Knowing how to clean golf clubs can be a useful skill to possess. Although cleaning your clubs may not be something that you have to do on a regular basis, it is important to know how to do it properly and safely when you do need to clean them.
Preventing rust as well as ensuring that your club is in good working order is important and these are just a couple of the reasons why you should clean your clubs.
In this guide, we will teach you everything you need to know about how to clean your golf clubs, including why you need to clean them and how to do so safely.
Contents
What Materials Are Needed When Cleaning Golf Clubs
When it comes to cleaning your golf clubs, you don’t need anything fancy, the following will do just fine:
- A bucket of warm water
- An old toothbrush
- Damp cloth
Some people choose a special cleaner for their golf clubs, but this isn’t necessary. Dishwashing liquid can cut through grease, dirt, and grime just as effectively. Furthermore, it’s designed for cleaning dirty dishes, so it’s perfect for golf clubs. Some clubs even recommend dishwasher soap on their official websites.
Takeaway: You don’t need to get too fancy when it comes to cleaning your golf clubs as a simple bucket of warm water and dishwashing liquid will suffice just fine.
How To Clean Golf Clubs: Simple Step-By-Step
In this section we will run through the different golf clubs that golfers will encounter and explain how you should clean each one. There are other things to think about such as golf grip maintenance and groove maintenance which will come into play later in this guide.
The list of items that we will cover include:
- Woods
- Irons
- Putters
- Grips
- Grooves
- Shaft
How To Clean Woods & Putters
When it comes to cleaning your golf clubs, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, always use a bristled brush when cleaning your woods and putters. This will help to avoid damaging the club. Second, never put your clubs in water. This risks damage to the club itself.
Finally, always wipe off any dirt or debris that may be on the club before putting it away. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your clubs will last for many years to come.
How To Clean Irons
When cleaning your irons, the process is similar to cleaning your woods. To do this, you will need to use a mild soap and water solution and a soft cloth. Once the shaft and clubface is clean, you can then dry it off with a towel before putting the headcover back on. Repeat this process for each individual club to ensure that they are all clean and ready to use.
Cleaning Grips
One of the most important parts of taking care of your golf clubs is keeping them clean – and that includes the grips.
The best way to clean your grips is to wipe them down with a cloth after each round or practice session. You can also use lukewarm water, but be careful not to soak the grips as this can damage them. For an extra step, you can scrub the grips with a brush to remove any dirt or grime that has built up over time.
By taking these simple steps, you can extend the life of your golf club grips and keep them looking like new.
Clean Out the Grooves
If you’re like most golfers, you probably don’t clean your clubs as often as you should. But taking the time to clean your clubs can have a big impact on your game.
One of the most important things to do is clean out the grooves on your clubface. This will help to get rid of any old dirt that is embedded on the clubface and will help the ball to spin more effectively off the club.
You can use an old toothbrush to get into the grooves and make sure they’re clean. This simple step can make a big difference in your game.
How to Clean Golf Club Shaft
Headcovers protect the clubheads and shafts from damage and help keep them clean. Another way to clean golf shafts is to wipe them down after each use. This will remove any dirt or grime that has built up on the clubs.
Key Takeaway: The area or type of golf club that you are cleaning will determine what cleaners you should use to clean it, and how you should care for it between uses.
How to Prevent Golf Club Rusting
Rust is the enemy of any golfer. It can cause damage to your clubs and ruin them before you anticipated.
There are a few things you can do to prevent rusting of your clubs.
Golf clubs are often covered in rust due to moisture (Annika Academy). To avoid rust, you should wipe down your clubs and let them air dry after a round of golf. This is especially true if you live in a humid area or have a habit of storing your clubs in a humid place. By making sure your clubs are dry after a round of golf, you can help prevent rust.
To prevent rust spots from forming in the first place, try storing your golf clubs in a dry place and keeping them away from moisture. For example, golf bags should not be left in a damp basement or garage where the bag can get wet. Instead, they should be kept in a dry closed room like a closet or attic. Also, golf clubs should not be left in the trunk of a car where the bag can get wet in the rainy months.
If you take these steps, you will be able to prevent rusting of your clubs and keep them in good condition for years to come.
Takeaway: Rust is preventable by storing your golf clubs in dry places and avoiding exposure to moisture.
How to Clean Rust Off Of Golf Clubs
If your golf clubs are starting to show signs of rust, it’s important to clean them as soon as possible.
There are a few different ways to clean golf clubs rust, but one of the most effective is to use vinegar and lemon juice by simply soaking the clubs in the mixture for a few hours, then use a cloth to get rid of the rust after soaking.
