How To Clean Golf Clubs: Step By Step Guide

If you're trying to work out how to clean golf clubs, you've come to the right place.

Maintaining your clubs is incredibly important for their longevity, so it's crucial you clean them regularly to ensure they're ready to perform each and every time you step onto a course.

With that being said, cleaning them can take some time if you don't know how, so we've put together a handy step-by-step guide to talk you through each stage of the process to help speed things up.

So, grab your best set of golf clubs and follow our top tips as you ready your set for your next round.

How To Clean Golf Clubs

The following is what we believe to be the best way of cleaning all of your irons and wedges from top to bottom. We'll cover the rest of the clubs in your set a little later on.

Step 1: Fill a bucket with warm water and a few drops of dishwashing soap just enough to cover your golf club heads.

Step 2: Submerge the heads of your irons and wedges in the bucket and allow them to soak for around 5-10 minutes until the dirt starts to loosen and fall off.

Iron golf club head being submerged into a bucket of water.
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Credit: Dick's Sporting Goods

Step 3: Once you're satisfied the dirt is loose enough, take each club out of the bucket one by one and begin to scrub away any remaining debris using a soft-bristled brush.

Top Tip: An old toothbrush works well here as it should be able to get into all the small grooves.

Step 4: When every groove across every club is clean, rinse the club heads off under the tap, but be careful not to let any of the water run up the shaft and grip.

Step 5: Next, gently dry the club heads with a towel, making sure they are not left damp as this can cause them to rust. You can buy towels specifically for golf like this
one from Callaway.

Callaway Golf Trifold Towel product image of a black towel with a white Callaway logo.
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Credit: Callaway Golf

Top Tip: At this stage, you can apply some steel or chrome polish if you want to get your golf clubs looking brand new. Simply apply it in a circular motion and leave for a minute before removing it.

Step 6: Once the heads are clean, take a damp cloth and remove any dirt and debris along the shafts, then dry it thoroughly with a towel. Use a small amount of vinegar and a cloth to remove and rust.

Step 7: Use the same method for cleaning the grips, then rinse with cold water before drying them with a towel once again.

What About The Other Clubs?

We understand that a complete golf club set consists of more than just irons and wedges, so the following are our top tips when it comes to cleaning putters, woods, and drivers.

Putters

Putters, like this AXIS1 Rose Putter featured in our list of the best putters, are a little more fragile than irons, so shouldn't really be submerged in water in the same way.

Axis1 Rose putter product image of a black metal golf club head with Axis1 Rose written across the bottom.
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Credit: Axis1

Instead, we'd recommend dampening your soft-bristled brush first before using it to scrub away any dirt.

Once the head is clean, carefully dry off with a towel until there is no water left to stop it from going rusty.

Woods And Drivers

Metal woods and drivers can be cleaned in the exact same way as putters; however, if you've got any wooden clubs in your set, then you should avoid submerging them in water and scrubbing their heads with a brush.

Instead, use a warm, damp cloth to carefully wipe the wooden club heads until the dirt starts to loosen and come off. Be careful not to get the clubs too wet though as this could damage them.

Once you're satisfied they're clean, gently dry them off with a towel.

What Should You Avoid Doing When Cleaning Golf Clubs?

When it comes to the dos and don'ts of cleaning golf clubs, there are definitely a number of don'ts to be aware of to avoid permanently damaging your set. Don't worry though because we've got you covered right here.

Firstly, avoid using hot water when cleaning your golf club heads as this can loosen the ferrules which connect them to the golf club shafts.

Furthermore, we suggest that you stick to soft-bristled brushes over hard or wired ones because these can end up scratching the metal, which, in turn, could negatively impact your ability to strike the ball cleanly.

You should also avoid leaving your clubs in your bag for extended periods of time if you've come off playing a round in the rain. Regularly dry them off with a towel along the way to prevent them from going rusty.

Finally, avoid leaving your top golf clubs uncovered as being shielded from the elements can help preserve them.

Read More: Best Golf Shoes Available Now - Our Top Picks