More and more people choose to train outdoors to enjoy the sun and fresh air.
But those who choose to train with weights in their home gardens must ask themselves how to keep the weights from rusting outside? In this case, your best ally will be the use of products that prevent or keep iron articles out of the reach of rusting. On the other hand, regular maintenance of your weights should be a task that you should not forget.
This maintenance should consist of cleaning your weights with soapy water and then drying them very well.
Never leave them wet outdoors. You would be creating the opposite effect.
In addition, if you are a person who perspires a lot, paint your weights with some anticorrosive pigment or waterproof product.
Also, avoid placing your weights directly on the ground because they can absorb moisture.
It is recommended to place them on a carpet or cardboard and if possible, when you are not using them, place them under a protective cover.
If you have a roof, awning, etc., they also serve as protection.
If you decided to replace the gym with an outdoor workout, you probably still want to know more about protecting your weight.
Let’s answer some of the common user queries.
Table of Contents
Can You Keep Your Weights Outside?
Yes, you can keep your weight outside. For this, you must take into account the weather so that you can prevent rust from appearing faster. I. e., the oxide will appear anyway at some point because the weights are made of iron or steel, but we must avoid them having direct contact with the water. In this way, they will remain in good condition for a longer time.
Keeping your weights outside is not the best option, but if you don’t have space, then let’s take a closer look at how you should act before different weather conditions to protect them.
1. Can You Keep Your Weights in the Sun?
The sun alone will not rust your weights, but you will have problems when using them as they will be hot, and that will be very annoying for you. On the other hand, even the best quality weights will rust over time if you leave them in the sun.
They will also have sweat, even if they have a coating such as black chrome or zinc oxide that helps protect the steel or iron from rust.
2. Can You Keep Your Weights in the Rain?
Rain is the worst enemy of your gym equipment, especially for your weights. You must protect them from rain and moisture using some protective plastic, in addition to giving them a hand of anticorrosive paint from time to time.
Ensure that the rainwater does not pass through the plastic protection, checking that it does not have holes.
After each rain, you must ventilate the plastic and dry it to prevent moisture and subsequent oxidation.
3. Can You Keep Your Weights in the Snow?
If during the winter, where you live, it snows, then you should prevent your weights from coming into contact with the snow. You can protect them under an eave or awning or wrap them with some plastic or tarp.
It is also important that the weights are lubricated and, from time to time, uncover them to give them some air.
Can Squat Racks Be Left Outside?
Yes, your squat racks can be left outside. Whether for reasons of size, lack of space, or just because you like to train outside, you can protect your squat rack by occasionally painting it with zinc and keeping the moving parts lubricated.
Cover it when not in use, especially during rainy days.
Can Treadmill Be Left Outside?
No, you definitely shouldn’t leave your treadmill outside. The reason? It is electrical training equipment, so it must be 100% protected from elements. Leaving your treadmill outside could cost you to stop working.
How Do I Get Rust off My Weights?
Rust causes the metal to expand while weakening it and making it brittle and flaky.
The oxide is permeable to air and water, so the metal that remains under the rust layer continues its corrosion process.
Rust is not only unsightly, but it is also harmful to metal.
The longer it stays in it, the more it will corrode this metal.
Therefore, you must get rid of the rust of your weights as soon as possible.
Step 1: Remove rust
You need to take a nylon brush or sandpaper to remove rust from the surface.
Avoid using steel brushes as they will damage your equipment.
In case the weights are painted, you will need to remove the paint first.
Step 2: Make a homemade solution
Prepare a solution with 50% water and 50% vinegar in a container, and then soak your weights.
Leave them there for 24 to 72 hours.
On the other hand, you will also find ready-made solutions on the market that easily remove rust.
Step 3: Scrub your weights
With the help of your brush, you should rub your weights until the rust has disappeared.
Step 4: Paint with a protective seal
It’s time to repaint your weights or use a special sprayer to protect them from rust, and they will look new again.
Sealers avoid the danger of liquid seepage and contact of exposed parts with oxygen, which delays oxidation.
Keep in mind that although some anticorrosive paints incorporate finishing enamel, their main function is not to give decorative finishes but to completely protect the surfaces.
You can also find seal products in powder format.
The seal or anticorrosive paint has the following benefits:
- It is easy to apply.
- It contains high anti-corrosive power.
- It has good coverage and leveling power.
- Excellent adherence.
- Fast dry.
- Variety of colors and finishes.
- Long-lasting protection against rust and corrosion.
- It can be covered with decorative finishing paints.
- It does not need to be diluted for application.
Extra Options:
1. To remove rust from your weights, there are homemade products like vinegar.
Acid, specifically citric acid or acetic acid, is a great way to remove rust.
The vinegar that works best is white vinegar.
2. Another effective and homemade product is the Coca-Cola drink because it contains enough phosphoric acid, perfect for removing rust.
You can do the same operation as with the vinegar, and you will see how the rust when brushing the metal comes out perfectly.
3. Another effective product is bicarbonate. For this, we put the bicarbonate directly on the weights.
Mix it with a little water creating a paste and spend the whole night releasing the oxide.
Then you will brush under the water, rubbing it well.
This method is great for smaller weights. You can use a toothbrush to remove the rust.
You will see how easily it comes out. Then, dry well with a towel.
4. Also, the salt with lemon works really well to remove the rust.
Rub all the rusted areas with salt and, when they are well covered, squeeze a lemon by pouring its juice over the salt.
Soak it well and let it act for two to three hours.
Are Rusty Weights Heavier?
Oxidation is a chemical process that combines iron and oxygen to form iron oxide.
During this chemical reaction, iron atoms pass electrons to oxygen atoms. This transfer is called oxidation.
This means that when your weights are in direct contact with the air, a certain amount of oxygen combines with said metal. In this way, when your weights rust to their initial mass, we must add the weight of all those oxygen atoms, and as an effect, their weights are heavier.
This is a slow process. However, in coastal areas or a humid environment, iron oxidizes earlier and in greater quantity than in dry areas.
This is because humidity acts as a catalyst for the oxidation reaction, speeding up and enhancing the process.
And is that the main catalyst for oxidation is water.
Although iron and steel weights appear solid to the human eye, water molecules can penetrate microscopic gaps in the metal.
This starts the corrosion process. If salt is also present, such as in seawater or perspiration, corrosion will be faster.
Exposure to sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide will also accelerate the corrosive process.
Summary
If you want to exercise outdoors, you can do it, for example, with your weights, or you can also use your squat racks.
Depending on the weather conditions, you can prevent them from rusting with special care, but if rust appears over time, you can use homemade methods to make them look new.
Still, keep in mind that not all gym equipment can be outside, as is the case with treadmills due to its motor.
Cover your weights properly and exercise all year, enjoying the outdoors.
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