Many of us, myself included, forget about the important necessity of maintaining our golf clubs and their general upkeep to ensure that they last a long time - golf clubs are expensive after all! Cleaning your golf clubs is one of the best ways to ensure you get the most out of your clubs, irons especially! In the following step-by-step guide of how to clean golf clubs we will explore preparation, materials needed to clean golf clubs, and answer some of the most commonly asked questions about the best ways to clean golf clubs. There are many ways to clean golf clubs and this is our favorite approach. As a player for more than 30 years, I have found that this method for cleaning golf clubs to be the most effective, easy, and it's even rewarding to see your clubs shine like their brand new! Let's dive in to Planet Divot's step-by-step process for cleaning golf clubs.

4 Easy Steps to Cleaning Your Golf Clubs at Home

If you're interested in an abbreviated guide for how best to clean your golf clubs at home then look no further than the following pictorial guide from Planet Divot. By following these easy steps, your golf clubs will be clean, dry, and ready for your next round of golf:

1. You've got dirty golf clubs!
2. Soak them in soapy water for a few minutes
3. Use a soft-bristled brush to clean the face, sole, and back of each club
4. Dry your clubs and admire their fresh new look

How to Clean Golf Clubs Everything You Need to Know

Let's first talk about the materials you will need in order to clean your golf clubs because it's important to use the right stuff when giving your clubs a good wash. It's equally as important to know what to avoid when cleaning your golf clubs. Don't worry, we're going to cover both in the following guide. So let's dive in!

Things You Need to Clean Your Golf Clubs

• Soft-bristled brush - softer bristles will help maintain the integrity of the metals that you're cleaning. Using soft bristles will help to avoid damaging irons, woods, hybrids, wedges, and putters so that you're not unnecessarily scratching your clubs while cleaning them. On rare occasions, lightly brushing golf clubs with metal bristles can help clean them when they are extremely dirty. It is important to only lightly apply pressure with metal bristles.
• Bucket - any bucket that can hold warm soapy water will be perfect for the job. Just make sure that your bucket has fairly tall sides so that you can allow your golf clubs to soak in the soapy water by themselves without holding them for 2-3 minutes.
• Warm Water - I like to use warm water because it can help dislodge dirt and debris from golf clubs better than cold water, but cold tap water can also be used to clean golf clubs.
• Liquid Dish Soap - A squeeze of liquid dish soap into warm water will the do trick for cleaning your golf clubs. The ideal dish soap to use in my opinion is Seventh Generation. In this tutorial we used Palmolive, but any dish soap will work.
• Towel - Make sure to have a towel nearby so that you can quickly dry your golf clubs after brushing the dirt away and rinsing them.

What to Avoid When Cleaning Your Golf Clubs

Over the years, I've learned the hard way about what to avoid when cleaning golf clubs. Because I've scratched golf clubs, rusted them, or damaged them as a result of poor handling, I want to help you avoid those mistakes when you decide to clean your clubs. Using my experience, let's make sure that you're avoiding some common mistakes people make when cleaning their clubs.

Rarely, if ever, use metal bristles

Many people think that metal bristles are the best, most effective way to clean golf clubs because dirt and debris do not stand a chance against metal. For years, brushes for a golf bag came with two sets of bristles on one brush head - soft bristles and metal ones. The unfortunate reality is that metal bristles can damage and scratch your golf clubs if you use them the wrong way. Applying too much pressure with metal bristles can result in scratches on the face of your clubs. Using metal bristles can also cause imperfections that will negatively affect the lifecycle and performance of your golf clubs.

Do not soak your golf clubs in soapy water for more than a few minutes

Soaking your clubs for too long can cause rusting, and so it's important that you only soak your golf clubs for a few minutes to maintain their integrity and longevity. We recommend soaking for 2-3 minutes, which is more than enough time before for the ensuing step of wiping and brushing dirt from the club face and grooves. Some people might think that soaker your clubs for a long period of time will help them be more clean than if they soaked for 2-3 minutes, but that is not true.

Do not soak your wedges or irons with your woods

Some wedges naturally rust and change over time, and the finishes of these types of wedges may tarnish the finish on drivers, woods, and hybrids. Since drivers, woods, and hybrids are interacting with the subsurface ground less than irons it is not necessary to soak those. Instead, you can soak the soft bristles in the soapy water and scrub the woods directly.

Do not let your wet clubs air dry

Grab yourself a towel and make sure that every club is thoroughly dried before you return it to your bag. One of the most common ways for clubs to rust and become unusable over time is by letting moisture sit on surfaces for a long period of time. It's best to rinse your clubs and dry them with a towel to make sure your last step in the cleaning process is done correctly.

