Safe household alternative to Ball Cleanser?

[unclemantis]

Do I need to use a store bought ball cleaner or can I use something else? My pro-shop guy said not to use alcohol which makes sense. What else can I use or should I not dare until I buy the recommended cleaner recommended by my ball manufacturer? Should I just wipe my ball real good with a clean microfiber towel?

[75lockwood]

Rubbing Alcohol works fine, is cheap, and is on the USBC approved cleaner list, if the pro shop is saying that you shouldn't use it he is just trying to sell you the expensive stuff

[unclemantis]

Rubbing Alcohol works fine, is cheap, and is on the USBC approved cleaner list, if the pro shop is saying that you shouldn't use it he is just trying to sell you the expensive stuff

What the pro-shop guy said was to do the following.

Wipe the ball after each return.

Wipe the ball down with a CLEAN microfiber towel AFTER each session.

Continue doing the above for about a year and visit him again for a de-oil.

He wasn't really trying to sell me anything extra. He seemed pretty knowledgeable. There must be something about Alcohol and the Hammer Nail surface.

Thoughts?

[unclemantis]

I found this thread on another board that talks a lot about Simple Green. But then one post that says NOT to. http://www.bowlingcommunity.com/b/ubbthreads.php/topics/157381/Any_ideas_for_making_your_own_.html

Thoughts? Should I just wipe the ball down after each session like recommended by my pro shop?

[billf]

I have never heard of any shop or anybody with any bowling knowledge say to NOT clean your ball with a cleaner. Right now I use Kegel revitalize. Clean N Dull is great as is Storm's Reacta-clean, Brunswick remove all. I haven't tried the Simple Green & alcohol mixture yet but plan to. As far as what any person can post on the iinternet, take that with a grain of salt. You don't know who they are or how knowledgeable they are if at all (me included). EVERY ball manufacturer recommends cleaning your ball with cleaner after every session. If it wasn't important for proper ball maintenance then these companies wouldn't spend millions in research & development, marketing, etc.

From Hammer's website in the "ask an expert" section:
Question: How do I properly clean my bowling ball?
Answer: Hammer recommends cleaning all performance bowling balls immediately after each bowling session using Powerhouse Energizer Cleaner for polished surface balls, and Powerhouse Clean n’ Dull for dull surface balls. Both should also be used with Powerhouse Oil-Free Towels for optimum performance and removal of dirt and oil from the surface of the ball.

[unclemantis]

I have never heard of any shop or anybody with any bowling knowledge say to NOT clean your ball with a cleaner. Right now I use Kegel revitalize. Clean N Dull is great as is Storm's Reacta-clean, Brunswick remove all. I haven't tried the Simple Green & alcohol mixture yet but plan to. As far as what any person can post on the iinternet, take that with a grain of salt. You don't know who they are or how knowledgeable they are if at all (me included). EVERY ball manufacturer recommends cleaning your ball with cleaner after every session. If it wasn't important for proper ball maintenance then these companies wouldn't spend millions in research & development, marketing, etc.

From Hammer's website in the "ask an expert" section:
Question: How do I properly clean my bowling ball?
Answer: Hammer recommends cleaning all performance bowling balls immediately after each bowling session using Powerhouse Energizer Cleaner for polished surface balls, and Powerhouse Clean n’ Dull for dull surface balls. Both should also be used with Powerhouse Oil-Free Towels for optimum performance and removal of dirt and oil from the surface of the ball.

Well I guess i will see if there are any ball polish in the vending machine tonight.

T-minus 2 Hours until inaugural launch!

Oh I found a bottle of Storm Reacta Shine in the family's old bowling stuff. I think this bottle is probably as old as 10 years. Should I dare to use it or add alcohol to account for evaporation or should i just discard like old medicine?

[unclemantis]

Ya know I was watching some videos and I am seeing these pro shop people use a ball spinner. I noticed that the pro shop at my local balling ally offers a Polish service.

Also I read that hot soap and water can be used to clean the ball as well.

Yikes! So much to choose from.

I just don't want to ruin my ball out of the gate. That is what I am asking all these questions and acting anal.

[billf]

STOP!! Cleaner and polish are two totally different things. Do not add polish until after you know if you need it. Reacta-shine and Reacta-clean are as different as night and day.

[billf]

Go to the ball maintenance thread. There is some great info about cleaners over there as well as polish, when to resurface, etc.

Boy, I hope I caught you before you added polish. Polish will add length, delaying the hook. Cleaner will keep the dirt, grease, oil and such off the ball. The Cover will still absorb some oil EVEN if you wipe after every throw. It will absorb a ton more if you don't wipe it after every throw. That's why most coaches and manufacturers suggest wiping the ball as part of your pre-shot routine.

