Setting up a gym in your garage is a great investment. Unfortunately, it can be the ideal environment for rusting. To extend the lifespan of your gym equipment and fend off rust, you need to take the proper steps.
There are many ways to stop gym equipment from rusting in the garage. The biggest impact is humidity, so adding a dehumidifier and ventilating the garage is key. Always wipe down equipment after use to get rid of moisture and sweat. Properly store your equipment and always buy steel or other high-quality materials that won’t rust easily.
If you’re considering setting up a gym in your garage, it’s important to know the best way to fend off the rust and keep your equipment looking good as new. Luckily, there are many ways to keep the rust off your gym equipment, and this article will show you how.
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How to Stop Gym Equipment from Rusting in Your Garage
Nobody wants to buy gym equipment and create a gym in their garage, only to find it rusting a few short months later. The good news is, there are many ways to fend off rust. Between proper cleaning, reducing humidity, and buying anti-rusting equipment, you can enjoy your garage for many years to come. Here’s how to do it.
Ditch the Humidity
Humidity = rust; it’s a proven fact. That’s because humidity contains high levels of moisture. When this moisture hits your gym equipment, it penetrates the iron and steel and creates an acid that erodes equipment. Not only that, but the oxygen molecules found in water combine with air to deteriorate the equipment.
What’s a new garage gym owner to do?
The best option is to lower the humidity levels of your garage. This can be especially difficult in areas of high humidity, such as Florida or Georgia. It also makes it that much more important.
If your air conditioning unit is not attached to the garage, you need to buy a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers draw moisture out of an area, such as the garage, which will reduce the chances of rust and corrosion. This dehumidifier is a great choice.
You should also consider lining your garage floor with a polyaspartic coating. This coating type will help reduce the overall condensation in the garage while also protecting the floor, which is beneficial when creating a gym in your garage.
Lastly, ventilate your garage by leaving the garage door ajar. This is especially important to do after your workout when sweat and moisture fill the area. Use a large fan to help get rid of the extra moisture.
Clean Your Equipment
It’s not just moisture you need to worry about; it’s your sweat, too. Sweat can cause rust as the salt found in sweat forms an oxide layer onto the surface of gym equipment, which is the initial corrosion process. Therefore, over time, rust will form.
The best way to avoid rust from sweat is to clean your gym equipment after every workout session. It doesn’t have to be an over-the-top cleaning routine. All you need to do is:
- Mix water and soap in a spray bottle.
- Spray the gym equipment thoroughly.
- Use a clean towel to clean off the equipment.
- Use a second clean towel to dry the equipment entirely.
Buy Equipment with a Strong Coating
If you’re setting up a gym in your garage, the last thing you should do is go “cheap”. Cheaper gym equipment might not have a strong coating that can fend off rust and corrosion. That said, opt for gym equipment that has the original strong coating from the factory.
Look for gym equipment made from materials that aren’t prone to rust, too, such as stainless steel. You can also consider spraying your equipment down with an anti-rust coating to further prevent rust from forming.
Proper Storage
Leaving your weights out and about might seem like the easiest choice, especially after a hard workout, but you might be setting up your items for rusting failure. Proper storage is key to extending the lifespan of your gym equipment.
While it may seem like a nuisance, storing some of your equipment (such as barbells and weights) in large storage containers is ideal. Containers will ensure that your gym equipment is not susceptible to moisture, whether through the air or on the ground.
That said, it’s best to find a spot off of the ground to place your containers. Since you’re creating a home gym in your garage, you may as well go all the way with a DIY project of creating a storage area, too.
Make sure the equipment is wiped down before sticking in the container, though. You don’t want moisture or sweat seeping into the container and harming the rest of your gear.
Can You Put Exercise Equipment in Garage?
While many companies advise you not to put exercise equipment in the garage, you can still be successful in doing so. The biggest thing to remember is that the items need to be stored properly. Don’t expect to place exercise equipment in the garage, not take care of it, and have it last for years on end.
Using the proper methods above will help to reduce the chance of rust forming on your gym equipment and extend the overall lifespan.
How Do You Keep Weights from Rusting?
If you’re specifically trying to stop weights from rusting, the best thing to do is:
- Wipe down any moisture or sweat
- Scrub the weights with a wire brush after each use
- Apply an anti-rust spray or oil
- Place in a storage container
How Do I Prepare My Home Gym for a Garage?
There are a few key things to do to prepare your garage for a home gym:
- Clean the area to make room for the equipment
- Set up a storage space
- Seal the garage entirely
- Coat the floor
- Adopt ways to handle humidity, such as a dehumidifier or large fan
Final Words
Rust is a big fear for DIY garage gyms, but you can fend off the rust with a few simple steps. The most important thing to do is to reduce humidity in the garage. Maintain a proper cleaning schedule and store your equipment properly. Finally, start with high-quality, anti-rust equipment and enjoy a rust-free garage gym for years to come.
