Climbing hold care and maintenance.

Why cleaning matters

Chalk and rubber deposits accumulate in the texture of climbing holds and progressively reduce friction. For route setters, this creates a moving baseline — a hold that reads as a sloper at the start of the reset may have become functionally positive after a week of heavy use, changing the grade of the problem without any physical change to the setting. In competition environments, where hold performance must be consistent across sessions, this variability is a serious problem.

Beyond friction, chalk deposits are hydrophilic — they draw moisture from the air and from climbers' hands, which creates surface dampness that further degrades grip. In high-humidity environments this effect is compounded. Regular brushing and washing removes the cycle at its root rather than compensating for it with excessive chalk use.

Cleaning frequency

In a busy commercial gym with daily sessions, holds on the primary boulder wall should be brushed every one to two weeks and washed monthly. Competition circuits and training boards used by advanced climbers accumulate rubber and chalk faster and typically benefit from brushing after every significant use block.

VTF-ABS macros generally require less frequent washing than small PU holds because their larger surface area means rubber deposits are spread more thinly. However, the dual-texture zones — the areas with higher grit or coarser finish — accumulate chalk more quickly than smooth sections, so targeted brushing of textured zones between full washes is good practice.

Any hold that has been stored or shipped and has not been used recently should be brushed before installation, as fine dust and particulates from packaging or storage settle into texture and reduce initial friction.

Cleaning procedure

1. 1

   Dry brush first

   Before introducing any water, brush the hold with a firm nylon-bristle brush to remove loose chalk and debris. Brushing dry prevents chalk from forming a paste that can compact deeper into the texture once water is introduced. A stiff washing-up brush works well for smaller holds; a larger scrubbing brush is more efficient on macros.

2. 2

   Citric acid solution

   Mix citric acid powder with warm water — a few percent solution is typically sufficient. Citric acid works by reacting with and dissolving calcium carbonate (chalk), which is the primary deposit on climbing holds. It is safe for both PU and ABS surfaces, rinses cleanly without leaving a friction-reducing film, and is biodegradable. Avoid bleach, solvent-based cleaners, and strongly alkaline degreasers — these can strip texture coatings from PU holds and cause hazing on ABS macros.

3. 3

   Scrub with a medium-bristle brush

   Work the cleaning solution into the textured surfaces with a medium-bristle brush. Apply enough pressure to work the solution into the texture without pressing so hard that the bristles compress flat against the surface. Circular and cross-grain strokes together are more effective than a single direction. For dual-texture macros, give the coarser zones additional attention.

4. 4

   Rinse thoroughly

   Rinse with clean water until the water running off the hold is completely clear and there is no visible foam. Detergent left on the surface leaves a thin film that is invisible when wet but creates a waxy feel once dry, reducing friction noticeably. If rinsing from a tap, run water over each hold for at least 20–30 seconds. If using a hose, low pressure is fine for all hold types.

5. 5

   Dry completely before reinstalling

   Stand or lay holds so air can circulate around all faces and allow them to dry completely before mounting them back on the wall. Wet holds mounted against ply panels trap moisture, which accelerates T-nut corrosion and over time causes delamination around the bolt holes. In cold or humid conditions, allow extra drying time. A warm, ventilated storage room speeds the process significantly.

6. 6

   Inspect while holds are off the wall

   With holds already dismounted for cleaning, check the T-nut engagement on each one. Push the T-nut from the inside of the hold — it should be firm and flush. If a T-nut spins freely or pulls out easily, replace it before reinstalling the hold. Also check the bolt hole for cracking or elongation, particularly on older holds that have been reset many times.

What to avoid

Wire brushes and abrasive scouring pads should never be used on textured climbing holds. They remove the texture coating from PU holds irreversibly and leave visible scoring on ABS surfaces. Once texture is abraded away, there is no practical way to restore it — the hold needs to be replaced.

Pressure washers should not be used on PU holds or dual-texture ABS macros. The high-pressure jet forces water and detergent behind texture coatings and into any micro-cracks in the surface, accelerating delamination and causing cosmetic damage. A low-pressure hose is acceptable for rinsing large volumes and macros; small PU holds should be rinsed by hand.

Dishwashers — while occasionally used by home wall owners — are too hot for most PU holds. The thermal cycle can cause dimensional warping, particularly in thinner holds, and the detergent chemistry is more aggressive than a manual wash. For commercial facilities, the scale of washing makes dishwashers impractical anyway.

Storage

Store holds in a dry environment with consistent temperature. Stacking in plastic crates is the standard approach for most gyms — it keeps holds organised by size and type, protects them from impact during storage, and makes resets faster. Line the bottom of each crate with foam or cardboard to prevent textured faces from grinding against each other.

VTF-ABS macros should be stored face-up or face-to-face with protective material between them. Avoid stacking heavy items on top of macros — while ABS is structurally robust, sustained point loading from edges or corners of other items can cause surface indentation in the texture zones.

For long-term storage of holds that will not be used for a season, store off the floor in a stable, dry environment. Persistent damp can cause metal inserts and T-nuts to corrode, which makes subsequent removal difficult and risks damaging the hold body on disassembly.