How To Clean Golf Clubs (7 Simple Steps)

Every golfer knows that the best golf clubs aren’t a very cheap investment (even the “cheap” golf clubs aren’t cheap). Cleaning them often and properly will ensure they last as long as expected. So how can you clean golf clubs and have them look good as new?

To clean golf clubs, you’ll need water, dish soap, a soft brush, and a microfiber cloth. Soak the iron club head in water (about 10 minutes) and then clean it using a brush. Never soak putters, wedges, or woods in water! Just wipe them with a wet cloth. Do the same with the shaft and grip.

In the rest of this article, I’ll explain the best way to clean golf clubs in more detail. And since there are different types of golf clubs, I’ll explain how to clean each type. Additionally, I will provide you with some tips on the best mens golf club sets available on the market today. I’ll also share some additional steps (like polishing or rust removal) you can take to keep your golf clubs in tip-top shape.

Different Golf Club Types Require Different Care

If you’re a beginner in the world of golf, you should know that a golf set includes different types of golf clubs. That’s why golfers use terms like irons, hybrids, wedges, putters, etc. The heads of these clubs are made from different materials. 

The best way to clean golf clubs is to leave them soaking in water mixed with dish soap. This is also the simplest and the least expensive way. However, you can only do this with irons. I will first explain how to clean irons, and then I will move on to other types of golf clubs. 

How To Clean Irons 

1. Clean Your Golf Clubs in a Sink or a Bucket

You have all the freedom to choose where you’ll clean these types of golf clubs. Should you opt to clean your iron clubs in your kitchen or bathroom sink, you’ll need to use the sink plug and fill your sink with water. 

Alternatively, you can get a clean bucket if the idea of using a sink doesn’t appeal to you. The bucket should be large enough to fit more iron clubs at once, as this could save you some time. 

2. Fill the Sink or Bucket With Warm or Lukewarm Water

Use warm water to clean your clubs. Even lukewarm water will work fine. However, you should never use hot water as it can easily damage your golf clubs. 

Fill your sink or bucket with water such that all the club heads are completely covered. The water shouldn’t be too deep as you don’t want it to reach the ferrule (the part where the head connects to the shaft). 

Leaving your golf club immersed in the water could loosen the ferrule and lead to premature damage. 

3. Add Soap to the Water

Add 2 or 3 tablespoons (30-45 ml) of soap to the water. It’s OK to use either regular soap (think hand soap) or dish soap. Any soap you find at home will do the trick. 

While you should use a product that cleans well, using strong chemical cleaning products isn’t advisable as they can damage the surface of your golf clubs. 

4. Soak the Golf Club Heads in the Water for Approximately 10 Minutes

How long you decide to leave your clubs soaked in the water depends on how dirty they are. If the dirt from grass or sand is still relatively new, you can let your golf clubs soak for 5 to 10 minutes. 

If you don’t clean your clubs regularly (some golfers even do this as a yearly routine), you’ll have to let them soak longer. 

5. Use a Brush With Soft Bristles

You’ll need a soft-bristle brush to clean your soaked golf club heads. If you don’t have one at home, I recommend buying this Hingtai Multifunctional Liquid Cleaning Brush (available on Amazon.com). It has a high-quality handle which means it will last longer. Its bristles are thick but soft, so they won’t damage your clubs.

The Hingtai Cleaning Brush also has a liquid reservoir on the back, so you can even take it to the golf course and clean your golf clubs immediately after each shot.

When 10 minutes have passed, take your golf clubs out of the water.

Use a brush with soft bristles. Never use brushes with hard bristles, as they could scratch your golf club heads. You also don’t want to use wire metal sponges or brushes. 

Move the brush gently back and forth over the club heads to eliminate all the grass stains.

There are also narrow slots on your club head that you’ll want to clean; these are grooves and velocity slots. To get grass or sand residue out of the narrower parts, you’ll want to use a brush with a smaller head, for example, a toothbrush.

6. Rinse Them Under the Water

Once you’ve eliminated the stains, it’s important to rinse your club head in clean water to remove the cleaning residue. You can do this in clean water or use the one you soaked your clubs in (if it’s not too dirty).

