Summer means longer days, trips to the beach, and lots of opportunities to get out and enjoy the nicer weather. Whilst you’re enjoying the summer sun, your wheels can face a few additional challenges – from sand finding its way into the smallest spaces, to saltwater leaving residue on metal parts and hot weather affecting tyres and other materials.
The good news? Keeping your chair in a good condition during the summer doesn’t have to be complicated. We’re going to break down our top tips in this blog post.
First, how can summer affect your chair and wheels?
Each season can bring its own considerations when it comes to wheelchair maintenance, and summer is no exception. With more time spent outdoors, your wheelchair may be exposed to a few things that can affect its condition over time, including:
- Sand and grit – which can find their way into moving parts and bearings.
- Saltwater – which can contribute to corrosion if it’s left on metal components.
- Heat and direct sunlight – which can affect certain materials, including tyres, over prolonged periods.
- Suncream, sweat and dirt – which can build up on pushrims and other surfaces.
Of course, if you live somewhere particularly hot or near the coast, these factors may be part of your wheelchair care routine all year round. But whether you’re dealing with them every day or just during the summer months, knowing how to look after your wheelchair can help keep it clean, comfortable and ready for wherever the day takes you.
1. Dealing with sand
Spending time by the coast during summer is a great way to enjoy the weather. However, I’m sure we all can relate to the feeling of getting home after a day at the seaside and finding sand in all of your belongings. Your wheels are likely the same!
Fine grains of sand can get into wheel hubs, castors and other moving parts, where they can cause extra friction and make things harder to move smoothly. Dealing with sand as soon as possible after a day out can help keep your wheels working as they should.
Give your wheels a quick clean
Once you’re back from the beach, start by removing any loose sand with a soft brush or dry cloth. Pay particular attention to your axles and around the wheel hub, as these areas can easily collect grit.
If you’ve been in or near the sea, you can follow up by wiping the affected areas with fresh water to remove any remaining salt and sand. Just remember to dry everything thoroughly afterwards.
Don’t forget the smaller parts
It’s easy to focus on the big wheels and forget about the smaller moving parts. Castor wheels, in particular, can pick up a surprising amount of sand and debris. A quick look-over after a beach trip can help you spot anything that’s become trapped before it starts affecting how your chair moves.
Quick tip: Keep a small, soft brush or cloth in your beach bag. That way, you can give your wheels a quick once-over before you head home and avoid bringing half the beach back with you!
2. Saltwater: rinse, dry, check!
As well as sand, a visit to the coast often means your chair is exposed to saltwater from the sea. Saltwater can leave residue which can contribute to corrosion if it’s left to build up on metal parts. We’ve broken down a simple 3-step process to looking after your wheels after a day by the sea:
- 1. Rinse
As soon as you’re able to, rinse or wipe away any saltwater using fresh, clean water. Try and concentrate on the key areas including wheels, castors, hubs and other metal components.
- 2. Dry
Once you’ve rinsed away the salt, dry everything thoroughly with a clean cloth. Pay attention to places where water can collect, and avoid storing your wheelchair while it’s still damp.
- 3. Check
While you’re cleaning, take a moment to look over your wheels! Keep an eye out for anything unusual, and any signs of wear.
Taking a few minutes to do each of these steps can help keep your wheels in good condition and ready for your next outing.
3. The effects of heat and direct sunlight
High temperatures, hot surfaces and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can all put extra stress on tyres and other materials. That doesn’t mean you need to stay away from the sun! There may just be a few things which are good to know so that you can spot the signs of any issues this summer.
Keep an eye on your tyres
If your wheelchair has pneumatic tyres, checking the tyre pressure is likely part of your regular routine, but if it isn’t, summer is a good time to start! Changes in temperature can impact tyre pressure, as well as other factors such as punctures or rougher terrain. Regular checks can help keep your chair running smoothly, and also help you spot an issue early if there is one.
If you’re out and about more than usual, you might be more at risk of picking up unwanted sharp stones or other “foreign bodies” in your tyres – keep an eye out, and remove before they cause a puncture.
If your tyres look or feel different from usual – don’t ignore it! Check your manufacturer’s guidance or have them inspected if you’re unsure.
Caution: some parts may be hot to the touch!
This may seem like stating the obvious, but it’s important to be mindful of components that can become hot to the touch under the sun, such as pushrims and tyres. This isn’t always the case – some materials used for pushrims, such as wood or plastic coating, don’t get hot under the sun. If you want to learn about pushrim options which perform better in hot weather, check out some guidance from our Pushrim Solutions website.
4. Keep your components clean
We’ve spoken about sand and saltwater from the sea, but something which could be forgotten about is suncream!
Oily liquids such as suncream or simply sweat can build up on your pushrims, making them feel slippery and harder to grip than usual. As your pushrims are the key element of your chair which allow you to manoeuvre safely, it’s important that they remain grippy wherever you’re using them.
To keep your pushrims clean, we would recommend using warm and soapy water. Make sure to avoid using harsh chemicals, as this can also affect the grip coating on your pushrims. But if you’ve got a really serious build-up of sweat or greasiness on a grip coating, so it’s lost its shine and soapy water isn’t shifting it, use hand sanitiser to cut through the oiliness.
Your 5-minute summer maintenance check
A little maintenance doesn’t have to get in the way of enjoying summer. A quick clean after a trip to the beach, a check of your tyres and a few minutes spent removing sand and salt can help you keep your wheelchair ready for the next adventure. Refer to this checklist to make sure your wheels are in good condition every summer.
