If your skateboard has been slowing down, then it might be time to give it a good cleaning. Trust me- there’s hardly a problem that proper maintenance can’t solve!
Skateboards are bound to get dirty when used daily, which will ultimately affect their smoothness and your performance. Now cleaning one may be a slightly time-consuming affair, but it’s totally worth the effort to see a sparkly clean skateboard, ready to go.
My son is into skateboarding, which somewhat inspired my friend’s daughter to take up the activity. But when she asked me about how to maintain a skateboard, I was clueless about the process. And that’s when my son stepped in and explained everything about how to clean a skateboard.
Once you know the right way, skateboards can last for a long time. Plus, the cleaning can be done at home, and once you practice it a few times, the process shouldn’t be too difficult. All you need is the right set of accessories and a little patience.
Hi! I am Stacy Smith, and today, I will tell you all about the process in the following sections. Dive in!
My son told me that he always opens up the skateboard and cleans each part separately. So, I will talk about how to clean the different parts for your better understanding.
If you are a regular skateboarder, then you will know that wheels will get dirty. Now, if they have turned yellow, then you might have to replace them. Otherwise, simply use a wet rag to clean the wheels and keep turning them constantly so that the rug can touch every part.
But if they are very dirty, then you will have to unscrew the wheels first and take off the bearings. My son uses a screwdriver to do it, and then uses a toothbrush and some strong soap to scrub every part so that dirt loosens up.
Ensure that you get all the dirt out, and soak the wheels in some warm water for half an hour. Then scrub again with a wire brush or toothbrush and apply some lotion on the wheels before putting them back.
Since the deck is made of wood, my son remains very careful about not exposing it to water to prevent any damages.
So, my son advised using linseed oil, spirits, or furniture oil to clean the top and the bottom of the deck properly. These can also be used to remove marks and stains from the surface.
In case you need something stronger, you can use a solution of plain water and vinegar to remove any marks. However, the board has to be dried under high heat so that the board doesn’t retain any moisture. Otherwise, it may become completely deformed, and you may need to replace it much earlier than you’d have liked.
Some people believe in replacing grip tapes instead of cleaning them, and you can do so too. Just remove and un-grip the tape before you peel it off the top, then use a new one to cover the area, and you are done.
On the other hand, cleaning it would be less expensive, and you can do it at home all by yourself. For this purpose, you will need some grip gum or rubber cement along with a microfiber cloth and brushes.
Press the grip gum against the deck and slide it gently. This would remove the grim build-up on the top, and then you can proceed to clean the insides. Use brushes for deep cleansing and then wipe the surface with a cloth.
If you have a longboard, then you can use a soft brush or a window cleaner to scrub the top. This would remove the grime, and then you can use the microfiber to wipe it clean. After this, use your grip gum to collect any remaining dirt particles. However, remember that the grip tape needs to be completely dry for the gum to work.
Before starting to clean the bearings, my son always removes the shields from the top and soaks all the bearings in a cup filled with lube. He then leaves them soaked for about an hour and keeps checking to see if the lube has turned darker. The lube getting darker means that the dirt from the bearings is accumulating in it.
Once it’s completely dark, he replaces the lube with another fresh cup of it. In hindsight, you should repeat this process until the lube no longer gets dark. After this, take a paper towel and clean every bearing one by one. Rub them well and roll them on the paper to ensure that they are completely dry.
Lastly, apply some speed cream so that they remain well lubed for prolonged periods.
Skateboard trucks are prone to rust, so you need to get rid of the rust to prevent the rest of the skateboard from breaking down. And to do this, you can get some vinegar and soak the truck in it.
Let it soak for a couple of hours until the rust comes off, and use some paper napkins or towels to clean and dry it. Then apply some lube on the dry truck and reassemble the entire skateboard.
On that note, it’s time for me to wrap up today’s guide.
But before I say goodbye, here are some other handy tips. Firstly, don’t scrub the deck too hard, as it’s made of wood and can scratch easily. Use a soft brush to get the dirt out from wherever needed. Once it’s clean, you can even paint it to have a beautiful new deck.
Also, try avoiding water if you want to increase the durability of the skateboard. Water and excessive moisture will invariably damage the structure in the long run.
Let me know if you have any further queries about skateboards, and I will try to curate another guide on this topic. Take care and stay safe!
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