Keep Your Stash Of Nails Rust-Free With This Clever WD-40 Hack

There's a particular kind of annoyance when you open your box of nails in the middle of a DIY project, (like this no-drill TV mounting hack), just to find the nails all rusty. Storing nail boxes in a humid garage or basement is a perfect way to end up with supplies that have turned orange from rust and become useless when you actually need them. The good news is you can stop this from happening to your next batch with a can of WD-40.

After all, like everyone in the U.S. and their cats, we're willing to bet you already have a can stashed in your cabinet. It might feel like the nail gods have it out for you, especially since those nails have been sitting in a box the whole time so they should be safe, right? Wrong. Cardboard or standard retail boxes for nails aren't actually airtight. Ambient moisture works its way in over weeks or months, especially every time you open and close the box mid-project. Moreover, for people living close to the sea, coastal air brings salt into the mix, all of which can cause all your different types of nails to develop rust over time.

WD-40 brand mentions that its Specialist Penetrant is one of the best chemicals for rust and corrosion removal and is ideal to keep your nails rust-free. The company also vouches for its corrosion inhibitor variant that can prevent rust indoors for up to two years. However, the common multi-use can will work just as well. Either way, wear some protective gear, like a pair of rubber gloves, safety goggles, and a mask, before you start. If your nails are already rusty, use a microfiber cloth and a wire brush to clean the flaky rust and any unwanted substance from the surface. However, if the rust is hard, use WD-40 Specialist Rust Removal Soak.

Now, to keep them from rusting in the future, spray WD-40 all over the nails. Since you wouldn't want to do this for every nail individually, directly spray the box in which your nails are. Just make sure to shake the box so that the solvent spreads evenly and covers all the spots on your nails. It's important you let it sit on the nails for some time for more effective rust prevention. Finally, use a dry microfiber cloth to lightly soak up any residual moisture before packing up your box and stashing it away.