How to Oil Your Skateboard

Skateboard bearings require oiling as part of regular board maintenance. The amount of oil the bearings need depends on how often the board is ridden, but you can tell that the board is due for oil when the wheels are having trouble spinning. The bearings are what allow the wheels to spin, and slow spinning wheels mean that they're being clogged with old oil and dirt. Keep your skateboard oiled and you'll be rewarded with consistently smooth rides.

Things You'll Need

  • Bowl
  • Detergent
  • Soft-bristle brush
  • Oil (petroleum-based or synthetic)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the wheels from the skateboard and set them aside.

    • 2

      Remove the bearings from the wheels; there are two bearings within each wheel.

    • 3

      Mix four parts water and one part dish detergent - or other grease-cutting solvent - in a bowl.

    • 4

      Soak the bearings in the bowl for about 10 minutes. Use a soft-bristled cleaning brush to completely remove leftover oil and dirt from the bearings.

    • 5

      Rub oil into the clean, dry bearings and reassemble them in the skateboard wheels. The wheels can now be reattached to the trucks.