Whenever you get to iron, water and oxygen together, you get rust. So the best way to prevent it is to keep them apart; that's what paint does, or the spray-on wax and oil coatings that the car protection companies sell. Try dipping aluminum foil in the vinegar and using it as a brush to scrub off the rust. It is less abrasive than steel wool, but will still do the trick in removing the rust. You can use regular vinegar and simply allow your rusty metal objects to soak in it for up to 24 hours before rinsing.