By DW Staff | March 2020
Regularly cleaning your bearings not only keeps you rolling smooth and fast on the track but it extends the life of your bearings, too! This guide includes a video and helpful step-by-step instructions to cover all of the basics of bearing cleaning.
First, remove all eight wheels from your skates and then carefully extract all sixteen bearings from those wheels. Be sure to apply force only on the metal races of the bearings as the shields and cages are easily damaged. A bearing tool will greatly simplify this step and ensure that bearings are not damaged in the process.
Many bearings utilize rubber shields that pop right out but some have alloy shields that are locked into place with a C-clip. Use a safety pin or thumb tack to pry the shields (or C-clips) away from the bearing. Wipe each shield clear of debris and set them aside. Removing the cages should not be necessary for a basic cleaning and since they can be difficult to re-install, we recommend leaving them in place.
The cleaning solution you choose is very important, as you do not want to leave any residue that might collect debris or interfere with the lubrication. There are premade solutions made for bearings but rubbing alcohol works, too, just make sure it is 90% ABV or higher. Rubbing alcohol also does wonders to remove any film left from soap or other cleaners, just in case.
The type of container is not too important but the ones included in Bearing Cleaner Kits often stack bearings vertically and can be very useful for separating debris. Pour enough cleaner into your container so that your bearings will be completely submerged.
Place the bearings in the container with the cleaning solution and secure the lid. Agitate for 30 seconds to make sure that the solution reaches every nook and cranny in each bearing. Afterwards, let them sit undisturbed for 3-5 minutes while the sediment and other build-up settles to the bottom. While you wait, prepare an area where the bearings can be dried and lubricated.
It is essential that your bearings be completely dry before applying lubricant. If using a premade cleaner, follow their given instructions. Rubbing alcohol will evaporate on its own without residue, which is why it is recommended. In any case, you could always use a blow dryer to speed up the process. Once you are confident that your bearings are totally dry, apply 2 drops of your bearing lubricant to each bearing and give them a good spin.
Replace the shields that you removed earlier by snapping them into place. Check each bearing's spin after you do to make sure they are flush and spinning freely. Then, re-install your bearings into your wheels - again, a bearing tool is extremely useful here - and finally, your wheels on to your skates.
Pro Tip: Most cleaning solutions can be strained and recycled for multiple uses!