What is the best way to clean golf clubs?

Keeping your golf clubs clean is a simple task that could actually enhance your game. Buying golf clubs is an investment, so you want to make sure your set lasts. Cleaning your clubs will prolong their lifespan and improve your golf game.

To learn how to clean your golf clubs, read on. There are many quick fixes, but there is only one tried and true way to get your golf clubs clean and lasting longer. Here is what we believe is the best way to clean golf clubs.

What to Use to Clean Golf Clubs

Step 1 – Gather the needed supplies and cleaning equipment. Then find an area where you can work without being cramped. The items you need to clean your set of golf clubs properly are as follows:

1. Golf clubs
2. Clean, soft, dry cloth
3. Toothbrush or soft-bristled brush
4. A bucket that is large enough to hold your clubs
5. Dishwashing liquid
6. Warm water
7. Towel
8. Steel or chrome polish

Step 2 – Know what materials your golf club are made from. There are different materials for the three different parts of a golf club, and they do not always use the same cleansers.

The Best Way to Clean Your Golf Clubs

Cleaning Your Iron Set

First, take your bucket and fill it with enough warm water so that the heads of your clubs are covered. Do not use hot water as the heat may loosen the club from the shaft.

Next, add 2 to 3 tsp. of dishwashing liquid to the water, or you can use a mild soap. Mix well. After that, soak your clubs in the mixture for about 5 to 10 minutes. This will loosen the dirt and make it easier to wipe away.

After that time frame has expired, take the clubs out one by one and use the toothbrush or soft-bristled brush to get stuck on dirt off. Make sure to scrub the grooves as any dirt leftover can alter the ball’s flight when struck by the club.

Do a thorough job of scrubbing before rinsing the club. As you rinse, try to keep the shaft dry, and again do not use hot water. When you see the dirt is gone, wipe the clubhead and the shaft dry with the towel.

You can use a little polish here if you want to brighten the look of your clubs. For really tough grass and dirt stains, let the clubs soak for about 15 to 20 minutes before scrubbing.

How to Clean Woods

The temptation here is to follow the same procedure as cleaning your irons. But, metal woods should not be soaked in water. There are many reasons why metal clubs must be handled differently than your metal irons.

To clean these clubs, skip the soaking portion of the previous method. Just mix some warm water and some dishwashing soap in a small container and use the brush or toothbrush to clean the dirt off.

When you are finished scrubbing, just dry with a towel.

Cleaning Wooden Clubs

If you still have a wooden club, you may want to take a look at our reviews of Drivers and Fairway woods. You are in need of an upgrade
You cannot soak the traditional wood drivers and fairway clubs. The water will damage the wood and ruin the clubhead. Nor should you use a brush to scrub them clean.

You need to simply wet a towel or a cloth with warm water and wipe the club off for wood clubs. Once it is free of the dirt and grass stains, dry the club immediately. You can rub a little harder when those stains are a little stubborn but resist using a brush of any kind.

Cleaning Your Golf Grips

Golf club grips get dirty from the sweat from your hands, the dirt on the ground, and so on. This can make them hard to hold as your concentration is diverted to how your hands are gripping the club. It is important to your golf game that you keep those hand grips nice and clean.

This cleaning task will depend a lot on the material used to make those hand grips. Avoid using any kind of detergents and simply use a damp cloth to wipe down real leather grips. Dry the leather right away.

If your hand grips are not made from leather, you can use the simple wiping method just described or spray a mild cleanser on the material and wipe the cleanser away with a dry cloth.

For hard to get off dirt, you may have to fill a bucket with warm water and mild soap. Then rub the soap and water mixture on with a clean cloth. After you have finished scrubbing a little with that cloth, rinse off with running water. You can use either cold or warm water.

Then dry the handgrips off with a dry clean cloth, and you are finished.

Check out a recent post on Driver grips vs Iron grips. 

Some final words

Cleaning your clubs is as important as practicing your short game. You would be surprised at how even a little dirt can influence the accuracy of your stroke. It could mean the difference between landing on the middle of the fairway or in the rough.

To improve your golf game and make your clubs last longer, keep them clean.