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House Cleaning: Rust

To Prevent Rust. - Substances recommended for preventing rust are various animal fats, as lard, suet, and tallow, and oils, as linseed oil, olive oil, vaseline, etc.; also black lead, paraffin, collodion, quicklime, gutta percha, varnish, pitch-tar paint, and various mixtures of these. The object in all cases is to prevent contact of the metal with the oxygen of the air, especially where there is moisture.

The formation of rust is a process of combustion similar to that which takes place in breathing and in the burning of fuel and other combusti-- bles. The oxygen of the air uniting with iron forms a compound called ferrous oxide, which is iron rust. This action is very much hastened by moisture. Hence a coating of any oily, greasy, or sticky substance which will adhere to the metal without injuring it will prevent rust. Which of the following recipes is best will depend upon the article to be protected, and whether or not it is to be used or stored away. Such substances as collodion, paraffin, and black lead mixed with lard or other animal fat, boiled linseed oil, etc., can be used on small polished articles, as steel tools, skates, and the like. They can be readily removed, when necessary, by washing. Paraffin, collodion, boiled linseed oil, and copal varnish may be applied to tools and other articles which are in process of use, the excess being wiped off with a dry cloth. Pitch tar and paint can, of course, only be applied to coarser articles according to their several characters.