Bicycles, barbecues, patio furniture and plant stands. What do they have in common? If you're thinking "good candidates for a garage sale," you might be right, but if they're loaded with rust you're going to still have them at the end of the day. Making these items look bright and shiny again -- and keeping them looking that way -- is easier than you think. It's a matter of proper cleaning, surface preparation and sealing with the right primer and paint. Preparation determines whether you'll be seeing rust again anytime soon. First, remove as much rust and bad paint as possible using a wire brush. Better yet, use an electric drill with a wire wheel. Whatever rust you can't brush off can be removed with a coat of chemical rust remover. Once you're down to bare metal give it a good coat of oil-based primer with zinc oxide or red oxide. A coat of oil-based semi-gloss enamel will provide an abrasion-resistant finish. It'll offer the greatest, longest-lasting quality. And that's the On The House tip for today.