Ball Cleaners?

[got_a_300]

While there are many cleaners out there, you cannot use a combination of cleaners during league play unless they are approved as a combination. All approved cleaners must be in their original container.

The only time I use my simple green/alcohol mixture is after league is over. I only take
a microfiber towel and wipe my ball down between frames during league competition.

[bowl1820]

Hello all,

Does anyone out there use DIY ball cleaners and if so, what are your pros and cons about them? Is there anything you shouldn't use that will destroy the investment of a ball? $12-14 for a 12oz Storm Reacta Foam is pretty cheap, but over time it can rack up (this is what I'm using now), but I will have 5 balls soon and cleaning twice a week might put a hole in the pocket. Looking for any advice from PSO's, experienced veterans, and the like. Thanks for any advice.

When it comes to cleaning every bowler should have a microfiber towel and a spray bottle of a approved cleaner in their bag.

USBC BALL CLEANER LIST - ACCEPTABLE
http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn....ner_polish.pdf

USBC BALL CLEANER LIST - NON-ACCEPTABLE
http://usbcongress.http.internapcdn....ner_polish.pdf

Cleaning:
1- Wipe your ball off after every shot. This should be part of your pre-shot routine.

A leather shammy pad is a bit more effective at removing surface oil than the dry microfiber towel during bowling. (Note: Don't use cleaners with leather shammy's)

2- After you get done bowling a session, you should clean your ball off with a approved cleaner and microfiber towel.

These two things do the most to help reduce oil absorption into the cover of the ball.

3. Do a deep cleaning about every 50 – 75 games. This will help in removing any oil absorbed into the cover. The number of games can vary though depending on how much you bowl and the conditions. If you bowl often and/or on oilier conditions, you may want to de-oil more often.


As for what not to use, the main one would be things like Acetone (Nail polish remover, Non-acetone nail polish remover etc.) which are not approved for use at any time, except for things like spot removing superglue from when you put inserts in etc.

Powerhouse Clean'N Dull is one of the best for removing oil soaked into the immediate surface of the ball, Not really for use at the lanes. It's a gel cleaner and you don't need to use it every time you bowl, I use it about once a week.

For use at the lanes almost any of the approved ball cleaners will work okay, I use Bowlingball.coms Monster Tac (The big bottle) it's lasted a long time. Also Ole Roy's Early Shift cleaner. (In the video section you can see some tests I did of several cleaners).

A good bang for the buck is the Motiv cleaner (Power Gel Clean & Power Gel Scuff) which is about $15 for a 16oz. bottle depending on where you buy it.

As for DIY cleaners for the most part none of them are USBC approved for any use and most likely nobody is ever going to pay to have them tested.

[1VegasBowler]

The only time I use my simple green/alcohol mixture is after league is over. I only take
a microfiber towel and wipe my ball down between frames during league competition.

After league is over or just before league play begins is the only time you can use it.

I use the Genesis oil shammy and it does a great job. I clean it about once/month and it's like new again.

[bdtrob300]

The only time I use my simple green/alcohol mixture is after league is over. I only take
a microfiber towel and wipe my ball down between frames during league competition.

Simple green/Alcohol mix works best on the spinner. It works ok by hand, but much on the spinner applied with a microfiber towel

[foreverincamo]

Saw WD-40 on the " unacceptable " list. Can't imagine what that stuff would do to a ball. It does wonders in the mechanical world, but as a ball cleaner, I don't think so.

[KYDave]

Saw WD-40 on the " unacceptable " list. Can't imagine what that stuff would do to a ball. It does wonders in the mechanical world, but as a ball cleaner, I don't think so.

I would imagine you would use as a slip agent and not a cleaner.

Also, I often work at a local plant that makes resin. They use methanol to clean. I use it all the time there and very effective. Dries fast and no residue. I have wondered how well that would work on a ball. I've also been curious if any ball cleaners use it, as some have had a slight smell of it.

[Timmyb]

I would imagine you would use as a slip agent and not a cleaner.

Also, I often work at a local plant that makes resin. They use methanol to clean. I use it all the time there and very effective. Dries fast and no residue. I have wondered how well that would work on a ball. I've also been curious if any ball cleaners use it, as some have had a slight smell of it.

The issue with WD-40 is by nature, it's a solvent. It just happens to have oil mixed in. My guess is it would be outstanding at removing belt marks and subway gunk, but I still wouldn't spray it on a bowling ball.

[Tony]

I wonder how aqueous solution would work on cleaning and extracting oil from a ball ?