items, or use a simple tarp as a cover in order to slow down the rusting process.
Dehumidifier
Increased humidity at the beach can cause things to rust faster.
Consider using a dehumidifier #ad on the inside of your home to keep the humidity down.
Desiccant Packs
Add small desiccant packs #ad to enclosed areas to reduce the humidity and rust.
You can add them inside a jewelry box, kitchen or bathroom drawers, tool boxes, a safe, and other small areas.
Vent Fan
Another way to reduce humidity at the beach is to use a vent fan in your kitchen and bathrooms.
Kitchen vent fans should be used every time you cook on your stove.
Bathroom vent fans should be turned on before turning on your shower's water and kept running for at least 20 minutes after you turn off the water.
You might want to use a bathroom vent fan timer that automatically turns off after a certain amount of time.
Rust Inhibitor
Several companies sell rust inhibitors #ad that are lubrications applied to metal to keep it from rusting.
Some coatings work better than others, so make sure to research them well before purchasing.
Rust inhibitor can be used on garden tools, sports equipment, patio furniture, shower curtain rods & hooks, and more (make sure to follow the specific manufacturer's recommendations).
Rust Shield
There are several different types of rust shields #ad available.
Rust shields are not applied to metal, but they are placed near metal to keep it from rusting.
They typically last between 3 months and 1 year.
Rust shields can be used in gun safes, fishing tackle boxes, and tool boxes.
Keep it Dry
Avoid putting damp items on metal.
Condensation dripping from a beverage or a air conditioning unit can cause metal to stay wet and rust faster.
A damp dish towel placed on a refrigerator or dishwasher handle can cause rust over time.
Use Materials Other Than Metal
If you have a constant problem with metal items rusting, consider using materials other than metal.
You can use a wood or fiberglass exterior doors instead of metal doors.
You can use plastic patio furniture instead of metal patio furniture.
Select appliances that match your cabinets instead of stainless steel ones (newer stainless steel appliances have less nickel and chromium, making them less rust resistant than older stainless steel appliances. Typically if the stainless steel is magnetic, then it is more prone to rust).
The aesthetics of a non-metal item may not be as desirable to you, but a non-rusted item always looks better than a rusted item.
Pressure Wash the Outside of Your Home
In order to keep the salt off of the exterior of your beach house, plan on pressure washing it at least every 3 months.
You can hire someone to pressure wash it or buy a quality pressure washer to wash it yourself.
Make sure you are not overly agressive with your pressure washing that might cause damage.
Wash Your Car
Even if your car is not dirty, wash it at least once a week to remove the salt.
Pay special attention to the underside of your vehicle.
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