How to Remove Ski Wax

Ski wax is a vital part of how well your skis perform when skiing. In fact, the more wax that builds up over time on your skis and the older they are, the faster you'll be able to go. But you also have to keep your skis clean and you'll have to remove some of that excess wax when you do. The use of wax remover can be used, yet you don't want to remove all of one type of wax on your skis in order to keep optimum speed. Instead, use these techniques to remove ski wax without removing it all.

Things You'll Need

  • Plexiglas scraper
  • Toko or Nylon brush
  • Soft wax
  • Klister scraper
  • Fiberlene lint-free cloth
  • 180-grit silicone carbide sandpaper
  • Wax iron
  • Absorbent paper towels
Show More

Instructions

  1. Glide Wax Removal

    • 1

      Use a simple Plexiglas scraper to remove the glide wax off your skis. Glide wax is the wax you apply to the entire base to make your skis perform better. Don't use the scraper too hard, though, because it could cause damage to the ski's base.

    • 2

      Apply a brush to the surface of the ski. Toko and Nylon have effective brushes that remove excess glide wax without removing too much (see Resource 1).

    • 3

      Buy a soft wax, heat it and apply it to the surface under your skis. Remove the excess wax on the skis with your scraper before the wax cools. Continue to scrape and brush the ski after the wax cools. The cooling will bring more wax to the surface.

    Removing Kick Wax

    • 4

      Remove the kick wax off the kick zone area of your ski using another scraper. The kick zone is located directly below your feet under your skis that allows better grip on the snow. Kick wax is only used on classic skis and generally if you're a competitive skier.

    • 5

      Consider using a klister scraper for easier and safer removal of kick wax (see Resource 1). Klister is a glue-like substance that needs to be applied to the kick zone when the temperature gets above zero Celsius. Scrapers with klister applications help remove kick wax much easier and with a softer texture.

    • 6

      Take some wax remover and apply it to a piece of Fiberlene, otherwise known as a specialized, lint-free cloth used for wax removal (Resource 1). It's generally safe to use wax remover to remove kick wax since it doesn't matter how many layers of wax you have in a kick zone of a ski.

    • 7

      Sand the surface of the bottom of your skis with silicone carbide sandpaper--preferably up to 180-grit texture. Do this before applying more kick wax onto the skis.

    • 8

      Place absorbent paper towels over the bases of your skis and run a wax iron over the paper. The heat will help the paper absorb excess wax.