How To Clean Bearings With Household Items

Acetone is the most common household item used in cleaning skateboard bearings It is safe both for you and the bearings

What can I use to clean bearings?

The best bet is to use methylated spirit or just soak the bearings in some solvent or alcohol If you can find a spray-on degreaser, you can blast all the crap out of your bearings to great effect Lemon juice works well too!

What household items can I use to lube bearings?

If you don’t have a skate bearing lubricant at home, you can use either sewing machine oil or oil for electronic gadgets Don’t use motor oil, WD-40, petroleum jelly, or cooking oil because they’re unsuitable for bearings Also, be careful of the amount of oil you’ll be putting on each bearing

Can I use nail polish remover to clean bearings?

“You’ll need to remove the bearing shields if your bearings have them Just poke them out with a paper clip Then soak your bearings in acetone, nail-polish remover or rubbing alcohol WD40 or others like it will dry out your bearings and attract dust and dirt

Can you clean bearings with water?

Water will rust your bearings and dirt will destroy the smoothness of the super finish on your bearing races, increasing friction If you use a water based cleaner like a citrus cleaner or a detergent, be sure to dry your bearings IMMEDIATELY and then re-coat them with lubricant to prevent rust

Can I use silicone grease for bearings?

The lubricant will affect maximum running speed and temperature, torque level, noise level and, ultimately, bearing life Silicon lubricants have wide temperature ranges and change viscosity less with temperature They also have good water-resistance and are safe to use with most plastics

What is the best lubricant for ball bearings?

Oil is the basic lubricant for ball bearings Previously most lubricating oil was refined from petroleum Today, however, synthetic oils such as diesters, silicone polymers, and fluorinated compounds have found acceptance because of improvements in properties

What oil do you use for bearings?

The two types of oil used for bearing lubrication are petroleum based and synthetic Synthetic fluids include synthetic hydrocarbons, diesters, polyesters, glycols, fluorinated compounds, silicones and phosphate esters

Can you use Vaseline on skateboard bearings?

You can, but it won’t hold up like bearing grease will

Can you use Windex to clean skateboard bearings?

pour out bearings and windex (WILL BE EXTREMELY HOT) dry them out, and pop them in your wheels REMEMBER: you must pour enough windex into the bottle to cover the bearings

Can I use rubbing alcohol to clean my skateboard bearings?

After you’ve let your skateboard bearings soak in the cup of isopropyl alcohol for at least 30 mins, take each bearing out individually and use a paper towel to wipe them clean and dry If you’re fortunate to have access to compressed air, apply it now to really clean the hard to reach areas inside the bearings

Can you clean bearings with dish soap?

Gently pry up and around the bearing, making sure not to bend it too far out of shape The shield should remain flat throughout the process, don’t pull up in one spot Once all shields are off, they should be placed in a bowl of warm water and dish soap Do not place the shields in acetone/solvent

How do you clean bearings with vinegar?

Make sure you use WHITE vinegar, not cider or balsamic (3) Now place bearing into the vinegar You will begin to see hydrogen bubbles forming on the bearing (5th pic is bearings in vinegar) Remove the bearing every hour and give it a scrub with the toothbrush or cloth to remove loosened rust

Can you use WD40 to clean bearings?

You should never use WD40 to clean skateboard bearings This is a product designed specifically made for removing rust and grime, not as a lubricant or cleaner for bearings It works wonders at first, but you’ll find yourself reapplying more and more as it dries out bearings

Can you use olive oil as lube for bearings?

Grease up the bearings A few lubricants that function admirably for skateboard bearings are sewing machine oils, skate bearing grease, or electronic oils Try not to grease up your bearings using thick oils Stay away from lubricants such as vegetable oil, olive oil or car oil

Can I use acetone to clean bearings?

Pour enough acetone into the container to cover the bearings Place inside and securely fasten the lid (Follow the instructions with your cleaning kit carefully) You can leave them to soak and give them a good shake to remove all the dirt

Can you use vinegar to clean bearings?

Pour enough white vinegar into a jar so that the bearing can be completely submerged Make sure you use WHITE vinegar, not cider or balsamic … White vinegar does not leave a residue when it evaporates, so you will not need to do additional cleaning

Is silicone spray good for bearings?

Silicone oil isn’t good for bearings Silicone is not really a lubricant, it’s more for use as a moisture repellent If you’re talking about a 1/8th car, it’s best to use light grease It bleeds out of the bearing slowly so dirt doesn’t work it’s way into the bearing as easily and lasts way longer than any oil

Can you use hydrogen peroxide to clean bearings?

Hydrogen peroxide is an aggressive corrosive Use it if you want to destroy your bearings And just drying them with a paper towel isnt good enough Use a blow dryer or let dry over nite

How do you make bearings shiny?

Make sure to do light coats as to not make it sticky or too thick or runny FOR SHINY clean off the ring with acetone and then shine it with whatever you please NOTE you will need to use something that will prevent rust because the rings will rust with undesirable results