How to Clean Golf Clubs: Irons, Woods, Putters and Grips
By Erdi Doğan, owner and editor ·
To clean golf clubs, fill a bucket with warm (not hot) water and a few drops of mild dish soap, soak only the iron and wedge heads for about five minutes, scrub the faces and grooves with a soft nylon brush, rinse, and dry everything right away with a towel. Woods, hybrids and putters should not be soaked: wipe them with a damp soapy cloth instead. The whole set takes about 15 minutes. Below are the steps for each type of club, how to deal with grooves and rust, and what to avoid. It is one of the jobs in our golf equipment care guide.
What you need
- A bucket or a sink, warm water and mild dish soap
- A soft-bristled nylon brush (an old toothbrush works for grooves)
- A groove tool or a wooden tee for packed dirt
- Two towels: one damp for wiping, one dry
Avoid wire brushes and abrasive pads on clubface finishes, chrome and painted heads. Steel bristles scratch chrome and can wear the edges of grooves.
How to clean irons and wedges
- Soak the heads. Stand the clubs in the bucket so the water covers the heads but stays below the ferrule, the small plastic ring where the head meets the shaft. About five minutes is enough to loosen dried dirt. Very hot water can loosen ferrules, so keep it lukewarm.
- Scrub the face and grooves. Brush across the grooves, not along them, so the bristles reach in. Push out stubborn dirt with a groove tool or the point of a tee.
- Clean the back and sole. Mud and grass often build up in cavity backs and around the sole.
- Rinse and dry immediately. Rinse with clean water and dry the head, the hosel and the shaft. Water left in the hosel or on a raw steel face is how rust starts.
How to clean woods, hybrids and the driver
Do not submerge them. Dip a cloth in the soapy water, wring it out, and wipe the crown, face and sole. Use the soft brush on the face grooves and around the sole. Dry at once. Keep water away from any adjustable hosel fitting. Wipe sky marks and ball scuffs off the crown with the damp cloth; a little rubbing alcohol on a cloth removes stubborn marks from most painted crowns.
Putters
Wipe the putter with a damp cloth and dry it. Many putters have soft insert faces or special finishes that should never be scrubbed hard. Milled carbon-steel putters can rust quickly; a light coat of oil after cleaning, wiped off, helps, as the maker's care instructions often recommend.
Shafts and grips
Wipe steel and graphite shafts with the damp cloth and dry them. Grips need cleaning too, because skin oil and sunscreen make them slick: scrub them with the soft brush and soapy water, rinse without soaking the club, and let them air-dry before use. Grips that stay hard or shiny after cleaning are worn and should be replaced; our regripping guide shows how.
Why clean grooves matter
Grooves channel away water, grass and dirt between the clubface and the ball. When they are packed with mud, the face is effectively smoother, and shots from the rough or wet grass tend to spin less and fly less predictably. Clean the face after every shot during a round with a damp towel on your bag, and give the whole set a proper wash every few rounds.
Surface rust on irons
Light orange surface rust on chrome-plated irons usually comes off with the soapy-water scrub. For stubborn spots, rub with a soft cloth and a little white vinegar, then rinse and dry well. Some wedges have a raw, unplated face that is designed to rust; that rust does not hurt performance and many players like it. Deep pitting or rust that has eaten through chrome is cosmetic damage you cannot undo by cleaning.
How often to clean your clubs
- During every round: wipe the face and grooves after each shot.
- After a wet or muddy round: wash and dry the set the same day.
- Every few rounds: the full 15-minute clean described above.
- Before winter storage: clean and dry everything, including the bag and headcovers.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use dish soap to clean golf clubs?
Yes. A few drops of mild dish soap in warm water is the standard method. Skip harsh cleaners and anything abrasive.
Can I put golf clubs in the dishwasher?
No. The heat and detergents can damage grips, ferrules and the epoxy that holds the head on.
Should I soak my woods?
No. Wipe them with a damp cloth. Soaking risks water getting into the head and the hosel.
What is the best brush for golf clubs?
A soft nylon brush for faces and grooves. Brass or steel brushes are only for raw forged faces, and many players avoid them entirely.
Back to the golf equipment care guide for grips and storage.
Sources
- How to Properly Clean Golf Clubs, Foresight Sports
- How to Clean Golf Clubs: What to Use and What to Avoid, Takomo Golf