How To Clean Golf Irons, A Step-By-Step Guide For New Golfers
Golf is a game that has you, and your equipment, out and about in different terrains and weather conditions. This, along with your own sweat and the natural oxidizing process of metals, can get even the newest of clubs dirty in no time.
Apart from being beautiful to look at, cleaning your clubs ensures that they last longer, saving your money in the long run. Dirty clubs are also heavier and harder to grip, things that can seriously hurt the quality of your swings.
Luckily, cleaning your golf clubs does not have to be an uphill battle. With the right equipment and some patience, you can get your clubs looking as good as new by following these easy methods:
Before You Begin, here's What You Need:
There are several ways to go about cleaning your clubs but we have listed the easiest way here. When you buy an iron set, instructions on cleaning also come with the packaging. Read it and see how you can tailor the cleaning to suit the club’s best.
The main ingredients you need to clean your golf clubs are:
- Warm water
- Bucket
- Dishwashing liquid or soap
- An old toothbrush or a soft-bristle brush
- steel polish
- A cloth and/or a towel
How To Clean Golf Irons:
Once you have all the tools assembled, it’s finally time to get cracking at those irons!
Step 1
In a bucket, sink, or bathtub filled with warm water, incorporate a little bit of dishwashing liquid.
You only need to get the water soapy enough; not create so many bubbles that you can’t see what you’re cleaning.
Also, be sure that the water is only warm and not hot. Hot water can melt the adhesive, also known as ferrules, which joins the shafts to the heads of the golf clubs.
Step 2
Drop the irons and the wedges into the water, ensuring that the head and shafts are fully submerged.
You can leave the drivers, woods, putters, and grips out since you’ll be cleaning those separately.
Leave the irons and wedges submerged for 5-10 minutes. This will loosen up the dirt enough to save you from scrubbing too hard later on.
Step 3
Once enough time has passed, take one club at a time and scrub them down with an old toothbrush or any other soft-bristle brush.
Take extra care to clean the grooves along the clubhead of any dirt and debris.
Step 4
Once the grooves are done, run the brush across the sole of the iron and over the back of the clubhead, removing any mud, sand, and grass.
Step 5
Once you’ve scrubbed all the irons, you can use a hose or run them under a faucet to rinse them off. This will get any of the remaining dirt off or reveal any spots you might have missed.
Once all the clubs are rinsed off, take a clean towel or cloth and wipe them down dry. Be sure that each club is dry to the touch before putting it back in the bag. Wet clubs can lead to tarnishing or worse.
And to prolong the life of the irons even further, you can apply a bit of steel or chrome polish and rub it in gently, in circular motions, and leave for a minute.
Remove all the polish after, ensuring that not a speck is left before putting the irons away.
Related:
- 10 Best Golf Irons
- How To Hit Irons
- How To Choose Golf Irons?
What if my irons are forged?
You’ll need a nylon brush to scrub forged iron sets but, apart from that, you can clean them just fine with the steps enumerated above.
If you find that they are starting to rust, you can give them a spray of WD-40 and clean them with a nylon brush.
How To Clean Your Driver, Fairway, Hybrid, And Putter:
These types of clubs receive a different treatment from irons since they are more prone to rust or tarnishing.
For these kinds of clubs, it is discouraged that you submerge them in water. Instead, simply dip them in soapy water and wipe them down with a clean piece of cloth.
Be sure to use the cloth to get out any dirt and debris from the grooves. Once they are clean, wipe them dry completely. Some golfers even set them out on a rack to air dry properly before storing them in the bag.
How To Clean Grips:
Grips should receive just as much attention as golf clubs. Over time, sweat and sunscreen can wear the material down and decrease its overall traction.
Though new grips are relatively inexpensive, taking care of the grips you have now will save you from needless trips to the store.
Step 1
Like before, fill a bucket or a sink with warm water – warm, not hot – and add a bit of dishwashing liquid.
Step 2
With a wet cloth and/or a toothbrush, scrub the grips thoroughly. Be sure to get in-between those groves since it's those markings that cause traction between the shaft and your hands. You want those as clean and feelable as possible.
Step 3
When you’re done scrubbing, run the grips under some running warm water to rinse them off. Inspect them thoroughly to ensure you got every nook and cranny. If you missed any spots, do not hesitate to go back in with the soapy toothbrush and get the dirt out.
Step 4
Once all the grips are clean and rinsed, take a dry towel and dry them off completely. Always inspect the grips and shafts of any water before reattaching the two. Water can lead to tarnishing on the metal surface of the shaft so make it a habit to check and ensure that everything is as dry as possible.
In Conclusion…
And that’s it! By following all these steps, you’ll have a newly cleaned golf set that looks the way it did the day you bought it. By cleaning your clubs regularly, you are protecting your investment while getting years of faithful service from the clubs you worked so hard to purchase.
With clubs that gleam and shine in the sunlight, you can be sure to hold your head up high the next time you play on the course.