How to clean a club?

[marvin]

I've got a set of Ping G5 irons. It looks dirty but still in a very good shape. I was wondering if there is any particular way to clean clubs correctly. How to clean them good without damaging or having them rust? Is it possible to make them look like new? Any specific do's and don't's?

Thanks!

[DoubleEagle]

I usually use warm water, some dish soap, a tooth brush and a soft cloth to dry them with.

If there is a better or more preferred way, would love to hear it.

[Russtopher]

I usually use warm water, some dish soap, a tooth brush and a soft cloth to dry them with.

If there is a better or more preferred way, would love to hear it.

That's exactly what I do as well. Warm water with a little bit of dish soap, where the water is just high enough to cover the golf heads. I also have another small bucket with a bit of cool water to dip the heads in to rinse them. I let the clubs sit in the warm soapy water for a few minutes, then I use the toothbrush to scrub out all the dirt. A quick dip in the cool water, then toweled dry.

[LBlack14]

If you're talking about the finish, try "Bar Keepers Friend" & a toothbrush.

[PirateJim]

A small brush with brass bristles will do a good job of getting ground in grunge out (NOT steel bristles!). Barkeeper's Friend is good but I wouldn't be concerned using Comet or whatever you may have under the sink, golf clubs are pretty tough by design.

[WUTiger]

... Is it possible to make them look like new? Any specific do's and don't's?

Thanks!

Yes, it is, but it will cost you. See http://www.golfworks.com/

GolfWorks refurbishes clubheads. It starts out at $6 a club to remove the head, plus either $22 or $60 a clubhead for refinishing, depending on whether the club needs to be rechromed. (I'm not sure if the G5 irons are considered chromed).

[iHack]

Warm water and a cloth work great. Preventive care works best. Wipe them down after each round, put a club brush on your bag and clean dirt out after each shot. It will become habit forming and clubs will always be clean where you need it most.

[Pretzel]

I would second the advice of a brush, a bucket of warm soapy water, and a towel.

However the best method for cleaning your clubs is to do it immediately when the dirt is easiest to get off. Carry a towel with your bag, draped over the top of your clubs, and wet down the half of it on the other side of your golf bag. This way you have a wet and dry towel on hand all the time. Before and after each shot just give the clubhead and grip a quick once-over with the wet side of the towel before drying them and hitting your shot. With a little practice it becomes unconscious as you pull your club as a part of your pre-shot routine.

[jmanbooyaa]

I normally clean my clubs during the round with a wet towel and club brush very simple and takes a 2nd. They get a normal cleaning with warm water and club brush then dried after the round before I pith them away till next weekend. I clean the grips quickly with warm water and dry.

[marvin]

Thanks for the knowledgeable replies, guys.

I'll try with warm soapy water, old toothbrush and cloth first.

If it still looks dirty, then I'm going with Bar Keepers Friend.

[marvin]

If you're talking about the finish, try "Bar Keepers Friend" & a toothbrush.

Is it "safe" for forged irons and driver/woods as well?

[LBlack14]

Is it "safe" for forged irons and driver/woods as well?

I've never used it on forged clubs, but I would imagine it'd be OK. It comes in both power and liquid form.

[mvmac]

As a few others have said, use a wet towel and/or use a brush after each round or even after each shot.  Would recommend a nylon brush, can find it at any golf store.  I usually clean my grips at home, which is just wiping them down with a wet towel and letting them air dry.

[Bobtrumpet]

A small brush with brass bristles will do a good job of getting ground in grunge out (NOT steel bristles!). Barkeeper's Friend is good but I wouldn't be concerned using Comet or whatever you may have under the sink, golf clubs are pretty tough by design.

I wouldn't use Comet, Ajax, or any other abrasive cleaner on chromed irons or highly polished finishes, unless you want the bright shiny finish to wind up as a satin finish. Also not good for painted surfaces. Bar Keepers Friend or Bon-Ami have a very low abrasive content so they should be ok.

I'd also stick with nylon bristles instead of brass, even for the hard gunk. Just let the head soak in warm water with dish soap (I use Dawn) for a longer period to loosen up the crud.

Ball marks on the top of woods (I know, none of us make these, but they might be on a club we bought second hand) can be buffed out with automotive polishing compound, a damp cloth, and a LIGHT touch. It also works well for polishing up a set of chromed irons.

[rehmwa]

never have needed any kind of soap.  nylon brush and water.  warm water is luxury, but even better

ball marks????  rubs off with the thumb, maybe a little spit

[saevel25]

I use a toothbrush or a nylon brush with some warm water. Usually takes off most of the dirt. If not then a little bit of liquid soap.

As for the grips, Comet and a toothbrush. Gets into the little nooks of the grip and really gets them good as new. Most of the time grips feel warn down, but they are just dirty.

As for Bar Keepers Friend, it is an abrasive. I think it would be fin on golf clubs. But I doubt you will come accross anything that requires that stuff. Usually liquid dish soap can take off anything that gets on your club. Bar Keepers Friend is really good at taking off baked on food on stainless steal. Doubt you will ever have that on your clubs.

[Mathwiz]

I use three items. 1.A soft bristled tooth brush (the one I didn't throw away when I replaced it) 2. A spray bottle of Windex (the blue stuff) 3. A microfiber towel. Spray the face of the club, brush the grooves, wipe with the microfiber. Then spray a shot on the shaft above the head, wrap the microfiber around it, slide the microfiber the length of the shaft and back down then put it in the bag. It simply doesn't get any easier or better than this.

[lumpuckeroo]

I use a soft nylon brush that my wife got from Pamper Chef to clean potatoes for baking, A bucket of warm soapy water and a bucket or warm clean water,  Soak my clubs for a minute in the warm soapy water, brush them down, rinse them in the clean water, dry them off with a towel and then let them sit on the kitchen table for a couple of hours to make sure they are dry before I put them back in the bag.

For my grips, I put some soap on the brush and give the grips a good scrubbing and then run under clean water and wipe dry with a towel.  I do heads and grips at the same time so I let them sit to be sure they are completely dry before putting them back in the bag.