Best way to clean a bucket of balls?

[the4hornes]

I've got a large bucket of balls that I practice with. They are starting to look very dingy. What is the easiest way to clean them without hand scrubbing each one? Bleach, dish washing powder, comet, etc..?

[doubleBZee]

It they are caked in dirt just get scrubbing. I do it every few weeks. I have about 100 shag balls. Doesn't take too long to soak them on one bucket, quick wipe with towel and then toss in another bucket.

[wntbtw]

I have put them in the washing machine--seriously! No problems ever and they come out cleaner than they`ll ever be! If you don`t believe me, take them to a laundermat! You`ll be amazed!

[skinny99]

[quote name='wntbtw' timestamp='1313536893' post='3493526']
I have put them in the washing machine--seriously! No problems ever and they come out cleaner than they`ll ever be! If you don`t believe me, take them to a laundermat! You`ll be amazed!
[/quote]

Isn't that noisy?

[Drumdog]

[quote name='wntbtw' timestamp='1313536893' post='3493526']
I have put them in the washing machine--seriously! No problems ever and they come out cleaner than they`ll ever be! If you don`t believe me, take them to a laundermat! You`ll be amazed!
[/quote]


So that's why the laundromat I use to go to had such beat up washers !


Put the balls in a 5 gallon bucket with water and soap of your choice.

Stir with a big stick for a couple of minutes and thoroughly rinse.

[storm319]

Maybe find a local driving range that will let you use their ball washer. Other than that get scrubbing!

[PhilsFanDrew]

Soak in a hot bucket of water with a scoop of oxy clean for about 1/2 hour-1 hour. Thank take a cloth or old tshirt and pull them out and wipe off.

[gallier_golf]

I'm going to give the washing machine thing a shot. We live on a golf course and go out hunting balls every week or so. Then my son sells then in the back yard. This could be a real time saver.

[deeviant]

You guys keep up with the washing machine talk and we're going to be reading your obits in the paper. My wife would kill me if she caught me trying that!

[silversurfer8189]

[quote name='storm319' timestamp='1313546690' post='3494109']
Maybe find a local driving range that will let you use their ball washer. Other than that get scrubbing!
[/quote]

This.

[gallier_golf]

[quote name='deeviant' timestamp='1313561919' post='3494772']
You guys keep up with the washing machine talk and we're going to be reading your obits in the paper. My wife would kill me if she caught me trying that!
[/quote]

Funny, she's out of town right now.

[mozgolf]

Washing machine is probably only good if you are single and living in a renter. It is not the road to marital bliss.

I can just imagine the racket and the inside of the machine looking like the dimples of a golf ball afterwards!!!

[bpark1210]

The course I work at uses "simple green" we can go through about 150,000 balls a day at full capacity. They balls run through a washer for less than 5 min and they come out brand spankin new everytime.

[Bad9]

[quote name='gallier_golf' timestamp='1313557083' post='3494665']
I'm going to give the washing machine thing a shot. We live on a golf course and go out hunting balls every week or so. Then my son sells then in the back yard. This could be a real time saver.
[/quote]

Put a couple of olf towels or something in with them. Works great and eliminates much of the noise. Use cold water as well.

[Arafel]

Take the bucket to the car wash and give them a good power washing.

[glacialmoraine]

I would think using a dishwasher would be the best way to do it. Get them squeaky clean. I could see putting them in a clothes washing machine doing some real damage during the spin cycle.

[LennyTheLip]

Put a small amount in a bucket with water, soap, and a little oxy clean. Then cover and shake. Rinse in a separate bucket, then air dry.

[station2station]

a hose...

[jefftomahawk]

My uncle is in the ball resale business, no bleach, it breaks down the covers, he uses a mix of hydrogen peroxide and Efferdent tablets, cleans without any harm to the covers

[Norboo]

[quote name='wntbtw' timestamp='1313536893' post='3493526']
I have put them in the washing machine--seriously! No problems ever and they come out cleaner than they`ll ever be! If you don`t believe me, take them to a [b]laundermat[/b]! You`ll be amazed!
[/quote]


That is someone’s livelihood you will be missing up. What is wrong with you people?

[baseballfrk8998]

I've cleaned 1000's of balls that I've found in the woods or in ditches.. This is the easiest way:

Put the balls into a pillow case with 3-4 rags, zip tie the pillow case shut and wash them in the washing machine with a cup of bleach.. Works perfectly and is simple.

