How to Use a Rust Neutralizer
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1 hours
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Beginner
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- 20-40
It is very easy to use a rust neutralizer and you can save you from replacing many household items both interior and exterior. It also can save and prolong the finish on your automobile. The neutralizer acts as a bonding agent or primer to hold the new paint and also stops more rust from forming. Rust neutralizers come in aerosols and brush-ons.
The commercial grade types for cars are usually applied in a spray chamber with equipment used especially for that purpose. The spray-on type is the most commonly used by do-it-yourselfers and homeowners, and is recommended for mild surface rust. Rust neutralizers chemically react with rust to create a neutral surface that won't rust further and will make it bondable with paint.
Saving the iron and steel items around your home such as railings, mailboxes, lamp posts, flower boxes, lawn furniture, and countless other items will save you a great deal of money, so it's a product you should become familiar with. They act as a primer to form a bond between the rusted metal and the new paint you will apply.
Step 1 - Clean Thoroughly
Remove as much loose rust as possible with your sandpaper or steel wool. This will enable the rust neutralizer to work better. If you have an electric sander you may also use that. You may also use a wire brush if you have one. The area must be completely clean of dirt, grease, and oil.
Step 2 - Apply Neutralizer
Then apply the neutralizer per package instructions and allow it to dry completely. A spray neutralizer will work best on rounded or two-sided items such as porch railings or handrails. You should always use an oil-based or lacquer-based paint on top of the neutralizer to make sure the item is sealed. Do not use latex.
Step 3 - Tips
Rust neutralizer, followed by paint should not be applied to things like water tanks or anything that holds water with the rusted area below the surface of the water. It will not work.
Do not sand the treated area after you have painted it as it will break the seal and bond of the neutralizer and paint allowing moisture to creep in.
Do not apply in direct sunlight as it will not dry properly or create the proper bond.
Do not apply on top of latex paint as it will not bond properly. If latex paint is on the rusted area, all the paint must be sanded off before using the neutralizer. You may also put an oil-based primer over the latex paint to avoid sanding if it's a big job.
These products don't work well in areas where there is a salt spray such as near an ocean. Also, if the item is subjected to heavy ice or snow on a routine basis.
Do not use in oxygen rich or pure oxygen areas.
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![Judy Rawnsley]()
Judy is a contributing writer for DoItYourself.com. She has experience researching and creating a wide range of home improvement and garden projects, and especially enjoys learning about household crafts, cleaning, and organization.![Dawn Hammon]()
Dawn Hammon has thrived in freelance writing and editor roles for nearly a decade. She has lived, worked, and attended school in Oregon for many years. Dawn currently spends her days convincing her children she is still smarter than them while creating new experiences with her husband of 24 years.  Her multiple interests have led her to frequently undergo home improvement projects. She enjoys sharing the hard-earned knowledge that comes with it with the audience of DoItYourself.com. Dawn and her sister make up a power-tool loving duo that teaches classes to local women with the goal of empowering them to tackle their fears and become comfortable with power tools. Tapping into her enthusiasm for saving money and devotion to sustainable practices, Dawn has recently launched a passion project aimed at connecting eco-friendly products and socially-responsible companies with consumers interested in making conscientious purchases, better informing themselves about products on the market, and taking a stand in favor of helping to save the planet. When she is not providing stellar online content for local, national, and international businesses or trolling the internet for organic cotton clothing, you might find her backpacking nearby hills and valleys, traveling to remote parts of the globe, or expanding her vocabulary in a competitive game of Scrabble. Dawn holds a bachelor's degree in psychology, which these days she mostly uses to provide therapy for her kids and spouse. Most recently, I worked for a small local professional organizing and estate sale company for four years where I learned a ton about organizing and/or disposing of just about anything. She was raised in a tool-oriented, hands-on, DIY family. Her dad worked in the floor covering business and owned local floor covering businesses, so of course selling floor covering was one of her first jobs. Her brother was a contractor for about 30 years and site supervisor for Habitat for Humanity. I worked with him often, building decks, painting houses, framing in buildings, etc. With her sister, she holds power tool classes to empower women who are scared or have never used them. Not quite homesteaders, she did grow up with a farm, tractors, motorcycles, expansive gardens, hay fields, barns, and lots of repairs to do. Plus she and her family preserved foods, raised cattle and pigs, chopped and hauled firewood, and performed regular maintenance on two households, outbuildings, fencing, etc. As an adult, she has owned two houses. The first one she personally ripped out a galley kitchen and opened it up to the living area, plus updated every door, floor covering, and piece of trim in the place. In her current home, she's tackled everything from installing real hardwood flooring to revamping the landscape.
