Pro shops swears by acetone to clean a ball.

[Kudu22]

Went to my pro shop to get some advice on a commercial ball cleaner. I do the warm bath and clean with alcohol each each session but was thinking of trying something more. My Modern Marvel is going a little dead. They don't carry any and told me just to use acetone. I gave him that look of what in the world did you say or I just misunderstood you. He said the ball companies go through gallons of it a day and it is the only thing to use. Don't soak the ball in it but forget about any other cleaner. I told him I had read to never use it and it is bad for the ball. He stated he doesnt and won't carry the cleaners...they are just a gimmick. I will order something once I figure out what I need but want a single cleaner for all my different balls. Deep purple Taboo, Marvel pearl, Modern Marvel, 2 Furious.

[UBowling]

I use acetone to clean off super glue or to smoothen out a finger insert if it has to be cut with a razor blade. That's about it.

[bowl1820]

While Acetone is okay to use for cleaning off super glue or to smoothen out a finger inserts. (I've done that myself)

It's not USBC legal to use as a general ball cleaner EVER!!

Regardless If the "ball companies go through gallons of it a day" in the manufacturing process, that's not the same as you using it as a everyday cleaner.

Your pro shop just doesn't want to bother to stock anything.

If you want a simple cleaner to use, get a bottle of alcohol or some Simple Green they'll work fine. a lot of bowlers do a 50-50 mix of the two makes a good cleaner.

As for com. cleaners Hook-It is one of the strongest spray cleaners (My number one/two pick) and Clean'N Dull (My number one/two pick) is one of the best for drawing out some oil, but is for use at home.

Tac-Up is also a good spray.

[Kudu22]

I will check into those. Ya the pro shop at my alley I bowl at you can get almost anything you want in bowling except ball cleaner. I never noticed it or talked to him about till last night. I was just in that mood to see if there was something better than what I was doing and online there is more cleaners than balls it seems like.

[panbanger]

It's odd that your pro-shop doesnt carry cleaner, just from a business standpoint I guess. Also if you're dealing with kids in the youth leagues, do you really want to tell them to clean their ball with acetone? Seems unusual.

[scottymoney]

Simple Green is my cleaner of choice. I just use it straight out of the ball with no mixing. I try to remember every night after I bowl to do it when I get home. Seems to do the job well. If I were you and really want to look into what cleaner to use. Pick something off the approved cleaners list. That is what I did, figured Simple green is approved and was one of the cheapest solutions I could get.

[Ball99999]

Went to my pro shop to get some advice on a commercial ball cleaner. I do the warm bath and clean with alcohol each each session but was thinking of trying something more. My Modern Marvel is going a little dead. They don't carry any and told me just to use acetone. I gave him that look of what in the world did you say or I just misunderstood you. He said the ball companies go through gallons of it a day and it is the only thing to use. Don't soak the ball in it but forget about any other cleaner. I told him I had read to never use it and it is bad for the ball. He stated he doesnt and won't carry the cleaners...they are just a gimmick. I will order something once I figure out what I need but want a single cleaner for all my different balls. Deep purple Taboo, Marvel pearl, Modern Marvel, 2 Furious.

wowwww he is nuts!!

acetone is super strong stuff. I mean it's not acid, and I can wash my hands with it, but I've used it on plastic and it just melts it. Imagine what it will do to a bowling ball with all those pores.

Someone suggested using a mix of simple green with isopropyl alcohol but I think that ruins my reaction. So I still might use it but only before another alcohol rub and hot bath.

I just sanded my Modern Marvel to ~1500 so hoping that revived it and gives it more teeth.

[75lockwood]

I don't think i want this stuff near my ball...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9Jx8NRkWTo

[scottymoney]

Awesome video! It reminds me of the old commerical on TV when I was a kid about Drug use.

This is your brain on Drugs! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FtNm9CgA6U)

[billf]

While we are on the subject, I was told to clean my balls after each session ASAP after. The cover gets warm during use and soaks up oil, true. So cleaning the ball while still warm, in theory, will help remove more oil than waiting until you get home. I still get in a hurry at times so now I also clean prior to use when time permits.

[Kudu22]

I think I will spend more time cleaning at at alley before I leave like Bill suggests. Gives me a reason to have a beer a chill out for a minute. I always wipe the ball before each shot but I do wait a day or so to give them more attention. I am also going to take them to a good shop by my work to get them sanded/polished back to specs. The Modern Marvel is really dull and needs it. I don't trust my league alley not to put acetone on the balls if I took them to him.

[UBowling]

Yeah definitel, and I would also recommend using a micro fiber towel to wipe off the ball during bowling and to clean it after. Micro Fiber will soak up everything like the oil where normal towels kind of just spread it around.