Pushing too hard will tear the grip and strip grit from the tape. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. To do this, you will need: window cleaner, an old toothbrush, and paper towels. Spray some water onto the grip tape and use the toothbrush to scrub the tape. It might seem like a complicated process, but it’s actually quite easy. Learning how to clean your own grip tape can save you money and your board will stay in good shape for longer. You can also use a cheap rubber cement eraser from an art store. Using these products is just a simple task. You can use the following products: Aside from using a spray bottle, you can also use a sponge to apply the cleaning product properly. Grip tape eraser is just a piece of rubber-like material. fireballzer0. A firm toothbrush will also work. After cleaning it, let it dry for for at least 3 hours, since riding it while it's damp can be dangerous. Don’t use paper towels, as that will break apart and make a huge mess. Wait for at least an hour before attempting to place new anti-slip tape onto the surface. Also, it can effectively clean grip tape without any problems. Grip tape might start to peel if it’s not dried thoroughly. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Your email address will not be published. Use a towel or paper towel to dab the dirt and clean it off. Then to clean the grip tape, you need to use circular strokes. You may repeat the process if the dirt is not fully getting rid of. Clean grip tape is a must. Don’t push so hard that the grip tape starts tearing. This method using a wire brush is the best to clean clear grip tape. Start by getting your preferred cleaning product ready. Use a microfiber cloth to dry grip and board. Use duct tape, electrical tape, scotch tape, or packing tape as all of these helps to protect your decks from getting soaked with water. You can push the grip tape eraser lightly for a cleaner performance. Doesn't matter if it's new tape / old tape / factory tape, or even multiple layers of tape. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Use a large microfiber cloth (or several smaller microfiber cloths) to dry the grip tape thoroughly before continuing. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. First of all, you need to pour little water over the grip. Wait for a few minutes and then clean the surface with water. It's full of potential, possibilities. Another choice you can use is the belt sander cleaner and free terry clothes. For example, getting off dried mud from your grip tape needs water and other cleaning materials for effective removal. If you used liquid to clean your grip tape, you should let it dry in sunlight for at least three hours. Anti-slip tape is similar to grip tape used on skateboards tops. Favorite Answer . For more tips, including when to replace the grip tape on your skateboard, read on! To clean the grip tape on a longboard, use the same process, but dip your brush in soapy water to help break down the dirt, since longboards are more water-resistant than short boards. the nose or the tail). Now you need to use the toothbrush. Learn more... A skateboard with dirty grip tape is difficult to ride and not very pretty to look at. Use your “Grip Gum” to scrape off as much dirt as you can off the grip tape to start to clean the board up. How to clean the Grip Tape? Stepping out with a sticky, clean and sturdy […] https://www.concretecoast.com/blogs/longboarding/how-to-clean-griptape, https://longboardbrand.com/how-to-maintain-your-longboard/, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Make sure you firmly rub the Grip Gum across your grip tape to clear off the dirt or other things stuck to your grip tape. Biking vs Skateboarding: Which Sport is Better? So, let’s start the method. It might be a little issue for some, and many skateboarders don’t mind the importance of cleaning their grip tape. If there’s any leftover grime on your grip tape, rub grip gum across it. The bristles should be sturdy, but not sharp enough to tear your grip tape. Something with bristles. If you can completely clean a shaft with a torch in less than a minute, then you're doing great. % of people told us that this article helped them. If you find the brush and belt cleaner is not removing heavily caked-on dirt, you can try dipping your brush in water. Cut away frayed edges of the grip tape with a pair of scissors, if necessary. [1] X Research source The way to clean up the grip tape. Using a soft-bristle brush, remove the dirt off the grip tape. Pull gently, but firmly, to peel the grip tape away from the board. A dirtier grip tape requires more effort, while simple ones might only take a few seconds or minutes to get cleaned. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. wikiHow's. 4. Make sure it’s wet evenly. Pour a gentle amount of water onto the skateboard grip tape. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Your email address will not be published. After you rinse, dry the surface carefully using a clean cloth or towel. Apply the cleaning product to the grip tape indirectly. To clean the grip tape on a shortboard, use a soft wire brush with sturdy bristles to get rid of any dirt. If at any point the grip tape tears or you feel resistance while peeling, repeat the step with hair dryer. Well, as your skateboard has already been part of your day to day life, it is also now a part of your personal stuff. While it provides exceptional levels of grip throughout the range it can be difficult to clean; the surface grit can accumulate debris from foot and vehicle traffic, which for anti-slip tape with finer grit levels can have an impact on performance. Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. For grip tape, most of the stains will likely be organic – food or drinks that were spilled on it, dirt from the bottom of shoes, etc. All of these products are effective enough to clean off dust from your grip tape but not with mud. A sponge or cloth will only shred while rubbing the tape and … Keep going until there are no more dirty spots. You'll probably have a part of your deck with no grip, but you'll also have a big extra piece of grip hanging off the other side. Just center the drawing where you want it to be (e.g. You may have to repeat the process if the grip tape does not get as clean as you wish. Remember you should not use a paper towel to wipe the water. In this tutorial, we learn how to clean your skateboard grip tape. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. You can also remove the wheels from your board and lay it on a flat surface to make the process easier. How to clean grip tape. (When the tape leaves residues, use sandpaper to get rid of it instead). This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Some great, some not so great. Shaft is perfectly clean with no residue of any kind. Relevance. For more tips, including when to replace the grip tape on your skateboard, read on! Patting and dabbing are both good options for this application since scrubbing it directly might wear out the grip tape. Now that you know how to clean grip tape, you should be able to make it last a lot longer! Use a circular rotating motion to get any residue lodged into the grit on the tape. Avoid pressing down too hard so you don’t risk rubbing off the grip. Step-3 Apply Water For Heavily Caked On Dirt And Mud. If your clean grip tape still isn’t giving you the purchase you’re used to, just remember that grip tape doesn’t last forever – you’ll have to replace it eventually. Soak a clean, soap-free sponge in some water. Removing the wheels might make your board easier to clean. As dust is easy to get rid of, dirtier grip tape must also require other methods and more effort from you. To do this process properly, you need to hold the wire brush securely. This time, we’ll talk about how to clean your grip tape in an easy way. Pat to soak the moisture let the cloth lay down on the board for a moment. You can buy a soft wire brush online or at your local hardware store, however a toothbrush can also work, as long as it is still firm. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 52,868 times. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Apply the cleaning product to the grip tape indirectly. – so an enzyme digester is a good choice. Regardless of the type of style that you want to use, you must have a grip tape on your board. You can see a lot of brands in the market; just make sure to choose the one with good quality. You can use the small corner of the grip tape eraser to clean the smaller area of your grip tape. Use duct tape, electrical tape, scotch tape, or packing tape as all of these helps to protect your decks from getting soaked with water. After using the razor to peel back the edge of the grip tape, you can use your hands to finish the job. While it is easy to clean your dirty grip tape, keeping it clean all the time should not be an option to all skaters but a responsibility. Fold the cloth to press it against the board until the grip tape is mostly dry. For this reason, to avoid excessive buying of grip tape, keeping it clean all the time will help you save some penny as well as time and effort. Then use the paper towel to dry the grip tape. Aside from aesthetic reasons, a dirty grip tape might affect your tricks. This is not the best way to clean skateboard grip tape. So, you should get a good amount of time ready to invest. If your board becomes saturated, dry it off immediately as a waterlogged board can lead to warping and cracking. Dirty grip tape is not usually bad, but the moment that dirt gets sturdy, it might lead things to worst. There's something special about clean bar tape. Layers of dirt and mud can lessen traction and resistance, making it hard to land any tricks. Step 1: Brush your grip tape with the soft wire brush or new toothbrush Make sure the bristles on your brush are sturdy but not sharp enough to tear your grip tape. Instead of direct application, use sponge, spray bottle, or towel. When towels and sponge don’t work well, the use of a toothbrush is a good option. Like a lotto ticket in your pocket, it's an invitation to daydream - to imagine the adventures, and explorations you'll enjoy as soon as you get off of work and hop in the saddle. A rubber cement eraser from an art store is a cheap alternative. This is why, when it gets dirty, cleaning is a must, and for worst, you need to replace a new one. As the water runs, use the coarse scrubber and scrub across the grip tape back and forth – the water should wash away any dirt as it comes up Use a cloth to wipe down your board and to absorb any water left on the grip tape. A grip tape is a sandpaper-like sheet that is grainy with an extremely sticky underside that adheres to the skateboard deck surface to offer traction and grip. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. However, it is necessary to clean the grip tape if you don't ride the board regularly or you skate through the dirty areas and substances like mud or sticky liquids to be on the surface of the board. Buy a soft wire brush. A lot of blogs and videos are out there showing how to clean board grip tape. 2. Window cleanings like Windex contain something called solvents. But the only glitch is the fact that it needs you the longest time to clean. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. ... Reapply the adhesive remover with a clean paper towel until the surface is completely clean. For best drying results, lay the cloth on top of the deck and pat it until it sticks to the grip tape. And it doesn't take long before that fresh, clean tap Mix the two ingredients separately and then, apply the solution to your scooter or skateboard griptape. 5 Answers. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/79\/Clean-Grip-Tape-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-Grip-Tape-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/79\/Clean-Grip-Tape-Step-1.jpg\/aid10233740-v4-728px-Clean-Grip-Tape-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"