How to Store Wrought Iron Furniture

Storing your wrought-iron furniture is very low-maintenance, so long as you follow a few simple rules before you close the items away. First, make sure that the finish is intact, because scratches in the finish will let in moisture, which will then get trapped under the surrounding coating, and promote the development of rust. If there are any signs of rust, remove the rust one small area at a time by soaking for a few minutes in white vinegar, lemon juice, or a paste of baking soda and water – this will loosen the rust – and then clean it off with steel wool or sandpaper. Patch the finish with a product that matches the original kind of finish, most likely an enamel-powder-spray-coating of some kind. These are sold in formulas specifically intended to control and prevent rust. If rust is not or is no longer an issue, the next step is to make sure that the iron is completely dry. If the storage space where the wrought iron furniture is to be kept has a humidity problem, the last measure which can be taken is to coat the iron with a thin layer of oil, immediately following drying it. Should protection from dings be an issue in a crowded storage space, wrap the metal with cloth after, not before oiling.