By Nadia | Updated January 2024
We have tested and reviewed every bearing cleaner we carry here in the warehouse because, well... our bearings were dirty! Just kidding, we did it to see which was our favorite and compare and contrast their effectiveness, ease, and functionality. Getting to clean all of our bearings was just an added plus to this process, but now we also have a video to show you how to use each one that we carry. This process is important for any skater to learn, cleaning and maintaining your bearings can make them spin much smoother and for much longer. Bearings can be expensive so who wouldn't want to get their money's worth? If you are skating through heavy debris, you are likely thrashing your bearings so it's important to take care of them before the wheels just stop spinning.
The Monkey Loob Cleaning System is maybe our favorite bearing cleaner ever! It is a one-step bearing treatment that cleans, lubricates, and protects from corrosion without you even having to remove your shields. The cleaner also lubricates your bearings while protecting them from erosion. You can take your bearings straight from the unit, let them dry a bit and just put them back into your wheels like magic.
The OUST Speed Clean Kit is a nice and compact package that cleans your bearings very efficiently. They cause no damage to bearings races or carriages and they come with a bearing holder and container to shake up your bearings safely. They come with a small bottle of cleaning solvent but you can easily replace that once it's used up. The solvent is also a biodegradable solution that is easy to wash off of your hands after.
The Sonic Turbo Wash and Sonic Turbo Wash Bio systems are made by a skater with eco-friendly components that aren’t too invasive to human skin. They also have solution which can be recycled for multiple uses by filtering it through a paper towel or coffee filter to remove particulates. The cleaning solutions are also plant-based, 100% biodegradable, and contain no water so that your bearings won't rust. All you need to do is drop all of your bearings (fits more than 16 if you need to push it) into the inner plastic container and they hold your bearings while you shake them around so that you can pull them out with ease later.
The Better Bearings Essential Service kit comes with more than you even need to clean your bearings sustainably with some extra perks for the quad-skaters. They come in a cute draw bag holding an aluminum bearing wash container, a non-plastic lubrication bottle, and 8 Tough Nuts, which are great for anyone riding on 8mm axles. The solution smells like citrus and is nice for a bearing solution. The packaging is adorable, consciously made and all around effective!
The QUBE Bearing Cleaner comes as a container of 8 fluid ounces which can be used in any cleaning unit or container. The solution is standard but works well at making your roll feel smoother and helps to prevent thermal breakdown in your bearings. We used it with the Bones Bearing Cleaning Unit and some OUST MET-OL Metalic Bearing Oil after they were clean. Do we like this bearing cleaner? Yes, it worked well nothing wrong with it although it is a traditional cleaner so it may not be as eco-friendly as other options but it did do well at its job: Cleaning our bearings!
The Bont Electronic Bearing Cleaner is so fun and easy to use. The only thing we dislike about this product is that you can only use it for one bearing at a time. Although, it can get your bearings clean faster with any solution, so you lose some but you definitely gain some more entertainment! They fit any 8mm bearing (688 or 608) and all you have to do is press it on, plug it in, insert into your solution of choice and watch the magic happen. It only takes about 20 seconds to get all of the dirt, oil, and even mild rust spun out, which we think is pretty cool!
Bearing cleaners are a great way to take care and clean your bearings. Maintaining them can ensure that they last for much longer and roll better. If you are using your skates, then you are likely getting dirt, dust, sand, and much more into your bearings. Don't waste your bearings and break them prematurely, keep them safe and make cleaning your bearings a part of your skate maintenance routine!