Longboarding is becoming a popular way to cruise around the city when you lack a vehicle. If you’re always on your longboard, you should make sure you are maintaining the quality of the board. Follow these effective ways to clean a longboard so that your board not only looks excellent but continues to work perfectly on every adventure you take.
How To Clean and Maintain Your Deck
The deck of your longboard is what most people will notice at first glance. You don’t want it to look like you keep it in a trash bag between rides. Thus, cleaning your deck regularly is good practice, especially since it prolongs the board’s lifespan. Follow these steps to guide you through the process:
- Unfasten and remove the longboard trucks.
- Remove excess dirt from the grip tape. You can accomplish this with a bristled brush and soapy water.
- Rinse the grime off the board, and carefully wipe the deck with a wet sponge until you’re satisfied with its appearance.
- Flip the board and use a new sponge and clean water to wipe the underside of the board. Focus on the area of the board where the trucks are attached.
- Using a soft towel, dry the bottom of the board and let the deck air dry for a few hours before reassembling the trucks.
Successfully ridding your board of dust and dirt reduces the risk of cracking or shattering. It’s integral that you dry your board off after a wash or if you take a ride in a longboard-friendly city that is known for its wet weather.
How To Clean and Maintain Your Bearings
Longboard bearings must be in top-notch condition to ensure a silky-smooth ride. Some red flags, such as squeaking and sticking, indicate they urgently need tender, love, and care before they begin to rust.
- Gently remove the rubber shield protecting the bearings. Don’t be too aggressive because they are fragile.
- Swoosh the bearings in a bearing cleaning solution to thoroughly clean the surface. Kerosene does the trick if you don’t have a dedicated solution on hand.
- Rinse the bearing with isopropyl alcohol.
- Wait until the bearing is dry. You can use compressed air to speed the process.
- Apply the manufacturer-suggested lubrication to the bearings.
- Put the older shield back on or replace it entirely.
- Reinstall the bearings into the wheels.
Tips for Your Wheels
While all longboard wheels will wear out, there are a few simple things you can do to increase their longevity. Try to always ride on flat terrain and avoid excessive power sliding since this will often wear out the wheels faster.
Make sure you’re skating on the appropriate wheels for the type of skate you’re performing. For example, doing slides in a cruiser wheel will wear them out quicker.
Using the most effective ways to clean a longboard goes a long way in making sure your board looks fresh and performs well. Putting off this task may rear its ugly head when riding, causing a potential injury from a fall.
