Table of Contents
Introduction
Learn how to clean bearings with household items here!
Through this post, you will discover the methods and products you need so that you can clean your bearings in a good way and at home.
You’ll quickly see that it’s not more complicated than you might think and that even if it is your first time, you will be able to do it easily.
By the end of your reading, you will know what to do and how to make them clean so you can have the best skateboard possible. You will have the answers to the most often asked questions online and learn about the best lubricants that you can use.
This will be useful for you to complete the cleaning of your bearings.
Take note that even if you want to clean your bearings with home products, you will still have to buy some products.
Now find out the steps to follow so that you have a skateboard that rides super well.
How to remove your bearings
Before you even learn how to lubricate and clean your bearings, you need to know how to remove them from your trucks.
If you want to buy your trucks and your bearings separately, then this step will not be necessary for you. If your bearings are already on your skateboard, then follow the next lines.
To remove them, it will not be difficult and there are only a few steps to follow.
You take your skateboard so that you have access to the wheels. Subsequently, you remove each of the bolts on each wheel with a socket.
Once this is done, you remove the wheels and remove the bearings with a bearing removal.
Yes it can be annoying to think that you may have to buy a tool, but it’s super important to do things right so that you take care of your skate.
Once you remove your bearings with the tool on each side, you are ready to move on to the next step which is to clean them.
What can you use to clean skateboard bearings?
In general, it is advisable to use either isopropyl or acetone to clean your bearings.
You can choose one of these two products to do the cleaning. Either you choose to put a little on a towel and clean your bearings one by one.
Either you put the product in a jar or a box with all the bearings in it. All you have to do is first remove the shield, add the product in the box, close the box and mix gently so that the bearings are well cleaned.
Otherwise, there are some companies that offer a cleaner like the Bones brand.
This could be another of the good ways to clean your bearings.
Once the bottle is purchased, you will only have to follow the instructions and that will be it.
In any case, it is important that you put on gloves. Chemicals on your hands are never good so protect yourself properly.
Can you clean skateboard bearings with soap?
To clean your bearings, you need a solvent and soap is not one of them.
Many tend to believe that because a soap cleans hands or certain areas well, that it can be used for bearings.
There is a sense of logic, but unfortunately not when it concerns bearings. The only good way to clean your bearings is with a solvent.
They should absolutely not be in contact with water or soap.
However, the shield (usually black or in color) that is on each bearing and that hides the balls can be washed with soap and it is even advisable.
Soap and water clean the shield very well and this is the only part that needs to be cleaned like this.
The rest of the parts of your bearings, it is with a solvent.
Can you use Windex on bearings?
Since you want to clean your bearings with the things you have at home, it is normal that you ask yourself this question if it is possible to do it with windex.
On the bottle it is indicated that it can be used in different places.
However, sorry to tell you that it will not be possible on your bearings. It may seem logical to try, but it will damage your bearings in the long run.
For the type of material on the bearings, it is simpler to use isopropyl for example.
The windex either on the shield or on any piece of the bearings can create a sticky appearance. You especially don’t want your bearings to be sticky.
The reason is that when you are going to ride with your skateboard, it will attract a lot of dust and it will stick on your bearings.
You are going to have to clean them again believing that windex is good when it is the product that is the problem.
They lose their capacity over time and you will have a skateboard that will not go fast at all. So windex is not a good idea.
What can i use to lubricate skateboard bearings
It’s simple to know which lubricant to use for your bearings since you need a bearing lubricant. If you are looking for one, then here is a complete list for you of the best bearing lubricants.
All the products that are offered can be used to lubricate your bearings well. This is a step that is very important. It is as important as cleaning your bearings.
They will have a much longer lifespan and they’ll roll faster.
So it’s really important to take care of them.
Also, absolutely avoid wd-40 or oils used in mechanics especially in a motor. It is really not suitable for bearings so don’t do it.
Things to clean bearings with
Is it possible to clean these bearings with something other than isopropyl or acetone or a cleaner?
Especially when you are at home, you will tend to want to choose products that you already have.
Just know that in any case you will need isopropyl or acetone. The rest of the answers will be indicated through the next sections.
Can you clean skateboard bearings with vinegar
Yes! It’s possible to use vinegar and the good news is that there is a good chance that you have this product at home.
Since you are looking for a way to wash your bearings with homemade products, it will be possible with vinegar.
The only thing is that it must be white vinegar and that in spite of that, you will need isopropyl or acetone.
This is a product that you absolutely must have in every possible way if you want to wash your bearings.
You clean your bearings as it was said earlier with one of the two products.
Afterwards, you can put your bearings in a jar filled with white vinegar.
You leave them in it for 30 min – 1 hour and once they have bathed well in it, you brush them with a brush of any kind.
Just make sure that for each of the processes that the shield of each bearing is removed.
But why put vinegar if we cleaned the bearings?
This step is important for people who have bearings that have oxidized a little or have a little corrosion.
If this is your case and despite this you think that your bearings are still good and you only need to clean them, then vinegar will be useful for you.
Otherwise, it is not necessary.
Can you use hydrogen peroxide to clean skateboard bearings
It is not at all advisable to use hydrogen peroxide, because it is a product that is very powerful.
Instead of cleaning and lubricating your bearings, it will simply destroy them and that’s not what you want.
Best things to use to clean your bearings with household items
Even if cleaning and lubricating the bearings requires buying products, chances are you already have some at home.
Isopropyl or acetone are very popular products and they are in demand in different projects. So if you’re a pretty manual person, chances are you have some at home.
Otherwise, you can easily find some in stores or on Amazon for very affordable prices.
Apart from this product, you need gloves, a napkin or a towel, a plastic box with its lid (it can even be a bottle) and that’s it.
The majority of the products you normally have them at home.
Conclusion
Now you know all the steps to follow in order to clean your bearings.
This is a crucial step in order to take care of your parts and if you want to have them for a long time.
This way you will also have a better experience on the road and better control of your speed.
There is nothing that annoys the most in skateboarding than a board that does not roll at the speed you want.
Now you know how to fix this problem.
The majority of the products, you have them at home and you have only little purchase to do.