You might think your garage is safe, but many standard appliances can be a risk. Electric motors (like those in furnaces, refrigerators, or well pumps) and battery chargers produce ozone as a byproduct. For the best protection, don't store your rubber items within a few feet of these devices.
You will see many "hacks" online about fixing rubber. Let’s clear up two common ones:
are you trying to protect (e.g., car tires, car seals, outdoor hoses, old camera parts)? how to keep rubber from dry rotting work
) is a highly reactive gas. While found in the upper atmosphere, it is also generated at ground level by electrical motors, generators, welding equipment, and laser printers. Ozone attacks the double bonds in rubber polymers, causing rapid cracking, especially when the rubber is under mechanical tension. 3. Temperature Extremes
Petroleum-based products (like WD-40 or kerosene) and harsh degreasers. These dry out rubber. 4. Keep Rubber in Motion (Flexing) You might think your garage is safe, but
Contrary to the name, dry rot isn't a fungus. It is the chemical breakdown of the oils and polymers within the rubber caused by environmental stressors. Essentially, the rubber is "aging" prematurely.
Go check your spare tire, your garage door weatherstrip, and your oldest pair of work gloves. Clean them. Condition them. Store them right. And watch them outlast every rubber item your neighbor owns. You will see many "hacks" online about fixing rubber
Sunlight breaks down the polymers, causing cracking and brittleness [1].