[unclemantis]

Go to the ball maintenance thread. There is some great info about cleaners over there as well as polish, when to resurface, etc.

Boy, I hope I caught you before you added polish. Polish will add length, delaying the hook. Cleaner will keep the dirt, grease, oil and such off the ball. The Cover will still absorb some oil EVEN if you wipe after every throw. It will absorb a ton more if you don't wipe it after every throw. That's why most coaches and manufacturers suggest wiping the ball as part of your pre-shot routine.

Will do!!!! :)

[billf]

A new ball is a major financial investment for me these days so the last thing I wanted to see was you possibly ruining the reaction of a new ball. If my posts came off as offensive, rude or mean then I apologize. I saw the count down to lauch and didn't want to waste time going into too much detail.

One thing I have read to use that I know does ruin the cover is acetone. First the cover gets hard (great for pin carry) but then a couple of months later gets brittle. I learned that the hard way. The first time I thought it was a bad cover, the second ball made a light bulb go off. At that time I was just divorced and raising my daughter by myself. I couldn't afford a new ball for her nevermind myself. Given she was on the HS bowling team and planned to bowl in college, I went back to my conventional grip ball until I could afford a new one seeing as equipment for her was obviously more important.

Now remarried and having three step-daughters and ten grandchildren, money for bowling supplies is usually scarce. I only use money from tournaments, coaching, etc. to buy new stuff. My hobby pays for itself and my job pays the household bills (usually lol).

[unclemantis]

A new ball is a major financial investment for me these days so the last thing I wanted to see was you possibly ruining the reaction of a new ball. If my posts came off as offensive, rude or mean then I apologize. I saw the count down to lauch and didn't want to waste time going into too much detail.

One thing I have read to use that I know does ruin the cover is acetone. First the cover gets hard (great for pin carry) but then a couple of months later gets brittle. I learned that the hard way. The first time I thought it was a bad cover, the second ball made a light bulb go off. At that time I was just divorced and raising my daughter by myself. I couldn't afford a new ball for her nevermind myself. Given she was on the HS bowling team and planned to bowl in college, I went back to my conventional grip ball until I could afford a new one seeing as equipment for her was obviously more important.

Now remarried and having three step-daughters and ten grandchildren, money for bowling supplies is usually scarce. I only use money from tournaments, coaching, etc. to buy new stuff. My hobby pays for itself and my job pays the household bills (usually lol).

You did not come off as rude or harsh. You came off as caring and I appreciate that!

At 9:05 PM the inaugural launch took place. I stood with my right foot on the far left dot and threw the ball over the 3rd and middle arrow on the right side. The ball rotated about 4 to five times and slid most of the way and then hit the back end and rolled hard into the pocket.

STRIKE!!!!!!

OMG it was explosive! it was the most amazing thing I have seen in a LONG time!

I will post videos later. Going to bed now. Just finished a movie with my father.

Thanks again for your help!

I wiped the ball after each shot and at the end wiped it down very well. I didn't use any solution this time. I did notice that the vending machine was selling the ball cleaner for $10. I am still waiting for a check in the mail so until then I will just wipe it down very well.

[scottymoney]

I have used a ball cleaner that my pro shop sells as well as simple green. I haven't noticed much of a difference between the 2. Both have been good at removing the garbage off the ball as soon as I was done. The cleaner I bought from the pro shop was their own brand they have made for them. I guess you could say he gave it to me for free as I got my new ball drilled and asked him what he recommended, he didn't charge me for it. Since then I have seen many of the guys on my league night using the same stuff, so he either pushes it hard or it works.

[Zothen]

I use a mix of 50%-50% 90% rubbing alcohol/simple green or i'll use Tac up.

Zothen

[v33dubfox]

I use Simple Green as engine degreaser...

[unclemantis]

Well I busted out the alcohol and Put some on a clean microfiber towel and ran it across the track on my ball and some diet did come off.

I am still big sure why my pro told me not to use this stuff and told me to just wipe with a towel after each shot and each session and then have it deoiled once a year. I have the care and feeding instructions from hammer and they say something completely different..

I am very confused

[unclemantis]

Found something else

http://www.morichbowling.com/Education/Cleaning.aspx

I just don't want to ruin my ball over a long term :(

[unclemantis]

This one mentions not to use alcohol!

shop.bowlersparadise.com/bowling-ball-maintenance-tips.aspx

[unclemantis]

I am lost. I just emailed hammer.

[unclemantis]

I just got an email back from Jesse James, a technical advisor at Hammer and he told me to clean the ball as directed on their website. I told him about my pro saying not to use Alcohol. He said this was correct.

I also got an email from pro who is on vacation and he said not to use alcohol but he said nothing about NOT using any other approved Hammer methods.

I guess I just didn't understand the whole story.