The pool is a game of elegance, but when your pool balls are dirty, it just spoils the whole ambiance of this game. Being true pool fans, we all know how hard it is to clean pool balls. Also, once they get super-dirty, it is harder to play with them, and the game just loses its charm.
Most people go for professional pool ball cleaners and pay hefty amounts to get their set cleaned when they can do it at home too. We are listing a step-by-step guide on how you can clean your pool balls at home, and this process will most certainly not cost you an arm and a leg. So, let’s get right into the good stuff and find out how to clean pool balls.
Step by Step Guide to Cleaning a Pool Ball with Soap
There are quite a lot of ways with which you can clean your pool balls but not every method will ensure that your balls remain in perfect shape and there is no damage to them. We are here to provide you with methods of cleaning pool balls without damaging them at all.
You can either go for a deeper cleanse and use a commercial pool ball cleaner or if you don’t want to do that and your pool balls are not that dirty, you can use soap and water too. But just know that the important thing here is the steps that you follow while cleaning. Let’s get into the steps now.
1. Determine the Type of Balls
It is important to know what type of pool ball you have because there are different materials like resin, acrylic, and polyester. The steps for all these materials are slightly different, and you have to keep a check on the temperature of the water, too, according to the type of pool ball.
For the cue balls made of acrylic and polyester, you cannot use hot water because it will wreck the balls. Make sure to always use lukewarm water for balls made of polyester and acrylic. But for resin, hotter water would be great as it cleans the cue balls deeply.
2. The Required Ingredients
So, now that you have determined the type of your pool ball, we need to make a list of ingredients or things needed for the cleaning process. You will need all the following things for a good cleanse:
- Hot or lukewarm water, according to the type of cue ball
- Detergent or soap
- Microfiber cloth of soft towel
- Buckets
3. The Process
The steps of how to clean pool balls are pretty easy, and even if you have never done that before, you will do good.
- Take a bucket and pour water into it.
- Add either laundry detergent or soap to the bucket, according to your preference.
- Add the balls to the bucket.
- Let the pool balls sit in there for about 10 minutes
- Take another bucket and fill it with cold water for the second cleanse
- After 10 minutes, take out the pool balls, dry them with a soft towel and add them to the bucket with cold water
- Wash all the soap off of the balls
- Now, dry the balls yet again with a soft towel
Make sure that you follow this process accurately and do not use a harsh towel or scrub the pool balls while drying them because it can cause scratches. Also, make sure that the pool balls are completely dry before you actually start playing with them.
If they are not completely dry, the cue balls will pretty much be ruined, and this is the mistake that most people make while cleaning their cue balls at home. So, make sure that you are being sane and dry out the balls completely.
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Steps for Cleaning a Pool Ball with Professional Cleaner
We know that cleaning your pool ball with soap is easier, and you would probably be inclining towards that because that one is a cheaper way to clean too. But, if you are a professional pool player, you need the best for your cue balls.
So, don’t fall for lower prices of soap because it is always the best idea to get a professional cleaner for a deeper cleanse of your cue balls. If your cue balls haven’t been cleaned for months, soap might not make that big of a difference.
So, it is better to go for a professional cleaner. Don’t worry because these cleansers also won’t cost you an arm and a leg and usually are available without any hassle.
1. Type of Cleanser
There are different types of cleansers for resin and acrylic cue balls, so make sure to go through the cleanser you are using for your balls. If it is not made for that particular type of cue ball, it might cause some damage.
So, buying the cue ball cleanser that is suitable for your cue balls will not only be good for the longevity of your pool balls, but it will also keep your cue balls in perfect shape and will enhance your game too.
Once you clean your cue balls with these professional cleaners, they are going to last for a long time, which is why most people prefer professional cleaners. You can find quite a few cleansers on Amazon and on other online shops too.
Just make sure that you have determined the type of your pool ball right. If you are not sure what type of pool balls you have, either ask a professional or go through its packaging, and you will know the rest.
2. Things You Will Need
You are not going to need a lot of things for this type of cleansing either, and it is comparatively faster because you don’t have to soak the balls for several minutes in water. The things you are going to need are:
- A ball restorer
- Microfiber cloth
- A ball cleaner
3. The Process
Now that you have all the ingredients you need, let’s begin cleaning our pool ball.
- Make sure to shake the ball restorer properly before using it
- Now, take a few drops of restorer and apply it to the ball
- Take the microfiber cloth and clean the ball properly, and spread the restorer on the ball
- Scrub the ball with microfiber for at least 30 seconds and apply minimal pressure
- Take a clean microfiber cloth and dry the ball completely and clean the restorer off of the ball
- Now, use the ball cleaner and spread it all across the ball with a microfiber cleaner too
- This time, apply a little more pressure and polish the ball properly.
- Take the cloth yet again and clean the ball completely with it
- Make sure that there is no trace of restorer or cleaner once you wipe the ball
Using the restorer usually is your own choice, and many people only go for cue ball cleaner. But, if you start with restorer and then use the cleaner, it will make sure that your cue ball stays in perfect shape for a very long time and that is exactly how to clean pool balls.
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How to Remove Yellow Stains on Pool Balls?
The yellow stains are a big problem, especially when you are cleaning your pool balls because they don’t usually go while following the conventional methods. You spend hundreds of dollars on buying the high-quality resin balls, and they take just a few weeks to turn yellow.
It indeed is very painful and feels like a waste of money. But, there indeed is something that you can do and remove that yellowish color from your cue balls. The best way to do this usually is using a professional cleaner that specializes in removing yellow stains.
However, if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on yet another cleanser, baking soda would do the deed too. All you need to do is add baking soda to the water and let your pool balls soak in there for a while.
Baking soda is one of the finest cleansing agents, and it can remove even the most stubborn stains, so it most certainly will help you get rid of those yellow tones.
When Should You Clean Your Pool Balls?
Most people don’t really pay attention to the hygiene of their pool balls for months until it starts affecting their game. But the experts in the game advise you to never ignore your pool balls and give them a timely cleanse.
It is better if you clean your cue balls every few weeks but if you cannot do that, at least give them a deeper clean once every two months. If you play pool regularly, then cleaning them every 3-4 weeks would be best for the longevity of the pool balls.
You would also notice that after playing pool daily, your pool balls would become dirtier and dirtier, so as the pool balls age, you would have to clean them more often.
Conclusion
Cleaning pool balls is a very easy process, but that does not mean you should take it lightly because if the pool balls are not clean enough, it can have a very negative impact on your game. Make sure to follow all the steps while cleaning your pool ball and before you start, determine the type of pool ball you have.
People also want to have a quick and in-home pool ball cleanse, which is why we have added some DIY methods of how to clean pool balls, too. So, we hope this article will be helpful for you and that you won’t have to face the problem of dirty cue balls ever again.