Applying Liquid Cleaner
Flip your skis over so the bottom faces upward. It’s easiest to clean your skis when they are upside down the whole time. Work on a flat surface so that your skis don’t wobble around, and flip them over before you start cleaning. If you have a tall table or a workbench, you can use that to hold your skis.
Lock your ski into a wax profile if you have one. A wax profile is a specialized tool that holds skis steady while you work on them. If you have one, place your ski upside down onto it and then clamp the center using the handle in the middle of the tool.Alternative: If you don’t have a wax profile, just hold your ski steady with your hands as you work on it. You can find wax profiles at outdoor supply stores.
Dab a small amount of liquid cleaner onto a cloth. Use a clean, microfiber towel or a paper towel so you don’t scratch your skis. Try to only put a little bit of cleaner so that you don’t oversaturate the towel. You can find liquid ski cleaner at most outdoor supply stores. Liquid ski cleaner is great for getting rid of dirt and grime that might be on your skis. It also leaves a very thin base layer of wax that will bind to your next layers. If you don’t have any liquid ski cleaner, you can skip this step. However, you may need to brush your skis longer.
Wipe the cleaner back and forth over the ski. Start in the middle of your ski and wipe the cleaner from tip to tail in one fluid motion. Make sure you are reaching from the very top to the very bottom of the ski so that it gets cleaned evenly. Try to keep moving the cleaner in the same direction so you don’t leave any streak marks.
Keep wiping with the cleaner until no more dirt comes off the ski. If you need to, dab more cleaner onto a clean paper towel or cloth. Wipe the cleaner back and forth until you don’t see any dirt coming off onto the towel. Depending on how dirty your skis are, you may have to wipe them with cleaner 3 to 4 times.
Let the ski dry for at least 3 minutes and repeat the process on the other ski. Set a timer on your phone and leave your ski to air dry for 3 to 5 minutes. While you wait, clean the bottom of the other ski. Your skis will look less dirty, but they won’t look shiny yet.
Brushing and Waxing Your Skis
Brush your skis with a nylon or bronze brush from tip to tail. Start at one end of the ski and brush in a downwards motion. Try not to use any circular or back and forth swipes so you get a smooth, even clean.Alternative: If your skis have a lot of sap stuck to them or are especially dirty, use a steel brush instead. Steel brushes are stiffer and will dig deeper into the bottom of your skis. Using a stiff, metallic brush will buff your skis and get rid of the surface layer of dirt or grime. This will help to smooth them out for an even coating of wax.
Push your brush forward as you move down the ski. Continue brushing all the way down the ski while you push your brush down and forward. This will ensure you don’t leave any streak marks or scratches on the ski as you brush it. Brushing your skis is essential, especially if you are going to wax them next.
Wax your skis to finish them up. You can use a hot ski wax or a paste ski wax to seal your skis and make sure they glide smoothly across the snow. Heat up your wax and then dribble it onto the bottom of your skis. Then, spread the wax out with a clean cloth and let it dry. Use a wax scraper to take off any excess wax so that it is in a thin layer. You can find ski wax at most outdoor supply stores.
Store your skis upright in a cool, dry area. Try to keep your skis inside your home in a closet or pantry where they will stay cool and dry. Try not to keep your skis in the attic or your garage, as they could get too hot or too cold. If your skis get too hot, it could melt the wax off the bottom. If they get too cold, the wax could freeze and flake off. Check on your skis throughout the off season to make sure they aren’t rusting or bending.
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