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How to Clean Your Golf Balls to Make It Brand New

Fill the bucket with warm water up to the halfway point. You could substitute vinegar with bleach or ammonia. Soak the golf balls in the solution for about 20-30 minutes. Drain the bucket and use a pressure washer to clean your golf balls.

There’s simply something extraordinary about striking a brand new golf ball, don’t you think? Wouldn’t it be fantastic if there was a way to clean all of your used golf balls without having to purchase an expensive ball washer?

In this guide, we will Show you how to clean your used golf balls to make them appear brand new. Doing so will assist you in saving a significant amount of money throughout an entire golf season!

How To Clean Golf Balls At Home?

At home, I prefer to clean my balls by submerging them in hot water and using an old toothbrush with dish soap to remove stubborn clumps of mud that tend to adhere to them.

Another method is how I mentioned in the previous section involves using a towel with soap and a bucket.

What Is The Best Way To Clean Golf Balls?

There are many different ways to clean a golf ball. People have different methods such as putting them in the dishwasher.

To clean stained golf balls, the simplest method is to prepare a bucket of water and employ a washcloth or towel to apply either dish soap or car soap. This approach effectively removes the dirt on the surface of the balls without risking harm caused by acidic cleaning agents, which could potentially damage the outer cover. 

For removing ink off golf balls, nail polish remover is a good option. There are following ways are describe to clean your Golf Balls.

4 Ways to Clean Your Golf Balls

There are many different methods to clean your used golf balls. Here is a list of the most effective ways to do it.

The Soap and Water Method

To clean your used golf balls, one of the most reliable methods is to use soap and water. Follow this quick guide to learn how to do it properly:

  • Fill a bucket with warm water and dish soap.
  • Soak a washcloth in the soapy water.
  • Squeeze the washcloth to remove excess water.
  • Scrub each golf ball to remove any dirt or grime.
  • If the washcloth becomes too dirty, soak it again in the soapy water before continuing to clean the rest of the golf balls.
  • For more stubborn stains, use an old toothbrush to scrub the golf ball.
  • Once you have finished cleaning all the golf balls, dry them thoroughly with a clean towel before putting them back into your golf bag.

The Soaking Method

If washing your used golf balls with soap and water isn’t effective enough, you can try the soaking method instead.

Fill a bucket with hot water and add a cleaning agent such as white vinegar or ammonia. It’s advisable to do this outside if possible because both of these products have a strong scent that might be unpleasant for some people in your household.

Place all of your used golf balls into the bucket and allow them to soak in the hot water for at least 30 minutes. After sufficient time has passed, pour the golf balls into another bucket that’s filled with clean water. If you notice any sand or debris still clinging to the golf balls, use a brush with gentle bristles to remove these particles.

After cleaning each ball thoroughly, dry them off with a clean towel. Voila, your golf balls should appear brand new! You may allow them to air-dry in the sun for a few minutes if you wish.

The Dishwasher Method

Hey, did you know that you can actually clean your used golf balls by putting them in the dishwasher? I’ve tried it a few times myself and it works wonders!

To get started, load up your dishwasher with the golf balls. The best place for them is in the utensil compartment where you’d normally put your knives, forks, and spoons. You could also pop the balls into a mesh bag and place them on the top or bottom rack of the dishwasher.

Once you’ve got the golf balls in place, fill the dishwasher with dishwashing liquid until the slot is full. Then, select the presoak option on your dishwasher to help the dishwashing liquid sink into the golf balls. Finally, run a regular cycle.

If your golf balls were particularly dirty or muddy, it may take a couple of cycles in the dishwasher before they’re completely clean. Don’t worry though, this is completely normal! After cleaning, dry the balls off with a towel or let them air dry outside for a few minutes.

Using the dishwasher is by far the quickest and easiest way to clean your dirty golf balls. It’s so satisfying to have a golf bag full of sparkling clean golf balls, and all it takes is a few cycles in the dishwasher.

Use Nail Polish Remover

This method may get you into trouble with your wife or girlfriend, but it works great for removing stains from your used golf balls.

Are you aware that certain golfers employ a sharpie or permanent marker to label their golf ball before teeing off on the course? Though this may aid in distinguishing their ball during play, the ink can prove stubborn to remove from the ball’s dimples.

Fortunately, just a small amount of nail polish remover is sufficient to restore the appearance of your golf balls. In case you do not possess any nail polish remover, acetone can also serve the purpose. Wearing gloves is recommended during the process to safeguard your hands.

Take a cotton ball in nail polish remover or acetone and use it to vigorously rub the sharpie marks until they disappear after a few strokes.

6 Main Things to Avoid When Cleaning Your Golf Balls

Although the four techniques we mentioned for cleansing your pre-owned golf balls may be effective, there are certain things that should be avoided. Numerous cleaning products available have the potential to induce significant corrosion, which can irreparably damage your used golf balls. The following are some guidelines to steer clear of when cleaning your golf balls. 

Acidic Chemicals

While some chemicals are mild and won’t harm golf balls, be cautious of highly acidic substances. Using harsh chemicals could potentially smooth out the dimples on the ball. The causing a significant negative impact on its performance during play, which is something to avoid.

Sitting in Water Too Long

Although it’s okay to let your golf balls soak in warm water for a minimum of 30 minutes, do not let them remain submerged for an extended period. You must avoid your used golf balls from getting waterlogged since this can have an impact on their performance when struck while playing golf.

Leaving Them in the Sun

It’s absolutely alright to allow your golf balls to dry out a bit under the sun once you’ve washed them. Nonetheless, don’t leaving them outside to bake under the scorching sun for prolonged hours, as the intense heat can harm the outer covering of the golf balls.

Stiff Brushes

Using a brush to clean your extremely dirty golf balls is acceptable, but be careful not to use a brush with stiff bristles as it can cause many scratches on your golf balls. Even small scratches can impact a golf ball’s distance and trajectory.

Undiluted Bleach

It is not advisable to use undiluted bleach when cleaning your golf balls as it may lead to harm. While bleach can assist in restoring your old golf balls to a pearly white hue, it is crucial to mix it with water. A small amount of bleach can have a significant impact!

Buying a Ball Washer

Using a ball washer on the course can be quite handy. However, most ball washers come at a high cost, and many golfers don’t have the spare space to keep one at home. Thankfully, there are plenty of low-cost DIY solutions available that can clean your golf balls just as well as a pricey commercial ball washer.

Conclusion

Now that you have gone through this article, you are equipped with knowledge on some trustworthy techniques to scrub your golf balls. You can opt for a method based on your preference for ease of execution, level of toil or whether you prefer to use or abstain from using chemicals like bleach. Thus, you can restore the soiled golf balls in your golf bag to their original appearance.

Be sure to mention in the comments ways you have used to clean balls and if they worked.

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FAQs

Does Water Ruin Golf Balls?

Yes, golf balls that have spent a prolonged time in water will become saturated. It has been observed that even submerging golf balls for as little as 6 to 12 hours results in an abnormal trajectory. Furthermore, golf balls that have been immersed in water for 6 or more hours will still not exhibit the same performance as ones that have not spent time in the water for a few hours.

How I Get My Golf Ball White Again?

In case of damage to golf balls, they can be restored to their original white color using a renovating procedure. In instances where the balls get stained from regular use, washing stations are available at the golf course to clean them. Acetone is another effective solution to eliminate persistent filth and only has positive effects on the golf balls. In case of discoloration, storing the golf balls in a combination of bleach and hot water for roughly half an hour can eliminate the issue.

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