To clean a paddle board, rinse it with fresh water after every session, then every few weeks wash it with mild soapy water and a soft sponge or brush, rinse again and let it dry in the shade. That’s it for most boards, inflatable or hard. The rest of this guide covers scuffs, the deck pad, valves and fin boxes, and what not to use.
Quick answer
- After every paddle: hose it down with fresh water, especially after salt water, and get the sand out of the fin box and valve.
- Every few weeks (or when it looks grubby): mild soap or a gentle biodegradable cleaner, a soft sponge or brush, then rinse.
- Scuffs: a damp Magic Eraser on the hull and rails. Not on the deck pad.
- Dry it fully before you roll, bag or store it.
- Avoid: bleach, harsh solvents, abrasive powders, stiff brushes and pressure washers.
What you need
- A hose or a few buckets of fresh water
- Mild dish soap, or a gentle cleaner such as Simple Green or 303 Multi-Surface Cleaner
- A soft sponge, cloth or soft-bristled brush
- A melamine sponge (Magic Eraser) for scuffs
- A towel, and some shade to dry the board in
- Optional: a UV protectant spray such as 303 Aerospace Protectant
Step 1: Rinse off salt, sand and grit
Rinse the whole board with fresh water as soon as you can after paddling. Tower Paddle Boards says to do this after every use, because salt left on the board slowly attacks epoxy and plastic parts.
Pay attention to the places dirt hides: the fin box, the leash plug, D-rings, bungee anchors and, on an inflatable, around the valve. A grain of sand in the valve seal is a common cause of slow leaks.
If you paddle in clean fresh water, a quick rinse is still worth it. Lakes and rivers leave algae and scum that’s easier to remove before it dries.
Step 2: Wash with mild soap
Every few weeks, or whenever the board looks dirty, give it a proper wash.
- Mix a little mild dish soap or biodegradable cleaner into a bucket of water. Starboard suggests mild biodegradable cleaners or a vinegar-and-water mix.
- Wash the deck, rails and hull with a soft sponge or cloth.
- Go gently over printed graphics. Hard scrubbing can wear them off.
- Rinse off every bit of soap. Leftover soap makes the board slippery and attracts dirt.
Do this on grass or on the board’s bag rather than a gravel driveway, so you don’t add new scratches while you clean.
Step 3: Clean the deck pad
The EVA foam deck pad holds sand, sunscreen and grime in its texture. Scrub it with soapy water and a soft-bristled brush, working with the grooves. Then rinse well.
Be gentle. A stiff brush, a Magic Eraser or harsh cleaners can tear or wear the foam, and the pad is what keeps your feet from slipping.
Step 4: Deal with scuffs and stains
A damp Magic Eraser takes most scuffs and marks off the hull and rails of both hard and inflatable boards; Tower recommends it. Use light pressure and rinse afterwards.
On a hard (epoxy) board, Tower also suggests rubbing a stubborn scuff with wet sand or very fine, high-grit sandpaper. Go lightly. You’re polishing the surface, not sanding through it.
If you find a crack or a ding that goes through the finish on a hard board, don’t paddle it until it’s sealed, as water can get into the foam core. On an inflatable, a scuff that has gone through the outer layer is worth patching; see our best inflatable SUP patch kits.
Step 5: Dry it, then protect it from the sun
Towel the board off or let it air-dry, ideally in the shade. Glide points out that moisture trapped around the seams and valve of a rolled-up inflatable is what leads to mildew and smells. Make sure it’s fully dry before it goes in the bag.
Sun is the bigger long-term risk than dirt:
- Glide suggests a UV protectant such as 303 Aerospace Protectant on inflatables about twice a season, once in spring and once mid-summer.
- On a hard board, the dark deck pad soaks up heat. Tower recommends flipping the board deck-down in the sun, because extreme heat can make the deck delaminate.
- Don’t leave any board baking on the beach or in a hot car between sessions.
A UV board cover is worth it if your board lives outside.
What not to use
- Bleach and harsh solvents (acetone, thinners, strong degreasers). They can damage PVC, glue seams and finishes.
- Pressure washers. Glide warns against them; the jet can lift edges, damage the deck pad or force water into valves.
- Abrasive powders and scouring pads on the deck, rails or graphics.
- Stiff wire or nylon brushes on the deck pad.
Don’t forget the fins, leash and paddle
Rinse the fins and fin box, and wiggle the fin screw so salt can’t seize it. Rinse the leash, especially the Velcro cuff and swivel. Rinse the paddle, and if it’s adjustable, take it apart now and then so sand doesn’t jam the clamp.
Once everything is clean and dry, see how to store a paddle board for keeping it in good shape between trips.
FAQ
How often should I clean my paddle board?
Rinse it after every session, and wash it with soap every few weeks or whenever it looks dirty. Board makers agree the fresh-water rinse is the part that matters most, especially after salt water.
Can I use dish soap on a paddle board?
Yes. A mild dish soap in a bucket of water is fine for both inflatable and hard boards. Rinse it all off afterwards.
Can I use a Magic Eraser on a paddle board?
Yes, on the hull and rails. Tower Paddle Boards recommends it for scuffs. Keep it off the deck pad, which it can wear down.
How do I get mildew smell out of an inflatable paddle board?
Wash it with soapy water (a little white vinegar helps with odors), rinse, and let it dry fully in the shade before you roll it. Storing it damp is what causes mildew in the first place. Some owners store their board partly inflated for this reason; see is it OK to leave an inflatable SUP inflated.
Does cleaning make a paddle board last longer?
It helps. Salt, sand and UV are the main things that wear a board out, and rinsing, drying and shading it deal with all three. More in how long inflatable paddle boards last.
