How to Clean a Rusty Barbell – A Beginner’s Guide
Most equipment for the gym is made of steel since it is a durable metal that can handle a lot of stress. Unless your barbells have a protective coating on it, the humidity where your equipment is stored is a breeding ground for rust. Unfortunately, steel barbells corrode easily. It doesn’t matter whether you bought the equipment already rusted or if you haven’t been taking good care of your equipment.
Fortunately, rust can be easy to clean. In this guide, we teach you how to clean a rusty barbell, but what you can do to keep it rust free.
Equipment Needed:
- Bucket
- White Vinegar
- Spray Bottle
- Baking Soda
- Water
- Paper towels
- Plastic wrap
- 3-in-1 oil
- Steel or brass brush
You can buy a Barbell cleaning kit on Amazon.
Soak the paper towels in white vinegar and wrap them around the whole barbell or wherever there is rust. Immediately wrap the barbell with plastic wrap to keep the paper towels from drying out and let it sit overnight.
If the paper towels evaporate quickly, it can cause flash rust to form on the barbell. Flash rust occurs within minutes, which causes more rust and defeats the purpose of your intent to clean it.
Therefore, make sure the barbell is wrapped thoroughly to keep the moisture in because it must sit overnight. Go ahead and create a neutralizer using a spray bottle, baking soda, and water mixture. You would want 2 parts baking soda water and apply it directly using a water bottle or a cloth and coat the bar.
Grab your brass brush and scrub the rust off the bar. If the rust is very stubborn, take the steel brush and scrub. Rinse the bar with water/baking soda mixture to remove excess rust that has come off and see your progress.
After a bit of elbow grease and time, your barbell should start looking a lot better than before and close to new again.
Once you are done, go ahead and pat your barbell dry and grab some paper towels to add 3-in-1 oil on it. Wipe your barbell down with the 3-in-1 oil.
Oil and brush the barbell thoroughly until it looks as clean as you want it to look.
Tips to Maintain a Clean Barbell
After deep cleaning the barbell, there are some extra measures you can take to ensure the barbell maintains the fresh look for longer.
- Once it’s clean, wipe down the barbell with oil using a paper towel. Repeat that process once per week.
- After every workout, simply brush off dust and chalk using a wire brush.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does WD 40 remove rust from a barbell?
Yes, WD 40 is excellent at removing rust. It breaks down the layers of grime and settles on the surface to protect the barbell from rusting again.
Can you get tetanus from a rusty barbell?
No, a rusty barbell will not give you tetanus. It is okay to handle a rusty barbell while cleaning since rust is non-toxic to humans. However, it can cause mild irritation on the skin as the surface becomes abrasive. That is why it is recommended that you clean your barbell as often as possible.
Can You Use a Rusty Barbell?
Yes, you can, although it is not recommended!
Although a rusty barbell is non-toxic and won’t hurt you, rust can leave stains on your clothes and abrasions on the skin. Plus, it doesn’t smell the best either, especially when it mixed with sweat. Allowing your barbell to continue rusting will cause it to degrade more quickly. That is why it is best to clean a rusty barbell and maintain it.
Final Thoughts
Take Care of Your Barbell – To avoid having to do this cleaning all over again, take good care of your barbell. After each barbell workout, especially if you are using chalk on your hands while working out, clean and wipe it down.
It doesn’t take that much time to do and sure beats the work required to get clean the rust off your barbell again. Once a week, wipe down your barbell with the 3-in-1 oil to minimize future rust.
Now you know how to clean a rusty barbell and some simple tips for maintaining it. Now your workouts will be healthy and hygienic.
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