When it comes to taking care of ice skates, the first thing to keep in mind is that you have to keep them sharp, so keep your eyes on those blades.
However, don’t sharpen their blades too often. Only when necessarily. Or you will end up wearing them out sooner than it would normally wear out.
Don’t walk on floors with them. Make sure you take them off as soon as you get off the ice. They’re made to cut the ice. Not for walking.
Do not cover the blades with hard covers. They will rust in time due the condense. Wrap them in a soft cloth, or anything soft and breathable.
The leather is susceptible to water damage, therefore, make sure you let the skates breath after you take them off. Open them as much as you can and loosen the laces.
To clean them you can use leather products or you can go natural and use distilled white vinegar with a small amount of olive oil. If stained or very dirty, you can use baking soda with water. Rub the outside of the skates with banana peels (the inside of the banana peel) after cleaning them to keep the leather flexible, to maintain its elasticity and prevent breakage.
To clean the laces, take them off and let them soak in soapy water. Rinse them generously afterwards.
If your blades, boots or laces appear to be damaged beyond repair, do not hesitate to replace them. Safety first!
If the blade appears to be worn out or sharpened short, replace it.
If you notice that the boot is split anywhere, do not glue them. Turn to someone who knows what their doing or replace it.
Needless to say, if the laces start to show threads or thinning, replace them. They will break.
