There are many schools of thought when it comes to golf club care and cleaning. Some experts believe a good cleaning should happen after each game. Others believe your clubs will be just fine if cleaned a few times throughout the season. You can spend the money to buy traditional golf club cleaning kits or make your own kit from common household items, but either way, a good club cleaning is especially important before storing your clubs away during the off season. Whatever you believe, we suggest you follow the following easy steps for keeping your clubs clean anytime;
GRAB A BUCKET, WARM WATER & SOAP
Warm water helps create suds, which help aid in getting that hard to reach dirt to loosen up. A little dish-washing liquid, some warm water and a large bucket will be your first step. Place the heads of your irons in the bucket and let them sit for a few minutes. You don’t need a lot of water, just enough to cover the heads completely.
SCRUB THE GROOVES
An old toothbrush will come in handy for this next step. You want to make sure you reach all the dirt wedged between the grooves, so use that toothbrush to release any dirt or grass from the course, that might not come off with just a soak. You don’t ever want to use a wire bristled brush for this task, a firm bristled toothbrush will do wonders once you’ve soaked the clubs long enough.
RINSE, RINSE, RINSE
Like the other steps, you’ll want to take your time with this step, making sure to rinse all of the soapy residue off of the iron heads. Any remaining soap can create residue, much like the dirt and grass, so you’ll want to make sure you rinse them well.
DRYING
You’ll want to use a soft, dry towel for this step, making sure to dry the heads as well as up the shaft of the club. You never want the club to go back into the bag wet or even damp, so taking your time to make sure the entire club is dry. This will also eliminate the possibility of mildew in your golf bag. You’ll be glad you did when it’s time to hit the green next spring!
WHAT ABOUT THE WOODS?
Obviously, you won’t want to soak your woods like you did the irons. Instead, quickly dip the woods into the soapy water, pull them out and quickly rub them with a damp cloth. Immediately after that, grab a dry, soft towel and like your other clubs, be sure you completely dry the entire club before sticking back in your bag.