How to Clean a Golf Ball

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: November 4, 2021 References Tested

Spare a thought for all the golf balls that have plunged into sand traps, water features, and the neighbor's windows in the name of improving your golf game. The least you can do in return is to keep the survivors clean and white. Most dirt doesn't actually affect the aerodynamics noticeably, but that won't be true if you let them build up enough to cake over the dimples.^{[1]
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Research source} The ultimate secret for solving this problem is, well, soap—but it's worth reading about some stronger options that will get rid of marker ink and other offenders as well.

Question 1

Question 1 of 6:
How do I make my golf ball white again?

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Soak golf balls in water and cleaner solutions for 30 to 60 minutes. Warm water with some cleaning product mixed in will usually get the worst of the dirt and stains off. When using a stronger cleaning product, dilute it according to the label recommendation.
- Dishwashing liquid will clean and lighten your balls without damaging them.^{[2]
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- Any product with oxalic acid is a stronger whitener.
- Bleach has the strongest whitening effect, but dilute it well and don't soak the balls for long. Many golf balls have a cover made from Surlyn.^{[3]
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  Research source} This material will wear down in contact with higher concentrations of bleach (but can withstand soap, oxalic acid, and vinegar).^{[4]
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- Warning: for safety reasons, never mix cleaning products.
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Scrub off tough stains. If there is any gunk or stains left after the soak, scrub them off with a scouring pad, or with a spare toothbrush to work your way into the dimples. If that still doesn't do the trick, try adding a little water to baking soda to make an abrasive paste. Dip the stained area of the ball in this and scrub it off.^{[5]
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- You can buy more powerful abrasive cleaners, but these are usually designed for other materials and might scuff your ball. If normal scrubbing doesn't do the trick, the ball's probably past saving—at least if you want a pristine appearance.
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3
Dry the balls promptly. Golf balls are pretty tough, and a little soak shouldn't hurt them. But there's no reason to leave water or cleaning products on them for longer than you need to. Wipe them off with a towel after scrubbing.
- If you have a large number of balls, save yourself some time and place them in a sunny, well-ventilated spot to air dry.
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Question 2

Question 2 of 6:
Can I clean golf balls with vinegar?

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Yes, white vinegar is a mild cleaner for golf balls. You can briefly soak the balls in the vinegar, then scrub with a scouring pad or toothbrush. Since it's a mild acid, the vinegar can break down some grime—but not usually as well as plain old soap and water would.^{[6]
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- If you do use white vinegar, use it at full strength without diluting. There's no need to buy a special "cleaning vinegar"—the stuff sold for cooking is just as good.^{[7]
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Question 3

Question 3 of 6:
Can I clean golf balls in a washing machine?

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A top-loaded washing machine works, but use at your own risk. This is a method people use to clean hundreds of balls at once.^{[8]
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Research source} But the machine drum wasn't made to handle this much impact and vibration, and a broken drum usually means the end of the machine.^{[9]
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Research source} Don't try this if you aren't prepared to accept shortening the lifespan of your machine.
- Never try this with a front-loaded washing machine, as the golf balls can crack the glass door.
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A dishwasher is a better idea. Since a dishwasher doesn't rattle the balls around, this is less likely to damage your appliance. Place the golf balls on the top rack, and don't wash any dishes in the same load. You may still need to scrub the worst dirt off by hand afterward.

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Question 4

Question 4 of 6:
How do I get scuff marks and marker ink off golf balls?

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Wipe with nail polish remover. Acetone can easily remove ink as well as some scuff marks.^{[10]
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Research source} Dip a cotton ball into the nail polish remover, then wipe the ball.
2
Try a melamine foam sponge. This is the extra-dense material that is best known as Magic Eraser, but you can also buy the generic version online. Dip this in hot water with baking soda dissolved in it (for extra abrasion) and you can wipe off most surface marks easily.^{[11]
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Take care not to wipe off the logo on the golf ball. These heavy-duty cleaning methods can sometimes wipe off the printed logo. Use a light touch if the scuff marks are near that area.

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Question 5

Question 5 of 6:
Can I clean golf balls from ponds?

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Undamaged golf balls are usually perfectly good. Golfers argue back and forth over whether a used golf ball is any good, especially if it's been underwater. But based on the little data there is, it seems that most balls recovered from ponds are indistinguishable from new ones.^{[12]
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- If there are cracks or any other sign of actual damage beyond scuff marks, discard the ball. These allow water to reach the more vulnerable inner layers.
2
Clean them just as you would any dirty ball. Most caked-on dirt can be removed with soapy water and scrubbing. If you want to make it shiny and white again, you can then use a cotton ball dipped in nail polish remover to wipe away remaining marks.

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Question 6

Question 6 of 6:
Can I clean my golf ball during a game?

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You can always clean your ball on the putting green. Once your ball is on the green, you are always allowed to lift and clean your ball before taking a shot.^{[13]
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- When lifting a ball, always mark the spot first with your club or ball-marker. After cleaning, place it back at that spot.
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Stricter rules apply for the rest of the hole. If you are not on the green, you cannot automatically lift and clean your ball. If you are allowed to lift your ball for some other reason (such as to avoid a man-made obstacle), you are allowed to clean it unless you lifted the ball in order to:^{[14]
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- Check whether it is cracked or cut
- Identify it as your ball (though you may clean it enough to identify it)
- Check the condition to see if you are allowed relief
- Avoid interfering with another player's shot.
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"Check for "preferred lie" or "lift, clean, and place" policies. Golf clubs or tournament organizers often adopt these rules during rain, so golfers have more chances to clean off mud. In these conditions, you are allowed to lift and clean your ball if it is anywhere on the fairway of the hole you are playing on (instead of just the green).^{[15]
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- The exceptions above still apply.
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