Cleaning a Paddle Board

Why you Need to Clean Your Paddle Board 

Yes, after a long day outdoors, cleaning your paddle board would be the last thing on your mind. It would be so much easier to just let it dry outside and chuck it into any storage room the next day. But like what the old saying goes – the better you take care of something, the longer it will last. 

Like with any type of gear, your paddle board could take in some serious wear and tear when you’re out and about the rugged terrain or even calmer waters. After your wonderful day out paddle boarding, one thing any SUP enthusiast should do is clean their board.

They will definitely last longer and look better if you keep them clean throughout their life. It can even last decades with no issues at all if you give it some TLC once in a while. 

Aside from the long-term benefits, a consistent after-use cleaning of your paddle board routine will also keep your board and gear always ready for your next adventure. Nobody wants to get on a board full of dust, dirt, or whatever muck you can bring home after a day out in the sun. This will also help with your safety in the long-run too!

Today, we’ll be sharing with you some of the most effective clean-up methods you can easily do to keep your SUP in tip-top shape. 

Check out this useful video on How to Clean and Care for your SUP which covers some of the things we’ll look at in this post:

How to Clean Your Paddle Board 

There are a lot of different methods you can use to clean your stand-up paddle board. It could be as simple as using a garden hose and some buckets of soapy water but there are a few tips and tricks that could help you get rid of stubborn marks.

Just remember, it’s perfectly normal for your boards to get dirty. It’s an outdoor sport after all. You’ll be exposed to all kinds of dirt, mud, sand, and everything else nature has to offer. That’s the fun part! But if you take the time to clean your board after every use and remove all the dirt and debris with a quick rinse, that would help enhance its performance and life too.

These are the steps you should follow:

1. Clean the bottom or underside of your board first then flip.

Use a high-pressure spray or hose and just spray down, rinse out any impurities and any visible gunk on your board. Once you’re done with the underside, flip, and do the same on the deck pad side. 

2. Give it a bit of a scrub.

Use a scrubbing brush with soft bristles (not something abrasive as this may damage it) on any areas that might have residue. Especially if you were paddle boarding in salt water, a rinse won’t be enough to remove the hidden salt particles or even slime from nature. So, some scrubbing and soapy water should do the trick. After that, rinse it down again to remove any water and remaining visible particles.

3. Let it dry.

Now that you finished rinsing it out, you just need to leave it to dry out in the sun for 10-20 minutes. But if you live somewhere with very intense heat, it’s not recommended to keep your board in direct sunlight. Instead, leave it in the shade and use a soft towel to wipe it down. 

4. Store it right.

If the season is over, you’ll need to think of the best place for long-term storage. Somewhere shaded and away from water would be the best option. It’s also recommended to keep moisture-absorbing dry packs or towels in between even if it appears dry to prevent any mold to form or bacteria to harbor on the boards.

Tips and Tricks in Cleaning Your Board

YES you can use mold remover, magic erasers, and baking soda to clean the PVC portion but DO NOT use these abrasive cleaners on the deck pad or graphics. That would damage the board.

YES you can use mild soapy water and a scrubbing brush to scrub away stubborn dirt but DO NOT scrub away the graphics. Only use water in those areas.

YES you should clean your board in a flat position or orientation. DO NOT ever stand up the board while cleaning or drag the board since it can damage it too. 

Cleaning a Paddle Board: The Bottom Line

No matter if you’re retiring your board for the season or just keeping it safe till your next adventure the next weekend, it would be best practice to keep it clean, safe, and tidy.

In doing so, you can assure yourself that you’ll have a trusted board with no issues that would last you a lifetime. All you really need is 10 minutes, a garden hose, a brush, mild soapy water, and some elbow grease. 

Happy paddling!

Are you new to paddling? Make sure you know how to inflate your board properly to avoid it sagging in the middle.