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Guide to Maintaining Inline and Roller Skates
Taking care of roller skates and inline skates requires completing various tasks, some of which need to be done more routinely than others. Good maintenance practices extend the life and enhance the performance of your inliners or roller skates, making your rolling experience both enjoyable and safe.
In this guide, you will find essential tips and techniques for skate maintenance, including protecting, cleaning, and ensuring wheels and bearings are in excellent condition. Furthermore, it will direct you to other comprehensive articles and detailed guides focused on specific maintenance techniques.
Overview
Overview
What Are the Steps for Cleaning My Skates?
The cleaning approach for inliners and roller skates can vary based on their model. For example, if your skates feature detachable liners, you can take them out for a thorough wash, while fixed liners require a different process.
Hard boot skates can be scrubbed more robustly with a sponge, but a soft boot necessitates a softer touch.
Performing a Deep Clean on Inliners or Roller Skates
- Take the Skates Apart: Detach the wheels and bearings, and remove the liners if possible.
- Boot Cleaning: Clean hard boots with a sponge using mild soap and water. Treat soft boots gently with a soft cloth, and ensure they are not fully submerged in water.
- Liner Washing: If the liners are both removable and washable, adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines. Typically, they can go in a washing machine with gentle detergent, maintaining a temperature under 30°C (86°F). Air dry them in a well-ventilated space, avoiding dryers which might shrink or deform them.
- Wheel and Bearing Cleaning: Wipe wheels with a damp cloth. Follow this guide for bearing cleaning: How to Clean and Lubricate Bearings
How to Properly Wash Skate Liners
The inner boot, or liner, is often removable for washing. Always check the care instructions provided by the manufacturer to prevent damage. If these instructions are absent, use the following general method:
- Remove the Liners: Take out any insoles being used.
- Liner Washing: Place them in the washing machine using a gentle detergent. Keep washing temperatures below 30°C (86°F).
- Air-Dry the Liners: Hang them in a well-ventilated space to dry. Avoid using a hair dryer.
If your skates are equipped with fixed liners, washing them is not an option. Instead, apply antibacterial shoe deodorants to counteract odours. Always leave them in a ventilated area post-session, and consider a boot-dryer if necessary.
Tips for Quick Drying of Inline or Roller Skate Liners
For faster drying of liners, stuff them with towels or newspapers to soak up moisture. Ensure that the drying area is properly ventilated.
Note: Refrain from using a hair dryer or heating devices for drying skate liners, as these can cause them to shrink or deform.
How Can I Avoid Unpleasant Smells in Skate Liners?
What can you do to prevent unpleasant smells in your liners? Odour formation is due to bacterial growth, thriving in warm, damp conditions.
Stopping odours in skate liners might seem daunting, yet you can delay the process significantly.
Ventilation Is Key for Skate Liners
After each session, position your skates in a well-ventilated spot to allow them to dry out. This process effectively delays odours from forming due to moisture and bacteria. If the liners are removable, air dry them. If washable, clean them routinely to maintain freshness.
To further reduce odours, undertake the following post each session:
- Open the liners fully and leave them to air in a ventilated place after skating. Ensure skates are removed from bags!
- Remove insoles to allow them to air out (for those using insoles).
- Consider utilising an anti-bacterial shoe deodorant.
By incorporating these practices, your inline or roller skate liners will remain fresher for longer, letting you concentrate on your sessions without having to worry about unpleasant smells.
How Regularly Should Bearings Be Cleaned?
Cleaning and lubricating bearings depends on your skating conditions and frequency. For those who skate often or in areas rife with dirt or moisture, cleaning and lubricating bearings is needed more frequently than for those who skate in clean, dry settings only occasionally.
Key indicators that it’s time for bearing maintenance include:
- Deteriorating Performance: When performance lessens, consider cleaning the bearings.
- Strange Noises: If there’s a noticeable change in bearing sound, debris might be at fault. Cleaning can help prolong their lifespan.
If it’s time for either cleaning, lubricating, or replacing bearings to boost performance, we provide products and advice for enhancing your skating experience, whether by cleaning and lubricating existing bearings or replacing them altogether:
- How to Clean and Lubricate Bearings
- Explore our Collection of Bearing Oil and Cleaning Containers
- Explore our Bearing Selection for Inline and Roller Skates
Steps for Removing Inline Skate Bearings
Removing inline skate bearings can be done with or without specific tools. Here are the steps for effective bearing removal.
Start by removing the wheels. Simply loosen the axles and bolts using an Allen key.
Note: Keep track of wheel order to ensure correct repositioning or proper rotation during reassembly.
Removing Bearings Without Special Tools
An Allen key can be used to pry out bearings. Each wheel contains two bearings and a spacer. Ensure prying is performed on the bearing edge itself, not the spacer. Once one bearing is out, flip the wheel for the second.
This video shows how bearings can be removed without specialised removal tools:
Removing Bearings with a Bearing Remover or Blade Tool
Using a bearing remover simplifies the process greatly and removes concerns of causing damage. This tool pulls the bearing’s edge instead of prying.
Insert the bearing removal tool into the bearing’s centre and pull gently from the inner edge.
Many blade tools include a bearing puller feature, explore options:
Technique for Wheel Rotation on Inline Skates
Due to lateral push during skating, one side of the wheels tends to wear down faster. Thus, rotating and flipping your wheels sporadically can prolong wheel lifespan and ensure a smoother ride.
Inspect wheels for uneven wear. If wear is significantly more on the inside than the outside, it’s time to rotate wheels.
Proper rotation methods yield the best results.
Basic Wheel Rotation for Inline Skates
In basic 4-wheel inline skates, a cross-pattern rotation between left and right skates is advisable. Label wheels from 1 to 4 and rotate using the pattern 1-3 / 2-4.
Is Wheel Rotation Necessary for Inline Skates?
Rotating wheels is essential for even wear, extending their usability. Regular rotations keep them rolling smoothly longer before replacement is needed. Rotating allows usage of new wheel areas, reducing friction.
While not mandatory—buying new wheels achieves the same effect—rotating is advised for optimal wheel longevity.
Essential Tools for Skate Maintenance
For basic skate care, the following tools are required:
- Hex Key/Allen Key: This is crucial for wheel removal and mounting. It is also used for installing frames, brakes, and cuffs.
- Blade Tool: Investing in a quality blade tool is advantageous as it integrates necessary hex/allen keys and an effective bearing remover. It serves as a comprehensive solution, ideal for travel.
Discover blade tools and more:
Keep Your Skates Secure with a Skate Bag
To extend their lifespan, store skates in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or moisture when not in use for extended periods. Excessive heat can deform plastic parts, while humidity may cause rust and mould.
Investing in a quality skate bag is wise. Purpose-designed skate bags and backpacks provide secure storage for quads or inliners and feature padding for protection against knocks and scratches. Moreover, they simplify transportation of skates.
