How to Clean Climbing Skins

Climbing skins are synthetic sleeves that stick to the bottom of skis--normally telemark skis--and enable a rider to "climb" the mountain on the skis themselves. These were popularized in the late 1990s as backcountry enthusiasts sought newer and fresher terrain that could not be accessed by ski lifts and gondolas. Skins are normally "self-cleaning," but there are ways in which you can maintain your skins to keep their grip and last longer.

Things You'll Need

  • Skins
  • 5-gallon bucket
  • Water
  • Wooden spoon
  • 2 clothespins
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine how much cleaning the skins need. If the skins have lost their sticking power because of dirt and gunk buildup, you may need to re-glue the skins altogether.

    • 2

      Fill the bucket three-quarters full with cold water. Take off the skins from your skis and drop then in the bucket.

    • 3

      Stir the skins in the bucket with a wooden spoon or your hand. Make sure the skins become fully waterlogged. You might want to keep them soaking in water overnight or for more than 12 hours.

    • 4

      Rub the dirt off the skins. Use your fingers to manipulate the pine needles, dirt, pebbles and gunk from the sticky side of the skin. Do not use too much force because this could damage the glue on the skin. Repeat this step until you've removed all the dirt and buildup on the skin.

    • 5

      Remove the skins from the bucket and hang with the clothespins from an elevated point so they'll hang vertically to dry.

    • 6

      Allow ample ventilation in the drying area but do not place the skins in the dryer or add any heat to the environment. Allow to dry for at least 24 hours before taking down.

    • 7

      Test the stickiness of the glue after the skins have dried. Cold water should not impede the sticking power, but make sure the skins will still adhere to your skis after they've dried.