Photo by Khoa Huỳnh from Pexels
Our skateboards can take quite the beating, as evidenced by the dirt, grime, and other debris that accumulates. While having a dirty skateboard is certainly an aesthetic problem, it can also negatively affect your performance. The growing amount of dirt and mud can cause your wheels to stick and decrease the grip of your grip tape over time.
As a rule of thumb, we generally recommend cleaning your skateboard every 2 to 3 months. While thoroughly cleaning your complete skateboard might seem unnecessary to you, giving your skateboard a proper scrub down can really make a difference in your riding experience, help your setup last longer, and even keep you safer on your skateboard.
Are you looking to give your skateboard a little TLC? Keep reading below for a helpful guide on how to clean your skateboard section by section. If you’re looking for a detailed guide on how to properly clean your bearings, check out this step by step article here.
How to Clean Your Skateboard Trucks
Trucks are the T-shaped turn parts located under the skateboard deck that attach to the wheels. Composed of axles, hangers, kingpins, and bushings, trucks affect your stability as well as your ability to perform tight turns or tricks. Keeping your trucks clean and lubricated is the best way to ensure a smooth ride.
What You’ll Need
- WD40 (or soap and water as an alternative)
- Paper towels
- New parts to replace old, worn-out ones (if necessary)
- Skate tool
Use your skate tool to remove the kingpin nut. Separate the hanger from the baseplate and remove the washer (if applicable) and bushings.
Spray some WD40 onto paper towels and wipe off any dirt, grime, debris, or anything else that’s accumulated on the hangers, bushings, washers, and other components. If you don’t have any WD40 on hand, scrub the trucks and components in soapy water, then rinse with clean water.
If necessary, replace worn out nuts, bolts, and bushings with new ones. Reassemble your trucks and reinsert the kingpin nut. Make sure that everything is properly fastened.
How to Clean Your Skateboard Wheels
Photo by Jan Kopřiva from Pexels
Our skate wheels go through a lot, often rolling through dirt, mud, water, gum, or worse. Skateboard wheels literally keep us going, and we’ve got to return the love every now and then with a thorough cleaning.
What You’ll Need
- Sink or bucket of water
- Skate tool
- Washcloth
- Wire brush or toothbrush
- Dish soap
- Paper towels
Remove the wheels with your skate tool. Don’t forget to keep your bearings in a secure place while cleaning your wheels.
Soak the wheels in a bucket or sink with a plug with some dishwashing soap. Let the soap dissolve the gunk and debris. Scrub the wheels thoroughly with the washcloth.
Grab your wire brush (or old toothbrush or lightly abrasive sponge if you can’t find one). Run the wheels under hot water to loosen the gunk and scrape it off with the wire or toothbrush. The longer the wheels soak in the bucket or sink, the easier it should be to scrape off the gunk.
Skate wheels are porous, so it’s important to ensure that they dry completely before putting in your bearings and re-attaching them to the skateboard (trust us, you don’t want to deal with waterlogged bearings). Dry off your wheels with paper towels and leave them out in the sun or another dry place for at least several hours.
How to Clean Your Grip Tape
While replacing your grip tape with a fresh new layer is always an option, knowing how to keep your grip tape generally clean is something you should be familiar with.
Keeping your grip tape clean not only keeps things looking spic and span, but it also helps the grip tape retain its stickiness, which helps you maintain better traction. Below, we’ll cover two common methods for cleaning your grip tape.
Grip Tape Gum Method
Probably the easiest way to keep your grip tape in good condition, grip tape gum is available at most skate shops. If you’re really in a pinch or unable to find any, you can substitute rubber cement pickup or sanding belt cleaner. Take your grip gum or substitute and rub it along the areas of the grip tape that need attention.
Grip gum works best for removing minor messes like dust, dirt, and gum. For a deeper clean, consider trying the following method.
Brush and Water Method
If you’re not against putting in a little elbow grease, the brush and water method can go a long way in refreshing the look of your grip tape. You’ll need an old toothbrush (make sure the bristles are still firm), a bowl or small bucket of water, and paper towels.
Dip the toothbrush into the water and gently scrub the dirt away. Use paper towels to wipe away any remaining dirt or debris. As an optional extra step, you can finish off by rubbing some grip gum along the tape.
We hope that these tips and techniques come in handy when it’s time to give your skateboard a proper clean and scrub down! With some tender loving care and a little elbow grease, you can keep your skateboard in good shape for seasons to come. Wondering if your board is even worth saving? If you’re in the market for a new skateboard, consider checking out our favorite skate brands to shop your new set up!