The corrosion inhibition efficiency of octadecanethiol (ODT) for zinc and a zinc-copper patterned model sample (Zn-Cu) has been explored during exposure in an atmosphere that mimics indoor atmospheric corrosion containing humidified air (80% relative humidity at 20◦C) and formic acid (around 100 ppb). The corrosion kinetics were monitored in situ with infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, and the local nature of corrosion effects post-analyzed with complementary scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and confocal Raman spectroscopy. ODT shows initially a corrosion inhibiting ability both on zinc and on Zn-Cu. This ability decreases with time due to local removal of ODT, which causes micro-galvanic effects that eventually result in corrosion rates that exceed those for the uncovered samples. On bare and ODT-covered samples, the presence of a copper-zinc junction results in both accelerated corrosion and in structurally more developed corrosion products. Overall, the results suggest that ODT can function as a temporary corrosion inhibitor in representative indoor environments on zinc and zinc with zinc-copper junctions.