Do not wait too long between cleanings

Allowing dirt, debris, sand, and sediment to sit in your grooves for too long can make it cumbersome to clean if you wait too long. On top of it, your only option may be to use the metal bristles to clean them, which we'd also like to avoid. As a rule of thumb, I suggest cleaning your golf clubs after every practice session or round of golf. Waiting too long to clean your golf clubs isn't a good habit, so it's best to avoid that by taking good care of the clubs that allowed you to play one of the best sports in the world for a few hours.

5 Steps for Cleaning Your Golf Clubs

This process for cleaning your golf clubs is extremely simple and easy to follow in five easy steps. Let's walk through Planet Divot's 5 step process for cleaning your golf clubs:

1. Squeeze dish soap into a deep-sided bucket
2. Fill the bucket with warm water until it's 4"-6" deep
3. Soak clubs for 2-3 minutes, remembering to soak irons, wedges, and woods separately
4. Scrub the face, sole, and back of each club with a soft bristled brush
5. Rinse & thoroughly dry each club before returning it to your golf bag

After this 5 step process your clubs should look clean, the grooves should be clear, and every part of the club should be dry. Your golf clubs will be in prime condition for your next practice session at the driving range or for your next round of golf out on the course.

*Don't forget to gently scrub your putter in warm soapy water and dry it thoroughly too! Even though we're only using a putter on the green, you'll still want to give your putter a gentle cleaning, too!

What is the best thing to clean golf clubs with?

Planet Divot suggests cleaning golf clubs with a soft bristled brush in warm, soapy water using non-abrasive dish soap. Any brush with soft bristles will work well including an old toothbrush. Be sure to keep the water temperature warm and NOT HOT. There is adhesive within the construction of your golf club and shaft and using too hot of water could affect the adhesive.

Is it OK to clean golf clubs with dish soap?

Yes, it is safe and OK to clean your golf clubs using dish soap so long as you follow a few key points. First, make sure to use a mild liquid dish soap and not a strong cleaning detergent. The latter could damage your clubs. Any normal liquid dish soap available at your local grocery store will work perfectly. Next, make sure to thoroughly dry every club after you wash them in water with dish soap. You want to avoid any moisture or soap to remain on the club for long periods of time without being properly dried.

Will vinegar clean golf clubs?

Adding a splash of distilled white vinegar absolutely can help clean your golf clubs! Vinegar contains acetic acid which can help break down dirt and debris found in your golf clubs. We suggest that, if you are going to use distilled white vinegar to clean your golf clubs, to mix a 1-2 teaspoons in the warm, soapy water mix. We do not recommend soaking your clubs in pure vinegar without dilution.

Does WD-40 clean golf clubs?

We do not recommend using WD-40 to clean your golf clubs. To be honest, I have never tried to use WD-40 to clean my own golf clubs, but to me, it is too harsh of an agent to be using to clean golf clubs. We strongly encourage you to use warm water with liquid dish soap to clean your golf clubs.

Are Clorox wipes bad for my golf clubs?

Yes! Stop using Clorox wipes on your golf clubs and start using warm, soapy water instead. The cleaning agent in Clorox wipes is not likely to mesh well with your golf clubs and may damage them. We advise against using Clorox wipes to clean your golf clubs.

Can I use Windex to clean my golf clubs?

Please do not use Windex to clean your golf clubs. While it may work for cleaning away debris, the direct contact with the metals found in your golf clubs can damage them and reduce their longevity. Use warm, soapy water instead so that you protect your golf clubs when you clean them.

Can I use Dawn dish soap to clean my golf clubs?

Yes, Dawn is a great liquid dish soap to use with warm water when cleaning your golf clubs. It will effectively clean every type of golf club in your bag and ensure proper care so that your golf clubs can last you a very long time. 

How do you clean expensive golf clubs?

Follow Planet Divot's 5 step process for cleaning expensive golf clubs:

1. Squeeze dish soap into a deep-sided bucket
2. Fill the bucket with warm water until it's 4"-6" deep
3. Soak clubs for 2-3 minutes, remembering to soak irons, wedges, and woods separately
4. Scrub the face, sole, and back of each club with a soft bristled brush
5. Rinse & thoroughly dry each club before returning it to your golf bag

In Conclusion: Cleaning Golf Clubs

It is so important that you clean every type of golf club in your bag with regularity to preserve their integrity, guarantee performance, and maximize the longevity of every club. The process is very simple for cleaning your clubs, and we believe that our process will very effectively clean your clubs and keep you playing the game of golf for a long time. Aspire to clean your golf clubs after every practice session, round, or use. Doing so will create good habits for extending the life of your golf clubs and ensure that your clubs are performing at their best!