Cleaning "black sticky goo" from my ball

[sideshow_ben]

Hi all. I just got my first ball (despite bowling since the late 80's) and took it to my local lanes for a spin (ha ha). After the first throw, it came back from the return with some sticky black residue, like adhesive, and over the course of 2 games, the ball was covered in smears of the stuff. The ball is a DV8 Misfit, btw.

It wouldn't wipe off with a damp cloth or microfiber, but before I tried something harsh like acetone (which I know can soften the cover stock) I grabbed a few of my toddler's "Cottonelle Fresh Care Flushable Moist Toilet Wipes" which took the gunk right off. I looked up the wipes and Kimberley-Clark says it doesn't contain soap, but does contain "skin cleansers and emollients" which I'm guessing aren't great for the ball. So I wiped it down afterward with a soft towel moistened with 90% isopropyl alcohol.

My questions are:

(1) Is there anything wrong with wiping down a reactive resin ball with alcohol?

(2) i'm guessing this is going to happen again since the lanes around me aren't for pro's. The wipes are really convenient to carry in my bag. Any reason not to use them as needed, as long as I clean the ball with a proper ball cleaner at the end of the day?

Thanks everyone!

[bowl1820]

The 90% isopropyl alcohol and towel is fine by itself. I wouldn't use the wipe because of the additives.

[JerseyJim]

The old LaneMaster's ball cleaner will easily remove almost any type of junk from the ball. I don't have a lot left, so I would use it every few weeks to clean the ball completely. Valentino's Remedy RX is my everyday cleaner. It will remove marks, but it takes some work.

[eugene02]

I'm using a Energizer Ball Cleaner by power house only.. spray it onto the ball and wipe it with a microfiber cloth.

[billf]

Storm's Extra Clean takes the black, sticky marks right off with hardly any pressure. BTW, the Misfit is a great ball as are all the balls in the DV8 line up. Good choice and I hope you like it.

[eugene02]

what would be the cause of the black sticky goo??

[sideshow_ben]

I called the pro-shop owner who sold me the ball and he said it sounded like poorly-maintained ball returns. There were one or two smears of this gunk on the ball after each return so it might have been the rubber wheel that starts or ends the ball's path down the return. It felt just like the adhesive residue that is left behind by peeling product stickers off of something you buy (rubbing it with your finger just smears it around).

Thanks for the product info everyone. I think I will just invest in a box of alcohol wipes to remove this crud on the fly.

what would be the cause of the black sticky goo??

[eugene02]

I called the pro-shop owner who sold me the ball and he said it sounded like poorly-maintained ball returns. There were one or two smears of this gunk on the ball after each return so it might have been the rubber wheel that starts or ends the ball's path down the return. It felt just like the adhesive residue that is left behind by peeling product stickers off of something you buy (rubbing it with your finger just smears it around).

Thanks for the product info everyone. I think I will just invest in a box of alcohol wipes to remove this crud on the fly.

oh... safe to use alcohol wipes ?

[TheSheibs]

I would have to agree with your pro shop guy. I've seen sticky black "goo" from ball returns at older lanes. Sometimes it is because they use so much grease to keep it working and that's usually what it is, grease to keep the ball return working.

[americantrotter]

It can also be burnt up pin that got stuck in the return. I've also seen it be melted fingertip inserts. Anything that gets stuck near those belts and rubbed repeatedly.

I find that it's worse at my alley when they overoil and when it's bone dry as well.