How to Take Care of Gym Equipment and How to Refurbish Rusted Weights

April 12th, 2023

We’ve all owned a pair of weights that have slowly but surely become covered in a layer of rust. Maybe your gym gear hasn’t had some love in a while, or you picked up a pretty good deal on Marketplace and want to refurbish some old equipment. Whatever your reason, this blog is here to guide you through how to take care of your gym equipment and restore weights that have seen better days. 

For this tutorial, all you’ll need is a wire brush, a can or two of INOX Lubricants, and some rags or paper towels. Depending on how far gone your gym equipment is, maybe some white vinegar and bicarb will come into play. But let’s focus on that when we get to it. 

First of all, INOX-MX3 is a supreme-grade anti-corrosion and anti-moisture lubricant that displaces and penetrates through rust. Because of that, it is perfect for restoring and maintaining gym equipment. To find your closest can of INOX, search for your nearest retailer here. 

Weight Plates & Barbells

You may have ignored your gym equipment for a little while and came back to it looking a bit browner than you remembered. Maybe you use it regularly, but that rust build-up still snuck up on you. No matter how you use your gym equipment, it will eventually rust. Luckily INOX has preventative measures to slow that down, and it’s pretty easy to revert any damage that’s already been done. Follow these easy steps to restore rusty gym equipment. 

 

Step 1 – Remove Rust With Wire Brush 

Your first step is to scrub away as much surface rust as possible with your wire brush. Barbells tend to have textured grips to improve the hold people can get on them. Because of that, the surface area hides rust in the grooves. Go at it with a thick bristle brush first to dislodge everything you can. The same goes for metal plates that have rust in the details. 

 

Step 2 – Let INOX Work Its Magic 

Once most of the surface rust is removed by hand, apply an ample amount of INOX-MX3 to the metal parts. Leave it to rest for a few minutes so the penetrating formula has time to seep under the rust and dislodge it. Afterwards, rub down the bar with a rag or paper towels to lift the removed rust from the metal surface. Make sure to remove as much INOX as possible, especially in places where you will need to grip weights. Just be sure not to wipe away the protective layer it leaves behind. 

 

If your rust is particularly bad, soak it in vinegar overnight. Smaller weights can be submerged in a bucket, but the best way to cover large items is by soaking paper towels and then covering the bar. Seal them in by cling-wrapping the bar. The next day, quickly neutralise the vinegar by spraying baking soda dissolved in water over the weights. Once you wash your gym equipment off with water, dry it down and then apply INOX as recommended above. 

 

Step 3 – Keep Your Equipment Protected 

Prevention is easier than repair. If you maintain a semi-regular care routine for your gym equipment, rust should rarely, if ever, grow on your gym equipment. Wiping all metal parts with INOX-MX3 or LANOX-MX4 will significantly extend the life of your metal weights and bars. 

 

Oil & Service Machines

Treadmill fails are the things of nightmares! Make sure your gym machines are always in tip-top shape to avoid appearing on the next ‘Fails’ video. You’ll need to maintain machines more regularly than standard free weights. Things like bikes, ellipticals, rowing, stair masters and other weight machines require regular lubrication and protection. 

 

Use INOX-MX5 Plus on cardio machines (except under the walking belt) and on pulleys/cables on weight lifting equipment. Then using a clean rag, apply INOX-MX3 or LANOX-MX4 to any exposed metal parts that you want to protect from rust. 

 

Racks, Holders & Accessories 

Your weights aren’t the only things that need TLC from time to time. Make sure you maintain the storage racks and weight benches to get the most out of their life expectancy. INOX will protect all metal gym equipment and accessories from rust. INOX-MX12 PTFE leaves a dry film that doesn’t attract dust or grime. That means even your smaller clamps can benefit from a coating of INOX without you worrying about jamming them up. 

 

Have A Good Hygiene Routine 

Treat your weights with respect, and they’ll do the same to you. After every use, wipe them down with a towel or antibacterial cloth. Doing this alone will remove the salt in your sweat from the surface and lower the chance of rust spots forming. Keeping weights stored on a rack and not on the floor is another great way to keep your gear fresh for longer.

 

INOX Has 1001 Uses – Discover The Rest 

Our range of lubricants are used in nearly every industry under the sun. From construction to motorsport, aquatic, electrical and anything else, INOX provides the best lubrication and protection. Discover all the things INOX can help you with.