The ultimate guide to cleaning your golf clubs

If you’re like us, your golf clubs are one of your most prized possessions.

They’ve been with you through the hard times, like when you ended up knee-deep in that water hazard on the 13^th hole.

And they’ve been there for the good times, like that masterly putt you sank from the edge of the green that sealed that eagle putt on the 18^th.

But to keep them in tip-top condition, make sure that you give them a good clean every now and then. And with our handy guide to do just that, it couldn’t be simpler!

1. Get soapy
It’s always a good idea to clean your clubs off in a bucket, so make sure you’ve got one to hand before you start. Add some washing-up liquid and fill the bucket up with a little bit of warm water until it’s nice and soapy. Use warm water and not hot water so that in case any gets on the ferrules (the small ring-like pieces connecting the shaft to the club), the heat of the water doesn’t loosen the glue.

2. Immerse the clubs
Once you’ve got some lovely soapy water, it’s time to whack in the clubs. Submerge the clubheads into the water but try and keep the club’s ferrules above the level of the water and suds.

3. Let them soak
Let the clubs soak in the water for a minute or two, which should be just long enough to loosen any dirt that’s stuck into the grooves. If they are particularly dirty or have some caked-on mud, then leave them in the bucket a little longer.
  

4. Get into the groove(s)
The grooves are where the dirt usually collects, so take each club out of the water in turn and spend some time cleaning them out. Use an old toothbrush or plastic brush and gentle prise out all the dirt and debris that might have collected in the grooves. This will be the most time-consuming part of the clean, but whatever you do, never use a wire-bristled brush as these can scratch the surface of your clubs.

5. Rinse them off
Once they’ve been thoroughly cleaned, rinse off the clubheads under the tap (or hosepipe if you’re outside) and make sure you clean off any dirt and mud that’s left on. Make sure you focus your attentions on the head only, and don’t end up splashing any water up the shaft.

6. Dry them thoroughly
Use an old towel or dry cloth and dry the clubheads thoroughly, making sure that each and every groove on the head is as dry as it can be. It’s also a good idea to run the towel up the shaft a little just to make sure that you clean up any water that may have gotten splashed up there. The last thing you want to be doing is putting your clubs back in the bag when wet.

7. Polish things off
If you’re really feeling fancy, you can use some chrome polish or metal polish to give the faces and shafts of your clubs that extra sparkle. Apply any polish with a soft towel and make sure you follow any instructions on the polish packaging.