View Full Version : cleaning a bowling ball
wes909
01-13-2010, 08:48 PM
i have been reading on how to take care of my bowling ball from what i have read i should wash it about every 10 games . are there any chemicals i can use on a ball tho increase its life expectancy. also any other things i should know about take care of one
wes909
01-13-2010, 09:08 PM
edit edit edit dumb post lol
Strike Domination
01-13-2010, 11:48 PM
Get a bowling ball cleaner or mix water and Simple Green(1:1 ratio). Use the cleaner after every set your bowl. You can do the hot water bath every 25-50 games depending on the ball and be okay.
PSBA10
01-13-2010, 11:50 PM
Why do yoou consider it a dumb post? You have a question - so ask.
Your question about washing the ball: I take it you are asking about the hot water bath. I don't think you will need to bathe it quite that often, especially if you use a ball cleaner spray after each session and before you put your ball back into the bag. Your ball is no different than a soldier's weapon. Clean it as soon as you are done firing it, and it will live a long and happy life.
wes909
01-13-2010, 11:59 PM
well i had an idea on cleaning it and i thought salt because salt pulls out liquids. i figured it would work on a bowling ball but then i realized it would scratch the surface and i could just use alcohol
wes909
01-14-2010, 12:00 AM
Get a bowling ball cleaner or mix water and Simple Green(1:1 ratio). Use the cleaner after every set your bowl. You can do the hot water bath every 25-50 games depending on the ball and be okay.
now when you say set do you me every frame during the game because that seems excessive im sure you dont mean that
Stormed1
01-14-2010, 12:25 AM
Although alchahol does clean the surface off the ball it still does not work as well as a cleaner designed to work on the ball and help clean pore etc.There are many good products out there for reasonable money to keep your ball clean and keep its reaction more consistant. Ebonites Energizer and Power Wash are 2 good choices along with Storm's React Clean and Valentino's Remedy Rx.
Drano
01-14-2010, 01:31 AM
Get a bowling ball cleaner or mix water and Simple Green(1:1 ratio). Use the cleaner after every set your bowl. You can do the hot water bath every 25-50 games depending on the ball and be okay.
I thought it was supposed to be a 1:1 mix of simple green and isopropyl alcohol(91%)
Graaille
01-14-2010, 01:51 AM
I've heard mixed comments about homemade cleaners (1/3 water, 1/3 simple green, 1/3 iso alcohol), but some people swear by them. As for me, my belief is that the ball manufacturers are in a pretty good spot to determine what cleaners work best. I use Valentino's now exclusively - before that I used Lanemasters cleaners. The nice thing about RemedyRx is that it's on the allowed to be used between frames list per the USBC - so you can actually spritz your ball towel a couple of times before you start bowling, and when you use the towel to wipe the oil rings off - it's actually taking the oil off instead of smearing it around. Another thing - if you use a ball towel - wash that thing every few games. Make sure if you put it in the drier- you do not use any fabric softener on it - it'll keep the towel from doing as good a job.
Oh, and by the way, after each set means after every game for gentle cleaning. If you want serious oil extraction, you can do the hot bath method (bathtub, bucket, or dishwasher), the revivor oven (pro shop only), the homemade revivor oven (5 gallon bucket and a food dehydrator), the Ebonite 'hook again' dry chemical approach, or the homemade 'hook again' approach (5 gallon bucket and pulverized kitty litter). Or some combination of all of the above...... Mind you, each of these methods are improved by having access to a ball spinner so you can open up the pores first before you attempt to 'bleed' a ball of oil.
Hope that answered your questions.
Strike Domination
01-14-2010, 03:42 AM
Either way, yeah. An equal mix of Simple Green with Isopropyl and/or water. As long as it's diluted one way or the other, it should work. Ball Cleaners work well too, some of the best (from what I hear) being Black Magic Rejuvenator, Remedy RX, and Clean 'N Dull.
By set, I meant after you're done bowling for the day. Although if you're bowling plenty of games and your cleaner is approved for during competition, it's not a bad idea to use it after every three games or so.
Stormed1
01-14-2010, 10:44 AM
In the past i've also used alchohol and 409 in a 50/50 mix. ( use it in the shop for a quick clean when checking layouts etc)
BearFan
01-14-2010, 12:30 PM
Another question on the subject.
I've been using Kegel Revive Ball Cleaner after each set. And while its fine for cleaning lane oil out, it does not seem to do to well at talking off the belt marks. I have a pearlized highly polished ball so that may make it worse, but it seems the only way get rid of the belt marks is straight rubbing alcohol, liberally applied, and a lot of elbow grease. Any suggestions on a cleaner to get rid of the belt marks? Also, I'm not damaging the coverstock by using straight isopropyl (70%) rubbing alcohol am I?
Graaille
01-14-2010, 02:01 PM
Another question on the subject.
I've been using Kegel Revive Ball Cleaner after each set. And while its fine for cleaning lane oil out, it does not seem to do to well at talking off the belt marks. I have a pearlized highly polished ball so that may make it worse, but it seems the only way get rid of the belt marks is straight rubbing alcohol, liberally applied, and a lot of elbow grease. Any suggestions on a cleaner to get rid of the belt marks? Also, I'm not damaging the coverstock by using straight isopropyl (70%) rubbing alcohol am I?
First off, do you own a ball spinner? It's much easier to get belt marks off if you're using a spinner. I'm possibly going to sound like a Valentino's shill here, but I've found in my own experience that if I am maintaining w/RemedyRx, then if I get belt marks I can go to Resurrection and have them come off very easily.
Are you damaging your coverstocks by using straight isopropyl? Not if you don't do it that often -- it's not like you're soaking your ball in it. (right?)
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