Fit a circular brass wire brush head into a cordless drill.
Turn on the drill and brush the rust off of the pipe using the stiff wire bristles. Wear goggles as you work to protect your eyes from any flying rust pieces.
Apply a rust inhibitor designed for galvanized metal to the pipe. The application method depends on what type of inhibitor you are using. Some are available in spray cans and others are applied using a disposable paintbrush. For spray cans, shake the can and spray the inhibitor onto a clean pipe. Hold the can 1 foot from the surface.