Skateboarders are a particular breed. We know what we like, and we’re always looking for new ways to make our skateboards faster and more responsive. One of the most important parts of any skateboard is its grip tape, which you’ll find on every board under 7.5 inches wide. The grip tape helps keep your feet in place when you’re doing tricks or simply cruising around town—but it also gets dirty! Keeping your griptape clean is one of the best ways to keep it grippy enough for skating, so here are some tips on how to deep cleanse your griptape:
How to clean skateboard griptape?
If you’ve been skating for any length of time, chances are good that your griptape has worn out or lost its grip. It’s a simple fix: just replace it.
It’s important to keep in mind that the purpose of griptape is to provide traction and prevent your feet from slipping off the board while you ride it. If your old griptape is dirty and grimy, this can affect its ability to grip properly—so keeping it clean is one way to ensure that your boards continue performing as they should.
Remove dirt and grime using a toothbrush
To remove dirt and grime from your skateboard grip tape, use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Many people recommend using an old toothbrush since it’s likely you’re going to be throwing it away once you’re done cleaning.
Start by scrubbing the area in small circles to loosen any dirt or grime that may have accumulated on your griptape. This is best done while holding the skateboard vertically so you don’t get any water inside the board.
Once all of the dirt has been removed from each spot of griptape, rinse off all traces of soap with warm water until there are no bubbles left behind on the surface of your board. If there are still bubbles left over after rinsing off all traces of soap, try flushing those areas again with more warm water until they disappear completely
Removing stickers with rubbing alcohol
If you’ve got a sticker that won’t come off, try using rubbing alcohol to help remove it. Rubbing alcohol is a solvent that dissolves the glue that holds stickers on skateboards and other surfaces. You can find rubbing alcohol at any drugstore, but make sure to buy the kind with 70% or more alcohol content—that’s what will dissolve the sticker glue. If your skateboard is especially old or valuable, be careful not to use too much liquid as it could damage its surface.
To use this method:
- Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto paper towels (or other protective material) and rub it into the area where you want to remove the sticker from your board’s grip tape. Let sit for 30 minutes or so before trying again; if there are still parts of your sticker left behind after this time period has elapsed, repeat steps 1-3 using more solvent until all adhesive residue has been dissolved away from where it was affixed originally!
Removing stickers off your grip tape with a hair dryer.
The first step to cleaning your grip tape is to remove the stickers. There are a few different methods for doing this, but one of the easiest ways is to use a hair dryer.
- Use a small amount of heat (around 300°). Too much heat can cause your grip tape to curl or warp, making it difficult for you skateboard again in the future.
- Be careful not to apply too much pressure on the sticker while using your hair dryer—this can damage your board’s surface and make it impossible for you skate again in the future. It also may mean that you have less control over how much water gets applied during washing later on in this process.
Cleaning your griptape with baking soda
If you want to clean your grip tape, use a toothbrush and scrubbing motion with baking soda to remove dirt. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse with water and dry with a towel.
You can also try using vinegar if you’re looking for something that’s safer on the environment. A 50/50 mix of water and white vinegar will do the trick just as well as baking soda, though you should be careful not to get any on your board’s base or wheels—it will cause them to wear down faster than usual!
Cleaning your griptape with citrus-based cleaners
If you have a little extra time, use coarse sandpaper to remove the dust and debris. You can also use old rags or a paintbrush to wipe away any remaining grime.
While the glue is still wet, clean the board with soap and water—this will help it dry faster and prevent water stains from appearing in the future. You can also use citrus-based cleaners as they’re great at removing dirt, grease and other problematic substances from wood surfaces. Just be sure not to leave it on too long—you don’t want any of those chemicals seeping into your deck!
Deep cleaning your griptape using a new sandpaper
To deep clean your griptape using a new sandpaper, follow these steps:
- Remove the old grip tape from the board. You can do this by peeling it off or scraping it off with a razor blade or X-Acto knife. If you’re going to use an electric planer, make sure you score the surface of your deck first so that you don’t end up cutting into your fresh grip tape!
- Clean both sides of the deck with soap and water (or rubbing alcohol) before applying any kind of cleaning solution to ensure that there aren’t any leftover contaminants on either side of the deck that could damage your brand new grip tape when installed later on down the road when everything has dried completely after being applied correctly without any gaps between layers because they’ll soften up over time if left untouched like how hot glue would soften up
Conclusion
Skateboarders know that the griptape on their boards can get dirty and need to be cleaned. There are many ways to clean your skateboard, but we recommend using a toothbrush and rubbing alcohol. This will help remove stickers or any dirt that is stuck on your griptape. If you prefer an easier method then use a hair dryer as well!
