In this rollerblade cleaning tutorial, Peter, one of us at skatingmagic.com, will walk you demonstrate how to clean your inline skates correctly. We’ve also got you covered with a comprehensive video tutorial.
From gathering the necessary supplies needed to cleaning each component – wheels, bearings, boot, liner, frame, and laces – we’re here to help you get your inline skates ready for your next adventure.
Also read: How to clean inline skate bearings
Cleaning Inline Skates Video Tutorial by Skating Magic
Below are the steps to follow to clean your inline skates and make them smell nice and fresh again. It’s a straightforward process, and you don’t require any specialized tool of any kind.
Step #1
Gather all the Items you need for the clean. Here are the items you’ll need when cleaning dirty rollerblades:
1.A 4mm Allen Wrench
2.A bearing cleaner such as the (*Amazon affiliate link; as an Amazon Associate, I earn commission on qualifying purchases) Bones Bearing Cleaning Unit. This one comes with a bottle filled with a dedicated bearing cleaner and an axle down which you slide the bearings.
3. 2 buckets with enough clean water.
4. Regular dishwashing soap or a liquid laundry detergent such as Ariel Spring Downy Fresh.
5. Paper towels or a clean rag
6. A rubbing sponge
7. An old toothbrush
8. Bearing lubricant if you’re also gonna clean the bearings. I clean my bearings once every 3 months, but if you skate through puddles or in wet conditions, you may want to clean the bearings immediately.
9. Needle to remove the shields from the bearings if they’re removable.
And of course, a pair of dirty inline skates
Step #2: Remove the wheels from the frame using an Allen Wrench. Make counterclockwise turns to do that.
Step #3: Remove the bearings from the wheels with a screwdriver, an Allen Wrench, or a bearing remover.
Step #4: Remove the protective shields from the bearings using a pin, a needle, or a paper clip.
Regular bearings typically have metal shields while high end skate bearings often have rubber shields.
Step #5: Place the bearings in a container with a bearing-specific cleaner. This can be a glass jar with a lid. Shake the container for a few minutes to distribute the cleaning agent to all the bearings.
Let everything stand for about 30 minutes to break down dirt and grime.
Step #6: Cleaning Inline Skate Wheels
Dip an old toothbrush into soapy water and scrub dirt and grime away. A toothbrush enables you to get all the gunk lurking in the nooks and crannies of the wheel.
If there’s rust in the bearings, spritz some WD40 onto them and brush it away with the toothbrush.
Rinse off the soap suds and dry the wheels with paper towels or cloth. If you don’t wish to remove the bearing shields, simply clean the bearings with soapy water and a brush.
Step #7: Remove the bearings from the lidded container and dry them with a clean rag. For faster results, you can use a hair dryer.
Step #8: Lubricate the bearings with a bearing-specific lubricant. Add two drops of lubricant to each section of the bearings. Spin the bearings between your fingers to make sure that the oil gets distributed evenly.
Step #9: Reassemble the bearings by putting the shields back on and pushing the bearings back into the wheels. Pop the first bearing back into the wheel, put the spacer on top of it, and then push the second bearing into place.
Step #10: Cleaning the Boots, Liner, and Frame
Remove the liner from the boot if it’s removable. Most soft boots have non-removable liners while most hard boots have a detachable liner. A removable liner sure does make cleaning inline skates easier. If the liner isn’t removable, rub the interior of the boot with a soapy rag or cloth to break down dirt.
If the shell isn’t too dirty, wipe it down with a damp rag to remove dirt and debris.
But if the shell is pretty dirty, put it into soapy water (preferably warm) and scrub it with a scrubber that’s not too rough.
You certainly can immerse the boot and liner in the soapy water. Try squeezing the liner with your hands to get the dirt and grime out.
Thoroughly rinse both the boot and skate with clean running water. You can also put water into a bucket or basin and rinse the soap suds off.
As for the frame, you really don’t have to remove it but you certainly can. Clean the inside and outside of the frame with a damp, soapy rag. Clean the bottom of the boot, too.
Step #11: Once everything has dried completely, put the wheels back onto the frames. Also, replace the boot liner and store the skates in a cool dry place.
Did you find this rollerblade cleaning tutorial useful? If hope you did. If there’s anything you’d like to know more about, feel free to contact us on skatingmagic33@gmail.com.