How to Remove Surf Wax: 3 Easy Steps to Get Wax Off a Surfboard

Do you need to get wax off your surfboard, but don’t know how to do it? You’ve come to the right place!

In this article we teach you how to remove surf wax from a surfboard step by step, as well as helping you identify when the time as come to remove it, and also how to do so if you don’t have the typical surf comb that we all use.

Wax plays a very important role when it comes to surfing, as it gives grip to your feet so that you don’t slip off your surfboard when you are riding on it.

And you can’t just wax your surfboard once and forget about it. It’s important to remove the wax every so often, and reapply a fresh coat. It’s something very simple, but also very important.

So without further ado, let’s see how to remove wax from a surfboard!

How to know when to remove wax from your board

Before removing the surfboard wax from your board, you should first check if it is necessary to change it or not.

Sometimes new surfers think that it must be changed before every surf session, but that’s not the case.

The truth is, there is no set amount of time after which you need to remove the wax from your surfboard.

You change the wax when the wax no longer has grip, and therefore stops fulfilling its function. Time is relative!

To identify whether it’s necessary to remove the wax from your board, the easiest thing is to look at is the color.

If it’s dark and dirty (like in the photo above) enough from the friction with your feet, wetsuit and board bag, it’s time to change it!

This obviously works best if you are using white wax, which is the most common color for surf waxes out there.

But there are also waxes of different colors, and that could get you confused.

With colored waxes you can’t always tell when to change it based on color, as the dirt disguises itself with the color of the wax.

In that case, if by passing the palm of your hand over the wax you feel that it slips, then it’s time to change the wax, before the ones that slip are your feet while trying to stand up on your surfboard.

There are also other occasions that require changing your wax. For example if you leave your surfboard exposed to the sun or intense heat inside a car, the wax will melt.

If that happens, it’s time to remove the surf wax, as it will most likely also lose its adherence.

How to get wax off a surfboard (and leave it polished without leaving residue of the old wax)

Now that you know when it’s time to remove wax from a surfboard, let’s look at the simple steps you need to follow to remove it.

1) Leave your board under the hot sun, with the deck under direct sunlight for about 5 or 10 minutes.

By heating the wax it will become softer, almost to the point of melting, and it will be easier to remove.

If you live in a place where the sun is conspicuously absent then you can use a hair dryer to heat and soften the wax.

2) It’s now time to get out your wax comb. All wax combs have two sides, one with quite pronounced teeth and the other side with a very fine edge like a spatula.

To remove the wax you will only use the wax scraper side, the one that looks like a spatula (the side with teeth is used to put wax on your surfboard).

You can either start from the nose to the tail or from the tail to the nose (so either from top to bottom or from bottom to top), it doesn’t make much difference.

You will use it exactly like a spatula, pressing it between the wax and surfboard, and using it to scrape off the wax.

As you remove wax, we recommend making a ball with it, so that it does not stick to your board.

After you have removed as much as you can with the wax comb, there will always be little spots of wax residue everywhere, which are difficult to remove with the comb.

3) Now it’s time for you to take an old towel or any clean cloth, and start rubbing it in circular motions all over the deck of the board to remove those little residues of remaining wax that may seem impossible to remove.

It may seem like a tedious job, like polishing your car over and over, and it might be tiring, but by the end of it your surfboard will look like new!

Once your surfboard is clean and polished, without a hint of old wax, you are ready to add a fresh coat of wax to your surfboard!

If you’re not sure how, check out our guide on how to wax a surfboard here!

There are lots of different surf waxes out there, like tropical wax for warm water, hard wax, or cold water wax, as well as base coat and top coat wax.

When it comes to adding new wax to your board, make sure you purchase the right wax for your water temperature.

If you need help finding the best type of wax for the temperature of the water where you surf, check out our reviews of the best surf waxes here!

Personally, we always recommend Sticky Bumps. We like it because it gives you a good grip, without being excessively sticky and getting all over your wetsuit or clothes.

It also lasts very long, and you can go for quite some time without reapplying.

Click here to purchase your Sticky Bumps surf wax!

How to get wax off a surfboard without a comb

If you don’t have the typical comb to remove the wax from your surfboard, don’t worry, as we will share with a good alternative to use in case of emergency.

If you don’t have a surf wax comb, you can use an old or expired credit card that you no longer use. The straight edge of the bank card will create a perfect improvised spatula.

In fact, an old credit card works very well to remove the largest amount of wax with a single swipe.

How to get wax off a foam surfboard

If you’re surfing with a foam beginner surfboard , you might be wondering whether the above instructions apply also to you. Or you might be wondering whether you should even wax a foam surfboard in the first place!

The answer is no, the best way to remove old surf wax from a foam surfboard is different from when you remove it from a hard board.

You only need two items; a hair dryer and an absorbent paper towel, the kind that you normally find in kitchens.

1) With the hairdryer, heat the area where the wax is placed on your board (be careful not to set the hairdryer too hot, because you can burn your board or yourself) and heat up your board in sections, little by little.

2) Once the wax is hot and you see that it is beginning to melt, it is time to remove the melted wax with the adsorbent paper little by little, until you see that it has been completely removed.

As we know, foam surfboards can be quite large, so we recommend that you go section by section until you’re done with the entire board, or you reach the end where there is no more wax.

Remember that the wax must be in an almost liquid state (melted) if you want to be able to remove it easily.

Final thoughts on how to get old wax off a surfboard

There you have it, the ultimate guide on how to get wax off a surfboard! Have you tried removing wax from a surfboard before? How did you find it? Let us know in the comments below!

Surf wax is a very important surf essential (hence why it makes for such a great gift for surfers), which will ensure whether or not you have enough grip on your surfboard, and are able to actually stand on your board and surf the wave.

If you’re not 100% clear on why surfers wax their boards, we have a full explanation here.

There are different ways of removing surf wax, but it’s a good idea to follow our technique if it’s your first time doing it, and you’re not sure where to start.

Removing wax from a surfboard may seem daunting, since once it’s on the board it looks like it’s there to stay forever.

But with our simple trick of leaving it in the sun for 5-10 minutes before, you’ll be able to remove it in no time.

Once you have removed the old wax job, you’re ready for a new coat of wax, and are ready to hit the waves and start surfing!

So now you know! Make sure to keep your board clean and always with the wax in good condition, that way you’ll reduce the chance of slipping, and will be able to ride your waves from start to finish.

I hope you found our step-by-step guide on how to remove wax from a surfboard useful. If you have any questions, just let us know in the comments below!

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