Skate care and sharpening

A good pair of skates lasts for years if you look after the blades. Most damage comes from rust, walking on hard floors and packing them away wet. Here is the routine.

Guards: hard and soft

Hard guards (plastic or rubber) go on whenever you walk off the ice, and come off just before you step on. Walking on concrete, tiles or even rubber matting in bare blades dulls or chips them. Never store skates in hard guards: water trapped inside rusts the blade.
Soakers (soft towelling covers) go on for storage and transport. They absorb moisture and protect the blades from knocks in the bag.

After every session

Take the hard guards off as soon as you are off the ice and wipe the blades dry with a small towel, including the sides and the mounting plates.
Put soakers on for the trip home.
At home, take the skates out of the bag, loosen the laces, pull the tongues forward and let the boots and blades air dry at room temperature. Not on a radiator: heat damages boots.

Sharpening

Blades have two edges with a shallow groove (the "hollow") between them. The edges are what grip the ice; when they dull, you slide sideways on turns and stops. How often to sharpen depends on how much you skate and how careful you are with guards. Recreational skaters often sharpen a few times a year; regular hockey players far more often. Signs it is due: the blade slips on crossovers or stops, or you can feel nicks along the edge with a fingernail.

Use a rink pro shop or specialist skate sharpener, and tell them whether you skate figure or hockey and your level, so they choose the right hollow. Brand-new skates usually need a first sharpening before use.

Boots and laces

Replace frayed laces before they snap mid-session.
Check the screws holding the blade to the boot now and then; loose blades feel wobbly and can be dangerous.
Leather boots appreciate the occasional clean and polish; avoid getting them soaked.

Storage between seasons

Clean and fully dry everything, put soakers on, and store the skates somewhere dry and cool, out of the bag. A thin smear of light oil on the blades helps if they will sit unused for months.

Still choosing a pair? See buying your first skates.