How to Clean Skateboard Wheels

Co-authored by Jon Depoian and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: March 1, 2022 References

If your skateboard is feeling kind of sticky as you ride it, it might be time to give your wheels a clean. Your wheels and bearings can get blocked up with dirt and rocks, which can lead to a not-so-smooth feel. Luckily, cleaning your wheels and bearings is relatively easy, and only requires some disassembling and a little bit of cleaning solution. Once your bearings and wheels are ridden from built up dirt, you’ll be cruising around in no time.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Wheels

1
Remove the wheels from the axle using a wrench. Turn the skateboard over so it is resting on the deck, with the wheels facing up. Use a 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) socket wrench to twist and remove the axle nuts on the outer sides of the skateboard wheels, then set them aside.^{[1]
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- Keep all wheel materials (nuts, washers, etc.) together in one place so you can easily find and attach them later. You’ll need every piece you take off, so don’t lose them!
2
Pry the bearings out of the wheels with the truck axle. Grab one wheel and place the center against the metal rod that it was attached to (this is called the truck axle). Use the rod to pop the bearing out of the wheel, kind of like you’d use a bottle opener on a bottle top. Use the same prying technique for all 4 of your wheels, and keep the bearings in one spot so you don’t lose track of them.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Jon Depoian
Skateboarding Instructor
Expert Interview. 5 June 2020.}
- Keep the wheel bearings and the wheels separate from each other so they’re easier to clean.
- If you can’t manage to remove the bearings in this way, try using a screwdriver to pry out the bearings. Simply hold on to the sides of the wheel out in front of you, insert the tip of the screwdriver in the front of the wheel, and pull the screwdriver to the side to release the bearing.
- When you remove the bearings from the wheels, a bearing spacer will fall out from the center of the wheel. Keep this in a safe place so you can reassemble the wheel and bearings later.
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3
Wipe off the surface of your wheels with a rag to clean off dirt and rocks. Use your fingers to loosen any rocks or gravel, then use your rag to really scrub hard. If there’s any super dirty areas that need a lot of scrubbing, grab a toothbrush and use that instead.^{[3]
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- Don’t worry if you can’t get your wheels sparkly clean just yet—this is just the first step!
4
Soak the wheels in soapy water for 10 minutes. Fill a bucket or your sink with about 0.5 US gal (1.9 L) of warm water and 1 to 2 tsp (4.9 to 9.9 mL) of dish soap. Stir the mixture up until it’s sudsy, then submerge your wheels and let them sit for about 10 minutes.^{[4]
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- Just soak the wheels, not the bearings! Soaking your bearings in water can make them rust.
- The warm water will help to loosen any stuck-on dirt and grime.
5
Wipe down the wheels with a rag or a toothbrush. Take your wheels out of the soapy water and give them a good scrub down. Here’s where you can work super hard to make sure they look sparkly and clean.^{[5]
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- Make sure you’re wiping down the inside of the wheels as well as the outside. Small rocks and dirt can get trapped in any nook and cranny.
6
Dry the wheels off with a clean rag. Grab a separate rag and wipe your wheels off until they’re mostly dry. You can set them aside to air dry the rest of the way while you work on your bearings.^{[6]
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- Make sure your wheels are super dry before you reassemble your skateboard so you don’t slip and fall while riding.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Bearings