7. Dry Your Clubs Well

Use a soft cloth to wipe your club head dry. While some golfers like to leave their clubs to dry on their own, I strongly advise against doing so.  The best thing to do would be to use a dry cloth and wipe your clubs dry immediately after cleaning, as this will help prevent them from rusting.

How To Clean Other Types of Golf Clubs (Woods, Hybrids, Putters, Wedges)

The seven-step cleaning routine I described above is only suitable for irons. Other types are made from more sensitive materials, so you shouldn’t soak them in water. To clean hybrids, putters, woods, and wedges, do the following:

1. Mix water and soap.
2. Dampen a cloth with soapy water.
3. Wipe the head of your golf clubs.
4. Dry the soap residue with a soft dry cloth.

You can also use a soft-bristle brush to clean the grooves on the golf club heads. However, don’t do this with wooden heads. Wood is a very sensitive material that even a soft-bristle brush can damage. 

How To Clean the Golf Club Shaft

Golf club heads have the most contact with grass, mud, or sand and get stains quickly. However, you’ll also want to clean other golf club parts, like the shaft. This is a very simple process– just wipe the surface with a wet microfiber cloth before drying it with a soft, dry cloth. 

How To Clean the Golf Club Grip

Some golfers think there’s no need to clean their golf club grips since, after all, they don’t come in contact with grass, mud, or sand as the club heads do. 

However, you spend a lot of time holding a grip in your hands. This way, it gets your sweat and all the dirt from your hands. It takes little effort to clean golf club grips:

1. Dampen a piece of cloth and go over your grip with it. 
2. Rinse it well. You have to do this so there wouldn’t be any soap residue on the grip. If you let the soap dry, it could melt while you hold it in your hands, making the grip slippery. 
3. Once you’ve cleaned the grip gently with soap and water, dry it using a cloth. 

How To Remove Rust From Your Golf Clubs

The part that often gets the most rust is the club head (especially if you’re using wedges). Occasionally, the shaft can also get a bit rusty. Below are proven ways to remove rust from golf clubs:

• Use soap and water. I already explained this is the best way to clean golf clubs. However, it can also remove rust. This method has often helped me get the rust off my metal products.
• Use vinegar. Some golfers will leave their clubs to soak in vinegar for about an hour, but if you’re scared it’ll damage your clubs, you can dilute it with water. Sometimes, it’s unnecessary to soak the clubs; you can just apply some vinegar on a cloth and rub the rusty parts away. Dry your clubs well after cleaning them with vinegar. 
• Use Coca-Cola. The famous fizzy drink has a special acid that dissolves rust. 
• Use a water-and-baking-soda paste. Baking soda works well when removing rust from smaller surfaces, and we all have it in our kitchens. 

Using Rust Removers and Preventing Rust

If you don’t trust DIY methods, I recommend POR-15 Rust Remover (available on Amazon.com) for removing rust. It works well on both stronger and lighter metals and only removes rust, meaning it won’t damage surrounding rust-free material.

Although these work wonders at removing rust, it’s best to try to prevent rust. You can do this in the following ways:

• Store golf clubs in places where there is no moisture.
• Dry them immediately after playing on a wet field.
• Wrap each stick to prevent contact with moisture.

Polishing Golf Clubs

Golfers also use different chrome and metal polishes. If you want your golf clubs to look shiny and new, try Leopong Golf Club Polishing Solution (available on Amazon.com). 

In addition to making your clubs clear and polished, the Leopong Golf Club Polishing Solution will also improve your game because it removes stains from grooves well. It’s easy to use and increases your clubs’ overall durability.

Conclusion: Cleaning Golf Clubs

You can use different polishing products, but the best way to clean golf clubs (and the cheapest) is with water and soap:

• Soak the irons for 10 minutes and clean them with a soft-bristle brush.
• Use a wet cloth to gently clean other golf types (no soaking).

You should often clean your golf clubs because they’re the most valuable part of your equipment. It’s also an effortless task that doesn’t take up much of your time.