How to Clean In-Line Skates

Cleaning your skates after rotating the wheels or after riding through muddy or sandy terrain will help you maintain your reputation as The Flash.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Clean Rags
• Clean Rags
• 3-in-1 Oil
• In-line Skate Axles
• In-line Skate Spacers
• In-line Skate Wheels
• In-line Skates
• In-line Skating Gear
• In-line Skating Helmets
• In-line Skating Protective Gear Sets
• Allen Wrenches

1. 
    

   Wipe skates with a soft, damp cloth.

2. 
    

   Remove wheels with an Allen wrench and wipe the bearings with a soft cloth to remove dirt.

3. 
    

   Spin the wheels. If any spin slowly, they may have a problem with their bearings or they may still be dirty. If a second cleaning doesn't do the trick, consider replacing the bearings or consult a professional.

4. Remove the wheels and towel off the bearings if the skates get wet. Add 3-in-1 oil (found in most hardware stores) to prevent rusting.

Tips & Warnings

• For the best leverage, hold the skate between your knees while cleaning it.

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[BruceR]

on 12/10/2008 I marathon skate on a new cement trail, which results in a lot of bearing maintenance! Having mastered the art of pulling everything apart and getting it back together again, I've found the following actions quickly get the bearings clean:

1. Degreaser. I tried the popular citrus cleaner, It may be very safe, but is not nearly as cheap, fast or effective as mineral turpentine, which is also safe enough, and always works in a few minutes. Throw old solvent onto the road, it's not nice to put in a drain.

2. Clean the bearings open-side-down in an inexpensive ultrasonic cleaner filled with hot water and squirt of detergent.

3. Spin the bearings briefly under a tap, then "flick" the water out.

4. Spin the bearings very fast "wheeeez" using an air compressor & nozzle, to remove remaining liquid. Use a spindle or tool to mount each bearing while doing this.

At this point, they

on 11/22/2005 Soak in-line skate bearings and parts in vinegar for a few hours, rinse and repeat. It lifts most dirt right off as bubbles form on the surfaces.

on 11/22/2005 Pour degreaser into a small bottle, add bearings and shake. Let bearings soak for a few hours, then pour out degreaser and repeat. After the second rinse, put bearings in alcohol and then let dry on paper towel. Spin to check if clean.