How to Clean a Skimboard

Cleaning your skimboard regularly is a part of the normal maintenance required to keep the board looking good and skimming the waves smoothly. Piling on wax layer after wax layer destroys the board's traction over time. The primary cleanup process involves removing applied wax as well as any glue residue left by the traction pads attached to your board. Stripping the board prepares it for a new wax layer, setting the surface for another smooth ride over the water.

Things You'll Need

  • Wax comb
  • Cloth
  • Denatured alcohol
  • Goof Off stain and spot remover
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay the skimboard in direct sunlight for an hour to allow the sun to heat the wax contained on the board body. The heat softens the wax, making it easier to remove. Scrape the wax from the board with the edge of a wax comb. Wipe the comb edge after each pass along the board body with a piece of cloth to keep the edge clear and share. Wipe the board after scraping with a clean dry cloth to remove any waxy residue.

    • 2

      Flip the board over and repeat the wax removal process on the other side of the board.

    • 3

      Dip a rag into denatured alcohol and then rub the surface of the board with the dampened rag to clean any dirt or stains from the skimboard's surface. Allow the alcohol to dry out for 15 minutes.

    • 4

      Remove the glue residue left from traction pads by wiping the area of the board where the pad was attached with Goof Off stain remover (see Resources). Work the remover into the glue to loosen it from the board's surface. Wipe the remover and glue clear of the board with a piece of cloth. Go over the surface with the denatured alcohol dampened cloth to remove any residue, and then let the board dry.