1
Pop the bearing shields off with a razor blade. Position your razor blade in between the bearing shield and the edge of the bearing. Gently push the blade down to pop the shield off the bearing and separate the 2 pieces.^{[7]
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- If a razor blade doesn't work, try a safety pin or a screwdriver instead.
- Be very gentle as you take the shield off! You can damage the thin material if you’re too rough.
- Some bearings only have one shield, while others have shields on both sides.
2
Pour 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of solvent into a bowl. To clean your bearings, you can use a cleaning solvent, like rubbing alcohol or mineral spirits. If you’d like something a little less harsh, you can use a liquid citrus cleaner. Pour your solvent of choice into a bowl or plastic container to get it ready for your bearings.^{[8]
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- You can find bearing cleaning kits at most skateboard shops, but they’re often more expensive than just buying the solvent yourself.
- If you are using a harsh solvent, put on gloves to protect your skin before you start.
3
Soak the bearings in the solution for 5 minutes. Carefully drop all of your bearings into your solution, making sure they’re fully submerged. Swirl them around in your container a little bit so all the sides get fully covered, then leave them to soak for about 5 minutes.^{[9]
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- Leaving your bearings to soak for too long can damage them, so make sure you take them out right away.
4
Tap each bearing onto a paper towel to get the solvent off. Put on your gloves again and carefully grab all your bearings out of the cleaning solution. One by one, tap the bearings onto a clean paper towel with the exposed side down to get the excess solvent out and dry the bearings off.^{[10]
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- If there’s still solvent in the bearings, use a toothbrush to scrub the insides.
- Don’t spin the bearings to get the solvent out—this could splash harsh chemicals into your eyes or face.
5
Drop 1 to 2 drops of oil into the bearings. You can use skateboard oils, sewing machine oils, or electronic oils. Add 2 to 3 drops to the exposed side of each bearing, then spin it to make sure all the bearing balls are evenly coated. Wipe off any excess with a paper towel to clean up.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Jon Depoian
Skateboarding Instructor
Expert Interview. 5 June 2020.}
- Too much lubricant can clog up the bearing rather than making it move smoothly. When in doubt, the less lubricant the better.
- Do not use thick oils as a lubricant on your bearings. Avoid lubricants like olive oil, vegetable oil, or motor oil, as they can clog up your board.
- Something like WD-40 will lubricate your wheels for a minute or two, but the bearings will quickly dry out.^{[12]
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  Expert Source
  
  Jon Depoian
  Skateboarding Instructor
  Expert Interview. 5 June 2020.}

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Reassembly

1
Snap the bearing shields back into place. Grab your bearing shield (remember those thin pieces of rubber?) and use your thumbs to snap it onto the exposed side of your bearing. This shouldn’t take much effort, so you can assemble your bearings fairly quickly.^{[13]
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- The shields help trap the lubricant on the inside of the bearing to keep them smooth.
2
Insert the bearings back into the wheels. Push one bearing into a wheel, then use your fingers to snap it into place. Turn the wheel over and insert the bearing divider, then snap the other bearing into place.^{[14]
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- This is why it’s important to keep all the hardware in one spot!
3
Attach the wheels to your truck axle with the axle nut. Slide each wheel onto the truck axle that’s attached to your skateboard, then put the axle nut back on the outside of each wheel. Use your socket wrench to tighten the nut in place, then give your wheels a spin!^{[15]
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- Be careful not to overtighten the nut. If you can’t spin your wheels, loosen it up again with your wrench.
- Your wheels should feel smoother without any sticky grinding as you ride.

Expert Q&A
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Question

Do you oil skateboard wheels?

Jon Depoian
Skateboarding Instructor
Jon Depoian is a Skateboarding Instructor and the Owner of Intro2Skateboarding, an organization based in Orange County, California that provides professional private, home-school, after-school, birthday party, and summer camp skateboard lessons for beginners and experienced skateboarders alike. Jon has over 21 years of skateboarding experience and over 10 years of skateboard instruction experience. He also has extensive experience producing street skateboarding videos and skating competitions.

Jon Depoian

Skateboarding Instructor

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

You need to lubricate the bearings inside of the wheels, but you don't need to lubricate the wheels themselves. Use a Teflon-based lubricant to keep friction off of your bearings. Stay away from stuff like WD-40, which will dry out pretty quickly and cause your bearings to start absorbing dirt.
Question

Can I use baby oil as lubricant?

Community Answer

No. You should get lubricant from your local skate shop. I would recommend Bones speed cream for the best performance.
Question

How do I know when I should clean my bearings?

Community Answer

You should either clean or replace your bearings when they no longer spin smoothly, and are noisy when spun. The hissing noise and obstructed movement of the bearing is an indication that there are small dirt particles in the bearing.