Scooters
Skates
Boards
Winter Sports
BMX
Apparel
Surf
On Sale
Tips for Maintaining Inline Skates and Roller Skates
Maintaining roller skates and inline skates encompasses various procedures, some required more often than others. Correct maintenance is crucial to prolong the life and performance of your inliners or roller skates, enhancing both enjoyment and safety on wheels.
This guide provides indispensable hints and techniques for skate upkeep, covering protection, cleaning, and ensuring the wheels and bearings are in optimal condition. It also directs you to more detailed guides and articles on particular maintenance methods.
Overview
Overview
What’s the Best Way to Clean My Skates?
The cleaning technique for inliners and roller skates depends on their specific design. For instance, skates with removable liners allow for more thorough cleaning, while fixed liners require a different approach.
Hard boot skates can withstand more vigorous scrubbing with a sponge, whereas soft boots need a gentler touch.
Deep Cleaning Inliners or Roller Skates
- Disassemble the Skates: Take off the wheels, bearings, and if feasible, the liners.
- Clean the Boots: Clean hard boots with a sponge and mild soap, and be gentle with soft boots using a soft cloth. They should not be fully submerged.
- Wash the Liners: If your liners are removable and can be washed, adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions. Generally, they can be machine washed with a mild detergent at a temperature no higher than 30°C and should be air-dried in a well-ventilated area to prevent shrinkage and deformation.
- Clean the Wheels and Bearings: Wipe the wheels with a damp cloth. For bearing maintenance, refer to this guide: How to Clean and Lubricate Bearings
How Do I Wash Inline and Roller Skate Liners?
The inner boot, or liner, can often be removed and washed. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s care instructions to prevent damage. If such guidance is unavailable, here’s a standard approach:
- Remove the Liners: Take out any insoles that are being used.
- Wash the Liners: Place them in the washing machine with a gentle detergent, ensuring the temperature does not exceed 30°C.
- Air-Dry the Liners: Hang them in a well-ventilated spot to dry. Refrain from using a hair dryer.
If your skates have integrated liners, washing them might not be possible. Instead, you can spray them with anti-bacterial shoe deodorants to control odour, and make sure they dry out in a ventilated space after each use. Consider using a boot-dryer if necessary.
How To Speedily Dry My Inline or Roller Skate Liners After Washing?
If quick drying is needed, stuffing the liners with towels or newspaper can help absorb moisture. Always ensure proper airflow in the drying area for effective results.
Note: Avoid using heating devices like hair dryers which can cause shrinking or deformation.
How to Prevent Unpleasant Odours in Roller Skates and Inliners?
Eliminating odours in liners can be challenging but with proper steps, you can inhibit bacteria growth, which is often the culprit of bad smells.
Although eradicating stinky liners is difficult, significantly slowing the process is feasible.
Ventilation is Key for Skate Liners
Ensure your skates are dried in a ventilated area post-session to slow down odour formation caused by moisture and bacteria. For skates with detachable liners, remove and air them out, washing if possible to maintain freshness.
Post-session tips for controlling odours in skate liners include:
- Frequently open the liners and dry them in a ventilated environment. Always remove skates from your bag!
- Remove insoles to let them air out if used.
- Consider using anti-bacterial shoe deodorants.
By integrating these practices into your routine, you’ll maintain fresher skate liners, ensuring pleasurable skating sessions without the worry of unwelcome smells.
How Regularly Should Bearings Be Cleaned?
Cleaning and lubricating bearings frequency depends on your skating conditions and frequency. More frequent skaters in dusty or wet environments should clean bearings more often than those skating occasionally on clean surfaces.
Signs indicating cleaning is necessary include:
- Performance Drop: A decrease in bearing performance indicates a need for cleaning.
- Strange Noises: Different sounds might mean dirt or debris, necessitating cleaning to extend bearing life.
If it’s time to clean or replace bearings for maximum performance, we provide the products and knowledge needed for either cleaning and lubricating your existing bearings, or swapping for completely new ones:
- How to Clean and Lubricate Bearings
- Explore Bearing Oil and Cleaning Supplies
- Check Our Range of Bearings for Inline Skates and Roller Skates
Instructions for Removing Inline Skate Bearings
Inline skate bearings can be removed with or without specialised tools. Follow these instructions for effective removal.
Begin by removing your wheels. An allen key is required to loosen the axles and bolts.
Note: Keep your wheels organised so they can either be replaced in the exact same position or properly rotated.
Removing Bearings Without a Specialised Tool
An Allen key can be used to remove bearings. Each wheel comprises two bearings and a spacer. Ensure you pry on the bearing's edge, not the spacer. After the initial bearing removal, flip the wheel to remove the second.
This video demonstrates how to remove bearings without a specialised tool:
Using a Bearing Remover / Blade Tool
Using a bearing remover simplifies the process significantly, eliminating concern over incorrect handling. The tool allows you to pull the bearing’s edge rather than prying.
Insert the bearing removal tool into the bearing's centre hole and pull the bearing's inner edge.
Most blade tools feature a bearing puller, find yours below:
Wheel Rotation for Inline Skates
Side pushing during skating results in uneven wheel wear. To extend wheel life and ensure smooth skating, regularly rotating and flipping your wheels is advised.
Inspect your wheels for uneven wear. If inner edges wear out more than outer edges, wheel rotation is due.
Proper wheel rotation yields the best outcomes.
Simple Wheel Rotation on Inline Skates
For basic 4-wheel inline skates, follow a cross-pattern rotation between left and right skates. Label wheels 1 to 4 and rotate using a 1-3 / 2-4 pattern.
Is Wheel Rotation on Inline Skates Needed?
Rotating wheels is vital for even wear and extending wheel life. Regular rotations keep wheels running smoothly longer before replacements are necessary. By rotating wheels, new parts of the wheels start wearing out, reducing friction during rolling.
In essence, although not mandatory—buying new wheels achieves a similar effect—rotation is recommended for optimal wheel usage!
Tool Essentials for Inline or Roller Skates Maintenance
Basic skate maintenance requires:
- Hex Key/Allen Key: Essential for removing and mounting wheels, as well as frames, brakes, and cuffs.
- Blade Tool: Opting for a quality blade tool is advisable as they include required hex/allen keys and a bearing remover, offering an all-in-one solution convenient for on-the-go use.
Explore blade tools and more:
Use a Skate Bag to Protect Your Skates
When not using your skates for extended periods, store them in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight or dampness. Excess heat may warp plastic parts, while moisture could cause rust and mould.
Investing in a quality skate bag is beneficial. Such bags, designed to securely hold your quads or inliners, feature padding to guard against knocks and scratches. Additionally, skate bags provide an easy solution for carrying your skates anywhere.
