If you’re a skateboarder, proper maintenance of your skateboard ensures a smooth ride and better overall performance. One key element of skateboard maintenance is cleaning your skateboard wheels. By following these 14 steps, you can increase the lifespan of your wheels, reduce wear and tear, and keep your board in great shape.

1. Gather the necessary supplies: You’ll need a flat workspace, towel or rag, a socket wrench or skate tool, a bowl or container for soaking wheels, dish soap, rubbing alcohol or acetone, and an old toothbrush.

2. Disassemble the skateboard: Begin by removing the trucks from the deck using the skate tool or socket wrench.

3. Remove the wheels: Unscrew the nuts holding the wheel to the axle and separate the wheel from the truck. Keep these nuts safe for later use.

4. Take out bearings and spacers: Carefully remove bearings by gently sliding them out of the wheel hub using your fingers or use a bearing puller. Do not forget to gather any spacers from inside the wheel hub.

5. Soak wheels in soapy water: Fill your container with warm water and add several drops of dish soap. Place wheels in water for 5-10 minutes to loosen dirt and debris.

6 . Scrub with toothbrush: Using an old toothbrush, gently scrub any remaining grime from each wheel’s surface and grooves. Be thorough but don’t be too aggressive as it might damage your wheels.

7 . Rinse off soap and dirt: Once each wheel has been scrubbed clean, rinse off any soap residue under running tap water.

8 . Dry wheels thoroughly: Use a towel or rag to dry each wheel completely after rinsing.

9 . Clean bearings with rubbing alcohol / acetone: In a separate container, pour rubbing alcohol or acetone and immerse bearings in it for few minutes. Use a toothbrush to brush off dirt and grime. Swirling bearings around in the solution can also help loosen any stubborn debris.

10 . Air-dry the bearings: Remove the bearings from the cleaning solution and pat them dry using a clean cloth or paper towel. Let them air dry completely to ensure there are no remnants of the cleaning solution.

11 . Lubricate your bearings: Apply a few drops of skate bearing lubricant or speed cream to each bearing.

12 . Reassemble bearings and spacers into wheels: Slide the bearings and spacers back into the hubs of each wheel.

13 . Reattach wheels to trucks: Place each wheel onto the axle of the trucks, aligning it properly with its respective spacer and bearing.

Tighten the nuts back onto the axle, keeping an eye on proper wheel alignment.

14 . Reattach trucks to skateboard deck: Finally, attach trucks back to the deck using your skate tool or socket wrench.

By following these 14 steps, you’ve successfully cleaned your skateboard wheels! Proper maintenance will keep you skating smoothly and extend the life of your equipment, so remember to clean your wheels regularly for an enjoyable ride.