[jabrch]

[quote name='Drumdog' timestamp='1313537528' post='3493557']
[quote name='wntbtw' timestamp='1313536893' post='3493526']
I have put them in the washing machine--seriously! No problems ever and they come out cleaner than they`ll ever be! If you don`t believe me, take them to a laundermat! You`ll be amazed!
[/quote]


Put the balls in a 5 gallon bucket with water and soap of your choice.

Stir with a big stick for a couple of minutes and thoroughly rinse.
[/quote]

That's what I do...warm water and dish soap. A little bleach wouldn't hurt - just be careful with your clothes.

[wntbtw]

[quote name='Norboo' timestamp='1313773686' post='3502498']
[quote name='wntbtw' timestamp='1313536893' post='3493526']
I have put them in the washing machine--seriously! No problems ever and they come out cleaner than they`ll ever be! If you don`t believe me, take them to a [b]laundermat[/b]! You`ll be amazed!
[/quote]


That is someone’s livelihood you will be missing up. What is wrong with you people?
[/quote]

Haha! Have you ever tried it? I use my own washing machine and have never had a problem! I use the real 'short wash cycle' and they come out looking brand new! It is amazing. Yeah it does make a racket but doesn`t hurt the machine at all. I never wash more than 100 golf balls per load. And then let them sit in the machine for about an hour and they will be cleaner than you could imagine! I only suggested to the OP to try a laundromat if he was unsure. I have never had any problems with my own washing machine. A very simple process and works better than you could imagine! Try it!

[mozgolf]

I give mine to the guard, sit down and pop a tinny and watch some golf. An hour latter they are all clean, like magic

[miket_81]

Our course has a couple of those Wheel ball washers that you can fit 4 balls in.. spin it several times and they come out looking like new...

 

Similar to this.. has big crank on the other side..

http://shop.tjb-inc.com/standard-golf---the-classic-golf-ball-washer-p89.aspx

[wundej]

[quote name='bpark1210' timestamp='1313565550' post='3494813']
The course I work at uses "simple green" we can go through about 150,000 balls a day at full capacity. They balls run through a washer for less than 5 min and they come out brand spankin new everytime.
[/quote]

I bet the balls with marker on them come out with the marker bleeding (black sharpie fades into purple then to the white). Simple green is a bit overkill, a mild dish/car soap will do just fine unless you have a ball that was underground for a few years.

[greglarson2]

I have put them in the washing machine--seriously! No problems ever and they come out cleaner than they`ll ever be! If you don`t believe me, take them to a laundermat! You`ll be amazed!

 

This is how we used to clean range balls at the golf course I used to work at. They had an old washing machine in the cart shed and we would throw a ton of them in there with a towel or two and they would come out clean.

 

Now I would never do this to my own washing machine, unless it was an old beat up one that I wasn't using anymore. Since we have a front loading washer now, I don't think that would work very well...and I don't think the wife would approve.

[LoPan12]

Necro-Bump!
I too, need to not be killed by the wife, so not even considering the washing machine. I just got a few small moving boxes of balls from a guy for cheap, and he even offered to let me know everytime he accumulated 50-100 more. I haven't sorted through them, but he lives/plays on a nice private course, so I'm hoping for a good fraction of quality balls.
I'm going to try a large bin, with water and a general purpose power washer cleaner solution (cause I've got a jug of it...). I was thinking I would try submerging a small hose connected to my air compressor, with small holes drilled into it, and sparge the solution with air to agitate...
I wonder if that would be enough, or if I should I add a few handfuls of coarse sand to provide a small bit of abrasiveness...I'm sure I'll still get a portion that might need some hand scrubbing...but I hope this will work. I'll let you know how well it works I guess...

[Marengo]

[quote name='mozgolf' timestamp='1314694785' post='3529399']
I give mine to the guard, sit down and pop a tinny and watch some golf. An hour latter they are all clean, like magic
[/quote]

I know this is written in english but I have no idea what this means.

[Hateto3Putt]

[quote name='Marengo' timestamp='1436672232' post='11932232']
[quote name='mozgolf' timestamp='1314694785' post='3529399']
I give mine to the guard, sit down and pop a tinny and watch some golf. An hour latter they are all clean, like magic
[/quote]

I know this is written in english but I have no idea what this means.
[/quote]

Loosely translated: He gives his to the guard, sits down, pops a tinny and watches some golf. An hour "latter" they are all clean. It's magical.

Hope that helps.

For the record, there is a golf course near me that has been washing range balls in the same washing machine for decades.