We all know how golf equipment is treated as prized possessions for golf enthusiasts. We wipe down our clubs, make sure the gear is always in ideal condition, and stress about all the little things. However, we often don’t even know how to clean golf balls, as we have multiple of them lying around that we don’t know what to do with.
However, have you ever thought about cleaning them instead of discarding them and moving on with life? You can effectively restore them to their original condition. You can get rid of all that mud and debris, as that affects its aerodynamics.
One of the main reasons you should ensure your balls are clean is that it affects your game. You wouldn’t want such a trivial thing making you miss shots or underperforming, suitable? Sometimes, we don’t even know why we’re not playing as well as we usually do, and more often than not, the reason is your mucky golf ball.
Why Clean Golf Balls
So, golfers, why should you even bother with keeping your balls all pretty and neat? Well, not only do you need to clean the balls, but you need to make sure your club is all shiny too. You’re constantly hitting the ball with the club, so both of them should be free of debris to provide you with the best experience.
However, cleaning a club is much easier than a golf ball, which is why you need to take extra caution with them.
The problem with a dirty golf ball is that it affects numerous game elements. It could affect the roll on the greens, the contact with the club, and its flight through the air.
The reason your balls have dimples is to provide a smooth flight through the air. If it has dirt particles or mud on it, the aerodynamics will play a much different role and mess up its trajectory.
Hence, we recommend constantly keeping your golf balls in the best condition possible. You might not notice how it’s messing with your game, or it might not look dirty, but trust us when we tell you that after a long game on the green, your ball will need a good rinse.
Best Way to Clean Golf Balls
There is no one specific way of cleaning off all that mud and dirt, but the one method we recommend as the best way to wash golf balls is using dishwasher soap and bleach. However, there are numerous other ways of cleaning, even throwing them into a dishwasher or a washing machine. We will discuss all the other methods later, but the very first one is right here:
Equipment
- Hot water
- Large bucket
- Dishwasher soap
- Bleach
- Bristle brush (nylon-based)
Step 1: Hot Water Bucket
Grab a large bucket if you have multiple balls to wash. Fill it up, but not to the brink, with hot water. Add only one cup of the dishwasher soap to the water. Ensure that you thoroughly mix all the solutions to spread throughout the bucket.
Step 2: Soak the Balls
The second thing you need to do is put all your golf balls in the mixture and let them soak in the soapy, hot solution for approximately 30 minutes. This time is sufficient to eliminate all the dirt and debris present on the surface.
Step 3: Scrub Off Excess
Grab your bristle brush and scrub each ball one at a time. This step is not necessary, but we highly recommend you do it. However, your cleaning equipment should not be metal-based as that will ruin the texture and damage your equipment.
Step 4: Rinse
Now that you have scrubbed down the golf balls throw out the soap and water mixture. Now, run each golf ball under some warm water individually to eliminate whatever small particles are left clinging on.
Step 5: Bleach Water
Grab the bucket again, and fill it with hot water once more. Then, add half a cup of bleach and mix it thoroughly. Let everything soak for another 30 minutes, then throw the water out and rewash the balls with warm water. First of all, using bleach removes any algae or bacteria present, as it also gets rid of discoloration. Moreover, we recommend using gloves in this step as bleach tends to create reactions on the skin.
Things to Keep in Mind
- Never use any acidic solution on the golf balls, as that will ruin their cover.
- If your golf ball has some ink on it, we recommend using a nail polish remover as the fastest way of getting rid of it.
- If the golf balls are just not getting clean, the next step is to put all of them in a container with denture cleaning tablets and let them simmer together for some time.
Cleaning Golf Balls in a Washing or Dishwasher Machine
While this might be a little weird, as one would think it damages the balls, even more, you can wash your golf balls in a washing machine or a dishwasher.
While some existing products are designed to help you clean your balls, sometimes it’s simply more convenient to learn how to clean golf balls at home to make things more convenient.
Honestly, after a long day out on the green, you want to go home throw your equipment in a place where they magically get cleaned up. Well, the good news is you can use equipment you already have lying around to do that. Hence, as long as your washing machines are in solid shape, you can learn how to wash golf balls in there.
Using the Dishwasher
As long as you’re confident your golf balls are of high quality and not any cheap kind, then you’re safe to use a dishwasher. However, if you opt for the lower-quality ones, then your balls will almost definitely get damaged in the process of cleaning.
The first thing to do is throw all your balls inside the dishwasher. You can put so many in there. It’s crazy! However, make sure you do not stack them on top of one another to make sure each one receives enough water and soap.
Load your dishwasher with the oil, soap, or tablet and choose a setting. We recommend choosing a high temperature, as that works to clean the balls more effectively.
Once the cycle is done, open the door and let the steam leave. Then, open the drawers and let all the water out, ensuring that the balls dry out.
Remember that this is not the most effective way of cleaning the balls, but sometimes it will do when you’re in a hurry.
Using Washing Machine
The process of using a washing machine for your golf balls is similar to using a dishwasher. All you have to do is throw all of them in there and put the settings to a high-temperature one.
Using these machines is an effective way of cleaning multiple balls simultaneously instead of having to wipe down each one at a time.
However, if your machine’s drum is cheaply made or worn out, the repetitive hitting of the balls against the walls will most likely damage it even more.
However, if you choose to use a washing machine, use a high-temperature setting. Moreover, if they don’t get sufficiently clean afterward, wipe them with a piece of cloth, and you’re good to go!
Other Methods of Cleaning Golf Balls
Other methods include hydrogen peroxide, which is the same as bleach. It makes stained balls look like they’re entirely new.
However, new products have acted as golf ball cleaning machines. Some of them are simple brushes that can rub off any dirt or accumulation on the balls.
Moreover, whole machines are designed to clean all your golf balls. These are products that act as golf ball cleaners, and they’re pretty effective at it. Keep in mind that while this is more expensive than cleaning at home, it might make things easier than cleaning them by yourself.
There are two products we love the most. One of them is the Xintan Tiger brush that helps clean all the groves’ dirt. This is more of a manual cleaning process involving brushing off the earth.
Another product is the Clean Fight Golf machine, a ball washer that is also portable. You can clean your golf balls anywhere with this, and it’s such a sophisticated machine we love it.
Conclusion
You now know multiple ways of keeping your golf balls clean! Learning how to clean your golf balls is quite a simple process, as you have numerous options to choose from. The easiest way is to throw them all in a washing machine or dishwasher. However, the hot water and bleach method must be the most effective method.
However, in times of urgency, while you’re out on the green, you might not be able to clean the balls thoroughly. Hence, we recommend investing in a brush that can help you remove any excess dirt present on the balls. Moreover, you can simply wipe off any dirt or mud with a piece of cloth.
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