This technical note describes the use of lithium hydroxide in an alcohol solution for treating corroded iron prior to surface coating. This method leaves the rust layer and removes instead elements likely to promote corrosion such as salts, water, fat, oil and mud. Pre-rusted 150 X 100 millimeter steel samples were soaked in solutions of 0.2 percent lithium hydroxide in alcohol, or alcohol and distilled water for periods of ten minutes. These samples, as well as controls, after drying and painting were exposed to accelerated-corrosion testing in a salt spray chamber, according to ASTMD-117. Rusting over several days was judged against an anti-rust scale developed by the Swedish Corrosion Institute and the Swedish Standardization Committee (SIS 055900). The lithium hydroxide treatment was the most successful doubling the life of the paint film as compared to untreated controls. Other applications for this chloride inhibitor under investigation include effect on other paint systems, protection against finger-print corrosion, elimination of chlorides on stainless steel, removal of hydrochloric acid after pickling and fluxes after soldering. This documents the use of lithium hydroxide as a surface treatment for corroded iron objects.