How to Clean a Bowling Ball 

I've used the submersion method for years to deep clean my equipment. Once the cleaning is done, always let the ball sit for at least 24 hours to fully dry and cool back down to room temperature before bowling again. Never throw a bowling ball that's hot or cold. It can and will crack. This is why I always bring my equipment inside the house when I'm done bowling. Never leave them in your vehicle. All of that is key to helping your equipment last longer.

Great video! I usually add some pieces paper towels in the holes before taping over them in case water does get in.

91% isopropyl and heavy duty paper towels after every session is all you need to keep a resin ball clean and prevent oil from staying in it. If you start doing this with a 'brand new ball' there will never be a need to de-oil it. I have resin balls with over a hundred games on them and not a drop of oil comes out of them in a de-oil oven. If you have never cleaned your resin ball then a serious de-oil as shown in this video is needed, then just use the 91% isopropyl and heavy duty paper towels after every session and you will be good. I have found paper towel are superior to microfiber towels for removing both oil and dirt.

Brunswick strongly discourages the hot water method on their balls, saying it will likely damage the core. They say to use the ball oven method. Storm, however, insists that hot air (oven method) will damage their balls and recommend the hot water and Dawn method. That said, the one step you skipped is taking an abralon pad and taking the surface down to 500 or 360 grit before you start. This opens up the pores on the ball so the oil can more easily escape while soaking. Then when you’re finished, abralon the surface back to where you want it.

I like this video and am probably going to try this method - but with an older ball first. I'm afraid it might change my ball too much.

When I asked the guy at my local pro shop about taping up the finger holes, he said it doesn't matter because the ball is porous anyway. I'm not saying that he is right or wrong. I'm just passing it along for whatever it is worth. For the record, when I clean my bowling balls, I put them in a bucket of hot water with no tape but only fill the water up enough so it is up to the finger holes without going into them.

Acetone on a bowling ball can alter the cover stock and even make it more susceptible to cracking. If you have something on your ball like rubber from the old kicker style ball returns it is okay every now and again but not recommended as a cleaner. It can break down the resin in the ball. If you do not believe me google it. Look under approved cleaners from USBC for starters. The number 1 safest way is rubbing alcohol to clean the ball. I do mine every time before they go in the bag. Every 20 to 30 games I have it put on a spinner and cleaned, or anytime I want to change the surface due to lane condition during practice. But to get the oil out soaking them in circulating hot water is best. About 120 degree you can ad some dawn so that is spot on and way safer than a oven. I don't tape mine and never had a issue. I have switch grip thumbs and remove them first. But for best results the ball needs to be sanded to about 500 grit first. This is to open the pores in the resin and then clean it with rubbing alcohol. I do this ever 60 games. it can be sanded to any surface after or polished. Also a good note is never with a cold ball. I bowl about 100 to 120 games a month. Not all the same ball but I do have a couple balls that get more time on the lane than others. Ffurnace

Loved the video. I just got my second bowling ball. My older bowling ball definitely needs a deep clean. Should it be done by a professional? I'm not great at cleaning things even if it looks easy I always mess up or thing break when I try to fix or clean.

If I try the oven method, do I have to baste every so often ?

nice wine collection, i only have 12 to 24 bottles at a time.

Thanks for the Tip! I will definately try this Method

I will use this method but does it matter if you use Dawn dish detergent only or can you use another brand detergent as well provided you cover all the holes with heavy duty tape. So far this video is the most affective while other videos were not that efficient and a bit confusing.

The tape actually protects the core more, the water wouldn’t effect the lifters but because the cores are so porous it would absorb the water and just be defeating the purpose

You might be my spirit animal, Body Drops and Bowling,, yes!!

You actually want to clean them with a deep clean every 15-18 games. Not once or twice a year. Been doing this for years, never taped the holes and never had an insert problem. I'll throw mine in a cooler to keep the water hotter longer. Each time I take the ball out, I use ball cleaner and wipe the oil off. You don't need to wait 24 hours. I take mine out right before I use it and it's fine.

I have 2 balls, one reactive, the other plastic for 10 pin spares. Will the cleaning of my bowling ball cause the reactive ball to hook differently (for instance, less hook on dry lanes) and allow the plastic ball to roll straighter (for instance sometimes when I attempt a ten pin spare my plastic ball will curve a little left at the end and I miss it)? Thank you

Very helpful video. Thank you for posting this 😊

I am using the same method it’s really good work

Hey wht do you think if i make ball polisher for bowling ball?? .. btw im a mechanical engineering student in Malaysia ..

