Around a pool, metal is always wet, and chlorine and salts in the water speed up corrosion. Even stainless steel or aluminium ladders gradually get orange specks, especially at welds, bolts and anchors, and a hairpin or nail dropped on the bottom leaves a stain that is hard to remove.
Prevention works best: inspection, cleaning and a protective treatment twice a year, before the season and before winter. That way handrails, light brackets and screws reach summer without rust streaks.
What you will need
Important: Never spray products over the water or let them reach the pool basin or steps people walk on barefoot: surfaces become slippery. Treat parts on the side or over a plastic sheet, and wipe off the excess thoroughly.
Step 1
Find the source of rust
Walk round the pool and list everything metal: ladder, handrails, anchors, flange and fitting screws, light brackets, drain and skimmer grilles. Check the bottom too: a hairpin, coin or nail will stain, so fish it out at once.
Stains near welds and bolts show what needs attention first.
Step 2
Wash the ladder and handrails
Apply a neutral detergent solution to the ladder and rails with a microfibre cloth to remove chlorine deposits and dirt. Wipe dry with a clean rag. Abrasives and chlorine-based cleaners are wrong for stainless steel: they scratch it and encourage corrosion.
Step 3
Apply a protective layer
Treat the metal parts of the ladder above the treads and the handrails with WD-40 Multi-Use; larger frames are quicker with WD-40 Trigger Pro. Leave for 10 minutes, then wipe off the excess with a dry cloth. The thin film displaces moisture and protects against rain and condensation.
Always wipe treads and grip areas completely dry afterwards so they are not slippery.
Step 4
Treat screws and fixings
Remove screws that come out easily, spray them with WD-40, rub off any orange marks with a rag and refit them. For screws in fittings, light brackets and hatch hinges, use the thin straw of the WD-40 Smart Straw.
Apply WD-40 Specialist White Lithium Grease to the threads of ladder anchors that come out for winter: they will undo easily in spring.
Step 5
Check drains and grilles
Drain and skimmer grilles sit underwater all the time, so they rust fastest. Remove them, clean them, treat them with WD-40 on dry land, wipe dry and refit. If the metal has rusted through, replace the part.
Step 6
Prepare for winter
Before closing the pool, remove the ladder, wash, dry and treat it again, and store it indoors. Cover exposed fixings left outside with WD-40 and a cover, as meltwater and temperature swings cause the most rust.
Tip: Treat everything twice a year: in spring before opening and in autumn before closing. In summer, wipe chlorine deposits off the handrails once a month; it takes five minutes and greatly extends the life of the metal.
What next
The same approach works for metal furniture by the pool, outdoor shower posts and garden swings. If an orange stain has already appeared on the pool lining, first remove its cause, then treat the stain with a cleaner recommended by the lining manufacturer.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».