Have you recently noticed any changes in your bowling ball performance? Is it hooking less than usual? A bowling ball’s motion can change because of several factors. Sometimes it is due to broken down lanes, and sometimes it’s your bowling ball that is the culprit. If you are using your bowling ball for a while and you haven’t cleaned it anytime soon, you will notice it has something tacky, greasy substance attached to the top layer.
Now, that’s a ball that needs some TLC. So how can you clean the oil out of your bowling ball? Can you use household items for that? For those who are planning to clean your ball, here’s how to detox a bowling ball at home.
How to detox a bowling ball at home?
Your bowling ball absorbs oil as you bowl. The oil gets picked up from the lane, and with that, some dirt, and other debris get picked up as well. When these unwanted components are attached to your bowling ball and there is a build-up because of that, it is going to affect your bowling ball’s performance. This will make it harder for the ball to read the lane on time and hook properly at the breakpoint. Terrifying, isn’t it?
So what are the procedures you can follow to detox a bowling ball? Well, to detox your bowling ball, you can try out several methods, but the most effective one in my opinion is the one done by the immersion cleaning method. Some people love to call it the “baking method” or “baking your bowling ball” because heat is involved in this technique of cleaning.
Okay, so how does that work? How come heat cleans a bowling ball? Many of you don’t know this, but oil breaks down, and comes out of pores when there is a bit high heat than usual. Let me give you a real-life example. Okay, so, those who have oily skin and live in a hot-humid place, do you always get your face oily? Does the same happen when you’re in an air-conditioned room? I have oily skin, and let me tell you, my face is super oily when I go visit my family in Texas. But when I went to visit my friend in Minnesota, I didn’t have to face any problems as such.
So to detox your oil-absorbed bowling ball, follow these few steps properly to renew it completely.
Step 1:
First and foremost, grab a durable bucket that can easily fit a bowling ball and lukewarm/ mild hot water. Fill that bucket up with that hot water. Make sure the water is hot, but not too hot. Make sure it is somewhere between 120°F to 140°F. Don’t fill up the bucket all the way. Leave some space for the ball to submerge.
Step 2:
Before you submerge your bowling ball, fill up or tape over the thumb and finger holes. Use water-resistance tape or duct tape over the holes so that no water can get in there. This step is why I don’t like to clean my ball at home. You can substitute duct tape with modeling clay to fill up the holes. I believe it works fine as well. If you have grips glued to your bowling ball holes, be extra careful with this step.
Step 3:
Time to immerse the bowling ball into the bucket full of water. Make sure the ball is fully submerged and there is some water over the ball. Now leave the ball like that for 15-30 minutes depending on how much build-up your bowling ball has.
Step 4:
After a while, you will see some oil floating on top of the water. Now, carefully drain the water and take the “baked” bowling ball out of the bucket. Time to wipe the bowling ball with a nice microfiber towel and give it a good clean. If you think your bowling ball still feels oily/slippery, repeat the process of 2nd and 3rd steps. You can optionally mix a little bit of dish soap at that point.
Step 5:
Once all the wiping is done, you will see the ball is still pretty warm. This is when your coverstock is a bit fragile. So don’t even think about taking it to your bowling alley without letting it cool first. So after all the toxic and oil are out of the coverstock, let the ball rest for 2-3 hours (or longer). I like to let mine rest at least for a day or two after I detoxify it. If you have no rush, don’t take it to bowl immediately.
How often should you detox a bowling ball?
A general rule of thumb is that you should clean your bowling ball after every six games. But whether your bowling ball needs a deep immersion cleaning or not depends on the build-up level on your ball. Is it just one swipe away from being new? Then, it doesn’t need a detox procedure performed on it. And if it is too greasy to even hold properly, bake the oil out of it immediately!
Conclusion
Cleaning your bowling ball doesn’t have to be too complex. With the right method and enough carefulness you can easily do it at home with stuff you already have. Using any wrong method or wrong item will damage your bowling ball beyond repair. You should not also apply this detox method on plastic ball. So before you do anything damaging to your bowling ball, make sure you did you have researched enough. If you have come across this article and read it this far, congratulations, now you are good to go. Follow the methods I have mentioned above to detox your bowling ball from all the dirt, debris, and grease. Good luck!
Passionate Bowler and Bowling Enthusiast
Jess Pinelli is a dedicated bowling enthusiast with a deep love for the sport that spans over 6 years. With numerous strikes, spares, and a few gutter balls under hes belt, he has honed his skills on lanes across the country. Pinelli’s journey in the world of bowling has been a remarkable one, from casual weekend games with friends to competitive league play and even a few local tournaments.
Driven by her passion for the game, Pinelli decided to channel her expertise and knowledge into the digital realm, becoming a prolific author on this bowling website. She’s your go-to source for everything bowling-related, from mastering the perfect hook to choosing the right bowling ball and even navigating the world of bowling etiquette.
When she’s not busy writing informative articles or reviewing the latest bowling gear, you’ll likely find Pinellis at her favorite local bowling alley, helping newcomers improve their game or enjoying some friendly competition with fellow bowlers. She firmly believes that bowling is not just a game but a community, and she’s committed to fostering that sense of camaraderie both online and offline.
