The bustling winter comes with its own set of fun activities to help keep you occupied throughout your winter holidays. However, while this might serve as an inspiration to begin the new season, you also have to put up with extensive cleaning and repairs that can be hard to tackle before the end of winter.
If you find yourself stuck in this situation, here’s a step-by-step approach on how to clean a hockey board with minimal effort.
How to Clean Hockey Boards
If you are a sucker for hockey, I’m sure you must have noticed scuff marks and persistent stains all over your hockey boards. And let’s not forget how much of an eyesore they can be when you are playing on them.
Whether it is the ice hockey arena or rinks, you may actually do more harm than good unless you know the right way of cleaning your hockey boards.
That’s where this guide comes into the picture.
Here’s how you can effectively get the job done without using toxic chemicals.
1. Take a Dual Sided Eraser Sponge
Instead of using the conventional Sponge, go for a dual-sided eraser sponge where you can use the rough side to scrape off the dirt and utilize the softer side to absorb the excess water and leaving it smooth and clean.
However, if you have tougher scuffs on the arena, use a Monster Scrubby sponge which is a great way to obtain squeaky clean floors, rinks, walls, and baseboards to preserve your hockey board top-notch condition.
2. Fix the Loose Nuts
Loose screws are a typical occurrence on hockey boards. Therefore, look for the kickplate or facing to help you tighten up all the loose screws and increase safety while improving the aesthetics of your boards.
Instead of repairing damaged or broken pieces, I recommend replacing the dasher kick plate or facing sections to ensure you leave no stone unturned in terms of maintaining its practicality.
3. Wipe
Heavy-duty towels make it easier to wipe down the hockey boards without deteriorating their quality whatsoever. You can go for 6 x 16″ Microfiber towels that will help you achieve the ideal look by the end of the cleaning session. You can also enlist the services of a team of cleaners to help you speed up the process and get to every nook and corner to keep the arena spotless.
4. Seal
After you are done with the cleaning, wipe it down with a microfiber towel and allow it to air dry. Later, you can use an Exceed Board Sealer to seal the surface and make future cleaning a breeze.
However, one thing to bear in mind is to allow enough time to let it dry completely before starting another game in the rink. Here, you can use a paint roller to apply the sealant evenly across the surface and around each corner.
What Cleaning Products to Buy
While some individuals choose to stick to chemical-free products, most people tend to use alcohol-based or conventional polishes to keep their hockey boards in excellent condition. If you fall in the first category, I suggest using a damp cloth or sponge to get the gunk off the surface.
However, if you don’t mind using a chemical-based product, there is no harm in using ammonia-free cleaners or detergents to remove all the dirt at once.
Regardless of the methods you choose, make sure the surface is arid before sealing or opening the hockey boards for others. Other than that, you must also avoid soaking the hockey boards with chemicals as it can strip off the existing chemicals, and the residue can get trapped in the holes. This can lead to sticky and rough surfaces to ruin your gameplay.
Therefore, it’s important always to use a warm microfiber cloth to wipe down any excess water and get a clean finish. Besides that, you must also be cautious about the amount of pressure you use to clean the surface, as too much pressure can end up ruining your hockey boards.
When to Clean Your Hockey Boards
Now that you are set with the basic procedure, you must be wondering when the best time to clean your hockey boards is?
Sure, the look of the rink is the biggest indicator to help you determine your cleaning times. But most importantly, once you start to notice the built-up gunk altering the performance and comfort level of the players, that’s when you immediately start cleaning.
This built-up dirt is also known as dead spots, which can clog the holes and make it difficult for players to make way during games.
Not just that, a dirty hockey board is the leading cause of slowed-down shots that can ruin your favorite game. Therefore, you must clean your board before and after use to reduce effort during deep cleaning and prevent damages that can break your bank in expenses.
You can also carry out routine maintenance once a week and deep clean every once a month to make sure your hockey boards look second to none!
Final Thoughts
Cleaning your hockey boards can be a tricky and tedious process, especially if you haven’t cleaned them in a while. However, once you manage to get hold of the best cleaning techniques, you’ll find the decision-making process simplified and that getting started with the cleaning is much easier than you anticipated.
However, just like everything else, cleaning is something you do once or twice every week to keep in ideal shape. For best results, create a regular maintenance and cleaning schedule to ensure you pose no risk to the players. As for cleaners, I suggest experimenting with different ingredients and brands that resonate well with your needs and enhance the puck’s performance.
All in all, with regular upkeep and knowledge about effective techniques, you can not only enhance the overall look of your hockey board but elongate its life span as well.
