How to Clean Golf Grips

Co-authored by Eric McClure

Last Updated: January 21, 2021

Every time that you go golfing, the sweat and dirt in your hands can get into the grips. Even if you're wearing gloves, the sweat can sneak through the fabric and make your handle dirty and wet. For these reasons, it is generally a good idea to clean your clubs after every time you use them. If you need to perform a deeper cleaning, use dish soap and a soft-bristled brush to scrub standard wraps. If you have a rubber handle or porous grip, use rubbing alcohol to wipe it clean. Keeping your grips clean will ensure that you have the best grip on your golf game the next time you head out to play a few holes.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Performing a Regular Cleaning

1
Perform a basic cleaning after every use. After you go golfing, there will be a fair amount of sweat and dirt embedded in the grips of your club. Performing a basic cleaning as soon as you finish playing ensures that you remove the vast majority of sweat and dirt from your grips before it ends up drying into the wrap.^{[1]
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- Clean each club that you used while you were out golfing.
- This method works with leather, synthetic, and rubber grips.
2
Run a clean microfiber cloth under warm water and wring it out. Take a small microfiber cloth to your sink or fill a bucket with warm water. Run the cloth under the sink or dip it in the bucket. Wring the cloth out to remove the majority of the water.^{[2]
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- You do not need your cloth to be soaking wet to adequately perform a basic cleaning.
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3
Wrap your cloth around the bottom of your grips. Lift the club in your nondominant hand and use your free hand to wrap the cloth around the grips. Spread the cloth out so that it fits evenly in your palm. Angle your club so that the handle is pointing towards the ground to keep your shaft dry.^{[3]
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- You can sit down and balance the club between your knees if this is easier for you.
4
Massage the grips with your dominant hand. Apply light pressure to the cloth and rotate your wrist back and forth to rub it in to every side of your handle. Move your hand up towards the top of your grips as you're rotating the cloth to cover every section of your grips.^{[4]
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- You can rotate the club instead of rotating your hand if you prefer. If you do, hold the cloth steady with your nondominant hand and rotate the club with your dominant hand.
Tip: Move up towards the top so that your cloth moves in the direction of the grip tape. If the tape runs in the opposite direction, reverse the direction and start from the top of your grips.
5
Wipe the grips with a dry cloth to remove moisture. Set your microfiber cloth aside and grab a dry, clean cloth. Rub your grips starting from the bottom and working your way up to remove almost all of the water. Let your club air dry for 12-24 hours after you've cleaned it.^{[5]
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- Clean each club that you used while you used when you were playing.
- Wipe your shaft as well if you got any water on it.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Scrubbing Wrapped Grips with Soap and Water

1
Clean your wrapped grips with soap once every 6-12 months. If you use your clubs almost every week, perform at least 2 deep cleanings a year. If you rarely play, you can stretch this out and wait a year in between cleanings. It is a good idea to deep clean wrapped clubs even if you don't play often, simply because the wrap can dry out and become brittle if you don't keep them clean.
2
Fill a bucket with warm water and mild dish soap. Add 3–4 tablespoons (44–59 mL) of mild dish soap to a bucket. Fill your bucket with 4–5 cups (0.95–1.18 L) of warm water. You can also add a few tablespoons of soap to a dry towel and then run it under warm water in your sink if you prefer.^{[6]
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- This option is not good for buffed leather grips. The soap can erode the upper layer of your grips.
3
Soak a clean towel in your bucket and wring it out. Put a clean towel in your bucket and push it down so that it is totally submerged in the water. Wait 15-20 seconds and then remove the cloth by hand. Twist the towel over the bucket to wring out the excess water.^{[7]
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- Wring the towel out over your sink if you were soaking it under a stream of water.
4
Rub your grips with the soapy towel by starting at the bottom. Steady the shaft of the club between your legs or sit down and balance it on top of your knees. Wrap the towel around the bottom of your grips and rub firmly in a circular motion around the handle. Work your way up towards the top of the grips until you've completely covered every section of the handle.^{[8]
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5
Brush your grips with a soft-bristled brush or toothbrush. Dip a soft-bristled brush or toothbrush in your soapy water. Hold your club near the top of the shaft with your nondominant hand to brace it. Brush your grips perpendicular to the club by using back-and-forth flicking motions. Turn the club as you're brushing to work your way up the entire length of your wrap.^{[9]
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- A toothbrush is a better option if you've ever replaced your grips. A larger brush could weaken the adhesive underneath. This shouldn't be a concern if you've never replaced the grips though.
6
Rinse the grips with a hose or under a steady stream of cold water. Set the nozzle of your hose to a narrow setting or turn the handle on your sink so that the cold water is all the way open. Rinse the grips by pointing the hose or stream of water at an angle away from the shaft. Rinse every side of your grips to remove the majority of the soapy water.^{[10]
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7
Dry your grips with a clean cloth. Wrap a clean cloth around your grips. Rotate the cloth while applying light pressure to absorb most of the water. Rub each section of your grips before setting the cloth aside.^{[11]
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- Wipe away any water that got on to your shaft in the process.
Tip: You can use a microfiber cloth to dry your grips if you're worried about damaging your grips after hosing or rinsing it.
8
Let your handle air dry for 12-24 hours. There may still be some water embedded in the fiber of your grips. Set your club on top of a flat surface in a dry area with the grips hanging off of the edge. Let your grips air dry for at least half of a day before using it again.^{[12]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Deep Cleaning Porous Grips with Rubbing Alcohol

1
Clean porous and rubber grips only as needed. Porous synthetic and rubber grips are slightly tougher to deep clean because water can get trapped in the pores of the material and weaken your grips. Perform deep cleanings only if you really need to get some grime off of your grips.
2
Wipe your grips with a dry cloth to remove initial layers of dirt or sweat. Porous grips made out of real or synthetic rubber cannot be submerged in soapy water since the porous material can trap moisture. Perform a preliminary cleaning by wiping every section of your rubber grips with a clean, dry cloth.
- This will also remove any surface moisture that may be hiding on the surface of your grips.
3
Dampen a towel with warm water. Take a towel and quickly slide it under a stream of warm water to get it a little wet. You don't want your towel to be soaking wet, and it should be slightly damp to the touch. If you add too much water, wring it out over the sink.
4
Add a little bit of rubbing alcohol to your towel. Spread 1–2 teaspoons (4.9–9.9 mL) of rubbing alcohol over your damp towel. Bundle the towel up and rub it against itself to spread the alcohol out a little bit. You can use more rubbing alcohol if your grips are excessively dirty.

Warning: Don't use dish soap with porous grips. The dish soap can get trapped in the pores and damage the rubber over time.
5
Wipe your grips with the towel, starting at either end. You can start at either the top or the bottom of your grips. Rub your grips with your dominant hand by rotating the towel in a circle around the handle. Work your way to the opposite end as you're wiping it. Repeat this process 2-3 times to ensure that every section of your handle gets exposed to the rubbing alcohol.
- Try to avoid getting rubbing alcohol on your shaft.
6
Dry your grips with a clean, dry cloth. Use a large cloth to soak up the remaining rubbing alcohol and water. Place the cloth over your handle and apply pressure to the grips. Run the dry cloth up and down your handle to get rid of any remaining water.
- You really want your grips as dry as possible. Repeat this process with a second dry cloth if you see any moisture remaining on your grips.
7
Let your grips air out for 12-24 hours. Because rubber grips are porous, there may be some water stuck in the fibers. Place your club in a well-ventilated area to ensure that it gets access to enough air. Place it on a surface so that the handle is hanging over the edge and wait half a day before handling it again.