Whitewashing your blades will help to prevent rust buildup and preserve their color. Whitewashing is easy to do and only takes a few minutes in the evening. All you need is a bucket, a spray bottle, and water. The first step is to fill up a bucket with a half-gallon of water. Next, pour in the amount of metal polish that the directions recommend. Then, add in the number of metal cleaning pads the package recommends. Lastly, drop your fan blades into the bucket. Now you can use the metal pads to rub down your blades. You can also use a spray bottle filled with water for a lighter touch. After you have scrubbed all the blades, take them out of the bucket and use a rag to dry them off.