The vinegar and lemon juices helps as the acid in the mixture can help to etch away the rusty areas. If you repeat this process a few times, you should be able to get rid of most of the corrosion on the golf club.
Takeaway: Vinegar and lemon is one of the most effective ways break down and remove rust from golf clubs.
Benefits
Cleaning your golf clubs on a regular basis has many benefits that can improve your performance on the course.
Better Performance
Groove dirt can cause your clubs to lose their grip on the ball, which can lead to issues with accuracy and distance. By keeping your clubs clean, you can help to ensure that they perform at their best and last longer. In addition, clean clubs just look better and can give you a boost of confidence when you step up to the tee box.
Longevity
One of the main benefits of cleaning golf clubs is that it extends the life of them. If dirt and grime are allowed to build up on your clubs and are not cleaned regularly, they will eventually start to deteriorate and can end up becoming unusable or even dangerous to use. By keeping your irons, woods, hybrids, wedges and other accessories clean and well maintained, you can ensure that they will last for a long time.
Beginner sets or cheap sets that aren’t as durable and that are made from cheaper materials will need to be replaced more often due to wear and tear; therefore for these kind of golf clubs it is especially vital that you clean them properly and on a regular basis.
Key Takeaway: By properly maintaining your golf clubs they will last much longer and you will be able to use them for years to come to a higher standard.
What To Use To Clean Golf Clubs?
There are a range of soapy products or alternatives that you can use to clean your golf clubs. These range from soapy water to vinegar and in this section we explore the pros, cons and benefits of each alternative so that you can decide which option is best for you.
Dishwasher Liquid
Dishwasher liquid/ soapy water is a really common choice when it comes to cleaning golf equipment. This is because it is both affordable and readily available in most supermarkets or local shops that sell cleaning supplies.
Additionally, it is effective in properly cleaning the grip and the areas of the golf club that are exposed like the face and the hosel.
The downside of using dishwasher liquid is that it can leave streaks on the faces of irons that are made from stainless steel or other hard metals and it can damage the rubber grips on some drivers if they are too abrasive. Therefore, you will need to be very careful when using dishwasher liquid to use.
Dedicated Golf Club Cleaner
Using a dedicated golf club cleaner is another popular option for golfers who are looking to keep their equipment in good condition and clean between rounds. These products often contain agents that are designed to break down the oils and greases that accumulate on clubs and shafts, allowing you to get a deeper clean than you would get with soap and water alone.
They will cost more however they are typically very effective at removing dirt, grease, oil and other debris from your equipment.
WD-40
WD-40 is a multi-purpose product that can be used for a variety of things, but many people don’t realize that it’s not actually designed for cleaning golf clubs.
WD-40 is designed to protect against moisture, so it will only keep your clubs from rusting, but it won’t actually clean them. If you’re looking for a product that will clean your clubs and get rid of any dirt or grime, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Vinegar
Vinegar is a great option for cleaning golf clubs. It can be used to break down dirt and remove rusting. You can either use it diluted with water. If you use it full strength, be sure to rinse the clubs well afterwards.
Additionally, You can also add a little dish soap to the vinegar to make a foaming cleaner that will remove dirt and grime easily.
Vinegar is cheap and great for breaking down deep-set stains and dirt. The downside of using it to clean is that it isn’t designed to remove water marks or water spots on irons made from stainless steel or other hard metals and it can cause damage to some plastic grips over time if used too much.
Coke
Coke is an interesting method to clean golf clubs. It works in the same way as vinegar in terms of breaking down dirt and grime. However, it is also effective in removing rust from metal surfaces.
This makes it a great option for cleaning golf clubs that have been stored for a long period of time and have accumulated alot rust, as it can be used to remove both the dirt and the rust at the same time.
However, it shouldn’t be used as an everyday cleaner as it is corrosive and can damage the finish on some woods and irons.
Key Takeaway: There are a wide variety of different cleaning methods available for golf clubs, but be sure to be careful especially when not using simple lukewarm water and remember what each material is used for.
Conclusion
As you can see cleaning your golf clubs requires patience and dedication; however it doesn’t have to be a difficult process.
There are many options out there that can help you keep your equipment in top condition so that you can play your best game on the course every time. However, you also don’t need to overcomplicate the process as soapy water and a bristled toothbrush can do the job just fine. It is also important to clean other golf equipment such as taking care of golf bag cleaning and golf shoes cleaning.
It is important to remember that different parts of the golf club require different amounts of attention and kinds of treatment. However by knowing how to clean your golf clubs and having proper maintenance you can extend their life and make sure they are in top working order.