Dig that intro

I prefer submersion method, but I don’t use dish soap I just let the oil rise out, then drain the water from the grips, then wipe it down with some Lysol wipes, then spray it with my original after league cleaner or my alcohol/degreased mix depending on the severity of the situation. Then I let it dry and cool down

How do you clean the grip holes? Seems pretty nasty to not clean them adequately

thank you helpful

I think I'll totally try this...I need to take better care of my balls lol

I use the oven 35 degrees in Holland. I do that 5 time for 10 minutes. And oil is walking away from that bal.

thanks for the tip bud i subscribed 👍🏽

I use the automatic dishwasher been using it for years some bowling balls have cracked but before I used the dishwasher technique I had bowling balls crack so it doesn't make a difference just my comment

I would suggest that the easiest way to deep clean your Bowling Ball is to use Crown Scrubbing Gel by Brunswick

love the wine rack

We do not use acetone in Hook-It. Hook-It is USBC approved.

I’ve worked in a pro shop for 3 years and most pro shops have an oven that keep the ball at a safe temperature to extract oil off the ball. Submerging you ball in hot water can have the weight block settle and crack the ball. You need to rotate the ball when cleaning it so the core is still moving. Also, the way you applied the ball cleaner and just rubbed it around it crazy and has no benefits if not used properly. Again, your pro shop will clean it for you with a ball spinner and even restore the original surface of the cover stock for usually 5 bucks.

What if I don’t have hot water?

I do the dishwasher method

Would you still recommend taping the holes of your ball if you don't have the inserts in?

Sandpaper works too.

Why did you cut 2 pieces of tape when only one strip will work

Can I use the ball cleaner I have or do I have to get the hook it cleaner?

According to USBC, balance holes (the 4th hole) (2 fingers and the thumb) are no longer authorized.

Nail polish remover the green color with rubbing alcohol 50/50 cheaper cleaner works great

Acetone is actually banned by USBC, and no company recommends using dish soap or hot water they recommend a professional detox or ball oven

Aside from being banned by USBC for a long time now, acetone will destroy your coverstock and ultimately kill your ball's reaction. Alcohol is simply a cleaner -- good for removing dirt and belt marks. It will not do anything to oil, which you're simply moving around the ball, or at least whatever isn't getting caught by the towel you're using. Baking the ball, whether it's in the oven or in a sauna bucket, *will* remove the oil BUT will also remove plasticizer from the bowling ball per each session. It'll feel like taking two steps forward and taking 1 step back each time you clean it. Sure you've removed the oil, but you've also capped some of your ball's hook/flare potential because you've lost the plasticizer which is responsible for helping the ball absorb oil and stay tacky. Check out some of CTD's products which tackle all of these issues. As someone who's used them for about as long as I've bowled and take pride in my own surface maintenance (only thing I'm missing is a drill and surface scanner lol), they are so worth the investment considering I'm preserving almost a thousand bucks worth of equipment.

Okay

I used to buy those expensive ball cleaners years ago. Then I experimented with “totally awesome “ from Dollar Tree and have never spent another dime on anything else to clean my balls.

Acetone would eat the plastic of the ball wouldn't it?

Wasn't expecting to see a bagged truck.

I did this today for my tonight’s league so will see how it hooks on my no rules balling ball :)👍👍👍👍

Cold or hot water

I Bought a Sous Vide cooker to keep the water temperature at 120-125 But never used it due to Brunswick does not recommend a water Bath for Their Bowling balls, Instead I have a Nu Ball to get the oil out

If a ball "sucks" in oil, why wouldn"t it suck in water?

Try cleaning products from Creating the Difference

Just leave it out in sun all day . The oil will melt off

Who else does this? Ive had my same ball since 1996 And I do wipe it but Ive never washed it like this...

The best stuff is over at ctdbowling.com. That Purple Stuff and The Wow Factor Ball Cleaner are amazing! Give them a shot today. #TeamCtD

I just use super glue to clean my ball. It works wonders...

I prefer Ajax dish soap. Anything else is a bull shit way to sell something not needed.

Please never make another bowling video again. Here is a tip... to have your bowling balls cleaned properly go to a proshop where they have the proper equipment

DO NOT…….DO THIS!!!!