Rust shows up fast on tools, hardware, and metal odds and ends that spend any time in damp air. This simple homemade lanolin rustproofing gives bare metal a protective coating without turning the job into a whole weekend project (because the rust never waits politely).
Making your own can cost noticeably less than buying a comparable lanolin-based rust inhibitor. Using current Walmart pricing, this 10-ounce batch comes out to about $6.70, while a comparable 11.75-ounce lanolin-based corrosion inhibitor runs about $17.47. You also control the texture and skip added propellants because you’re brushing on a warm coating instead of spraying an aerosol.
You’ll need just 2 materials for one batch: lanolin and petroleum jelly. The method uses a small microwave-safe jar for melting and stirring, then you apply the mixture while it’s still warm to the metal item you want to protect.
- 🧰 Materials You'll Need
- 🔧 Tools/Equipment
- 🛠️ How to Make Homemade Lanolin Rustproofing
- 🛠️ How to Use It
- 🛡️ Safety Information
- 📦 Storage
- 🎨 Customization Ideas
- 💸 Cost Breakdown
- 🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Homemade Lanolin Rustproofing
- 📌 Love this Homemade Lanolin Rustproofing? Pin it!
- 🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Homemade Lanolin Rustproofing
Materials You’ll Need
- 1/4 cup lanolin
- 1 cup petroleum jelly
Tools/Equipment
- Small microwave-safe jar
- Spoon or stirrer
- Applicator or clean fingers for spreading the warm mixture
How to Make Homemade Lanolin Rustproofing
- Combine the lanolin and petroleum jelly in a small microwave-safe jar.
- Heat the mixture in short intervals, stirring frequently, just until it melts together.
- Use the mixture while it is still warm.
- Apply it to the object needing protection.
- Do not wipe it off.
- Allow the mixture to dry on the item.
How to Use It
Brush or rub the warm rustproofing mixture onto clean, dry metal surfaces that need a moisture-blocking coating. This works well for hand tools, metal hardware, and other small items that rust during storage or seasonal use.
Leave the coating in place after application so it can sit on the surface and do its job. If you need a tidy storage routine for protected items, keep them dry and separate them from anything that traps moisture against the metal.
Safety Information
Heat the mixture only until it melts together. Use a microwave-safe container, handle the warm jar carefully, and keep the melted coating away from open flame or high heat. For added caution, petroleum jelly product labeling commonly advises external use only and keeping it away from excessive heat, so treat this project like any warmed oil-and-wax style coating and use common-sense ventilation and handling practices. See the product information on DailyMed’s petroleum jelly labeling for the standard package safety language.
This coating is meant for metal objects needing rust protection. Test a small area first if you’re working with painted, finished, or specialty surfaces.
Storage
If you have extra mixture left in the jar, let it cool, cover it tightly, and store it at room temperature away from direct heat. Warm it gently again only if needed to soften it for another application.
Customization Ideas
This project stays useful because it’s simple. You can adjust how you use it based on the item you’re protecting rather than changing the formula itself.
- For tools: Rub on a light coat before storing seasonal hand tools.
- For hardware: Coat hinges, bolts, and small metal parts before long-term storage.
- For garage organization: Keep a labeled jar with your other DIY household formulas so it’s ready when you need it.
- For general metal care: Pair it with other ideas from Budget101’s household recipe collection if you like keeping practical fixes on hand.
Cost Breakdown
Using current Walmart pricing, an 8-ounce container of USP-grade lanolin is listed at $20.99, and a 13-ounce jar of petroleum jelly is listed at $2.36. Based on the amounts used here, the batch costs about $6.70 total, or roughly 67 cents per ounce. Prices vary by brand, size, and store, so treat that as an estimate.
🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
Frequently Asked Questions about Homemade Lanolin Rustproofing
Use it on metal items that need a protective coating during storage or light use, such as tools, hardware, and small metal parts. Test a small area first on painted, coated, or specialty finishes so you don’t create a mess you’ll have to scrub off later.
No. Apply the warm mixture and leave it in place. The original method is very clear on that point: do not wipe it off, and let it dry on the item.
Warm mixture spreads more easily and gives you a more even coating. Once it cools, it thickens, which makes application slower and a lot less cooperative.
Yes, if you stored the extra mixture in the jar, you can warm it gently again just until it softens enough to spread. Don’t overheat it. You only need it melted together, not boiling away in a science-fair reenactment.
Lanolin helps create a clingy protective coating that stays on the metal instead of disappearing right away. That’s one reason lanolin-based commercial rust inhibitors are popular for moisture protection.
Yes. A small brush, cloth, or gloved fingers can all work, depending on the item. Use whatever gives you an even coat and lets you get into crevices without slopping it everywhere.
This formula combines 1/4 cup lanolin with 1 cup petroleum jelly, which equals about 10 fluid ounces of finished mixture before application losses.
Usually, yes. Based on current Walmart pricing used for this article, the homemade batch costs about $6.70 for roughly 10 ounces, while a comparable lanolin-based aerosol corrosion inhibitor costs about $17.47 for 11.75 ounces.
No fancy setup here. You just need a small microwave-safe jar and something to stir with. That keeps the project simple and the cleanup blessedly short.
📌 Love this Homemade Lanolin Rustproofing? Pin it!
Did you try this rustproofing mix? Tell us what you used it on or what you learned after putting it to work.
🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Homemade Lanolin Rustproofing
Homemade Lanolin Rustproofing
Equipment
Materials
- ¼ cup lanolin
- 1 cup petroleum jelly
Instructions
- Combine the lanolin and petroleum jelly in a small microwave-safe jar.
- Heat in short intervals, stirring frequently, just until the mixture melts together.
- Use the mixture while it is still warm.
- Apply to the object needing protection.
- Do not wipe it off.
- Allow the mixture to dry on the item.
- https://www.budget101.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/homemade-lanolin-rustproofing-recipe.jpg
- Estimated cost is based on current Walmart pricing for consumable materials only and will vary by store and brand.
- Heat only until melted together.
- Use a microwave-safe container and handle the warm jar carefully.
- Keep the mixture away from open flame or excessive heat.
- Test a small area first on painted, coated, or specialty surfaces.
Where can I get Lanolin?
You can get lanolin in the pharmacy area at walmart or some big box stores. It can also be found at Health food stores or alternatively you can purchase it directly from Amazon.
Here:
Amazon.com