How to Clean and Maintain Your Skate Bearings

How to Clean Skate Bearings the Right Way (And Make Your Skates Feel Brand New)

Let’s face it. Cleaning your skate bearings is right up there with doing your taxes, flossing, or reading the instruction manual for IKEA furniture. Not exactly thrilling. But if your skates are starting to feel sticky, squeaky, or slow, this is your wake-up call.

Your bearings are screaming for help.

Most skaters don’t realize just how much dirt, gunk, and mystery grime ends up jammed inside those tiny little metal rings. Whether you’re gliding across a smooth indoor rink, dodging potholes downtown, or getting body-checked in roller derby, your bearings take a beating.

And if you don’t clean them?
They’ll start dragging. You’ll feel it in every stride. And the joy of skating starts to fade.

Let’s not let that happen.

Real Talk: Why Clean Bearings Matter

Your bearings are the heart of your skates. When they’re dirty, everything suffers. You slow down. You push harder. You wear yourself out faster. And you start wondering if your skates are just “getting old.”

They’re not. Your bearings just need some love.

Dirty bearings cause:

• Friction that slows your roll

• Rust that eats away at performance

• Grinding that wears down your gear way too soon

Taking 15 minutes to clean your bearings could literally make your skates feel brand new again. No joke.

But you know what’s even better than clean bearings?
Using bearings that actually stay clean longer.

When Should You Clean Your Bearings?

This isn’t a once-a-year thing. If you’re skating regularly, treat cleaning your bearings like brushing your teeth. Not optional.

• Skated in rain or puddles? Clean them immediately.

• Skates feel slow or noisy? It’s time.

• Been a few months? Definitely overdue.

If your wheels don’t spin freely when you flick them, that’s your sign.

What You’ll Need

Here’s your toolkit for bringing your bearings back to life:

• A skate tool

• A small container (for soaking)

• Isopropyl alcohol (91% or higher) or bearing cleaner

• A cloth or paper towels

• Real bearing lubricant (no, not WD-40)

• Optional: bearing remover and pin for shield removal

Let’s Clean These Suckers: Step-by-Step

1. Pop Off Your Wheels

Use your skate tool and take ‘em off. Simple.

2. Remove the Bearings

Carefully. Don’t stab yourself. You’ve got dreams to chase.

3. Take Off the Shields

Gently pry them off. If you bend them, they won’t snap back right.

4. Soak

Drop the bearings in a container of alcohol or cleaner. Let them sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Swirl it around a little. Watch the dirt come off. It’s kind of satisfying. Gross, but satisfying.

5. Dry

Wipe them off and let them air dry completely. A cool hair dryer can help speed this up. Just don’t microwave them. That’s not a joke. Someone probably tried it.

6. Lubricate

Add 1–2 drops of skate bearing lube to each one.
Do not skip this step unless you like replacing your gear early.

7. Reassemble and Reinstall

Snap the shields back in, put the bearings in the wheels, screw your wheels back on (but not too tight), and spin those beauties.

You’re back.

Want your entire skate setup to feel brand new again?
Check out our full guide on How to Make Your Skates Feel Like New Again and give your whole ride a fresh start.

Want Bearings That Don’t Constantly Need Cleaning?

Real bearings. Real performance. Shipped in collector tins and ready to roll clean. Beagle Bearings delivers serious quality for serious skaters.

Here’s the deal. If you're tired of doing this dance every month, maybe it's time to upgrade your bearings entirely.

Beagle Bearings are hand-polished, dual-shielded, and built for smooth performance.
They’re fast, strong, and ridiculously easy to maintain.
You’ll spend more time skating and less time scrubbing.

And there’s more,  every set sold from our website sends $4 straight to The Garden State Animal Rescue Center.
So when you roll, you're also helping rescue dogs find homes.
Skating has never felt better. Literally.

👉 Click here to shop Beagle Bearings now

Curious why more and more skaters are leaving their old bearings behind?
Read Why Roller Skaters are Switching to Beagle Bearings and see what the hype is really about.

How to Keep Your Bearings in Good Shape (So You Don’t Have to Do This Again Next Week)

• Avoid skating through water if you can help it

• Wipe off your wheels before storing your skates

• Store your gear in a dry place, not your sweaty car trunk

• Check your bearings every few weeks

• Re-lube if they feel dry, gritty, or just off

Common Cleaning Mistakes That Ruin Bearings

Let’s stop the madness.

• Don’t use water (even if your friend swears by it)

• Don’t forget to lube after cleaning

• Don’t overtighten your nuts (bearing spin matters)

• Don’t wait until your skates sound like a shopping cart

Final Thought: Take Care of Your Bearings, and They’ll Take Care of You

Cleaning your skate bearings might not be the highlight of your weekend, but it’s the difference between a frustrating session and a smooth, effortless ride.
And if you’re like most skaters I know, you didn’t get into this sport to feel slow, stuck, or annoyed.

You came here to move.

So if you’re ready to ride faster, glide smoother, and support a brand that gives back to animals in need,  Beagle Bearings has your back.

We’re not just another bearing company.
We’re the bearings that move.

Our Ceramic Spectras feature 6-ball construction, USA-made glow shields, and insane roll speed.
$4 from every set helps rescue dogs.

Ready to upgrade your ride?
Our Ceramic Spectras feature 6-ball construction, USA-made glow shields, and insane roll speed.
$4 from every set helps rescue dogs.
👉 Order Ceramic Spectra Bearings – Our Fastest, Smoothest Bearings Yet