Is It Safe To Wash Golf Clubs With Dish Soap? Complete Guide

Golfers spend a lot of money on their golf equipment, especially on their golf clubs. Cleaning and maintaining golf clubs is basic equipment hygiene that all golfers should practice.

There are a couple cleaning options when cleaning your clubs, but dish soap has some unique advantages.

Before using any cleaning solution on your clubs, you need to make sure it won’t cause any damage.

It is safe to use dish soap to wash golf clubs. In fact, dish soap is an excellent cleaning solution to remove stubborn dirt and debris.

In the article below, we are going to cover all you need to know about cleaning your golf clubs with dish soap. We have a lot to cover so let’s get started.

Why Use Dish Soap To Clean Your Clubs?

If you are looking for a cost-effective, reliable tool for cleaning your golf clubs then the answer is more than likely already sitting in your kitchen.

While there are plenty of products on the market that claim to be specialized golf club cleaners, you will do well to find anything better than dish soap for the following reasons:

It Is A Household Item

First and foremost, dish soap is something that 90% of households already have. While you may have a dishwasher, there are still culinary items that will need to be hand washed and dish soap does a fantastic job of exactly that.

Considering you already have a tool that is brilliant at removing dirt and stains, it makes little sense to go and pay for something that does the same job. Instead, head to your kitchen, grab some dish soap, pour it into a bucket of water and then scrub your clubs with the mixture until they look brand new.

It Is Formulated To Remove Dirt

Dish soap is a product that is made to remove dirt, regardless of the surface the dirt is on. While the specific ingredients of dish soap will vary from product to product, they are generally all a mixture of water and detergent.

Considering it is a product that is built to remove dirt, you don’t need to go elsewhere when it comes to cleaning your clubs. If you’re looking for a simple but effective job, then dish soap is the way to go. 

It Won’t Harm Your Clubs

When it comes to finding a product to clean your golf clubs, you are obviously looking for an item that will effectively remove dirt but also for one that isn’t going to harm your clubs.

There are some products out there that can stain and damage the steel of the shaft, while some will damage your grip.

Luckily, the detergents found in dish soap aren’t harmful to steel and graphite or to any of the typical materials used to make club grips, such as leather and rubber.

As a result, by using dish soap to clean your clubs you will have peace of mind that they will be undamaged by the end of the process.

Can Dish Soap Damage Your Golf Clubs When Cleaning?

The ingredients found in typical dish soap are completely unharmful to steel, graphite, leather and rubber – the materials most commonly found on a golf club.

That being said, if you are overly rigorous with your scrubbing then it isn’t impossible that you could damage your golf club through sheer force.

However, if this does happen then you only really have yourself to blame rather than the dish soap. If you scrub lightly, then the dirt may take longer to come off but at least your clubs aren’t going to get damaged in the process.

What Brand Of Dish Soap Should I Use?

As we’ve already alluded to, there are plenty of dish soap variants out there. While all of them will do the job, there are some that we would recommend more than others. Here are our three recommendations:

Dawn

The best overall dish soap in circulation today is Dawn, not only for cleaning golf clubs but also for cleaning dishes in the sink.

Dawn dish soap is immaculate when it comes to cleaning tough stains, while also being effective against grease. So, if you’re looking for a thorough, general clean of all of your clubs then go with Dawn.

Seventh Generation

If you are conscious about your environmental footprint, then go with Seventh Generation. While its ingredients are the most eco-friendly out of all dish soap products, it does struggle a little with grease.

So, if your main issue is a greasy grip then go elsewhere, but for everything else, Seventh Generation will do a great job.

Joy

If you want to leave your golf clubs smelling fresh, as well as looking clean, then Joy is going to be your best option. It does a good job of removing stains and leaves a lemony aroma that lasts for days.

Step-By-Step Instructions For Cleaning Your Clubs With Dish Soap

If you’re fearful of doing something wrong then it’s always good to have a set of instructions to follow. Here is a basic step-by-step guide to follow for cleaning your clubs with dish soap:

  1. Fill up a bucket with warm water.
  2. Get your chosen dish soap and squirt it into the bucket.
  3. Grab a brush or sponge and soak it in the warm water and dish soap.
  4. Lightly scrub your clubs until they are looking shiny and brand new.
  5. Allow the clubs some time to dry in sunlight before taking them to the course.

Final Thoughts

Dish soap is a great choice to clean your golf clubs. It’s safe and effective to use on all types of clubs. Next time you need to wash off your golf clubs, be sure to give dish soap a try.

Hopefully you liked this article and found it informative. Check out our other blog posts if you liked this one!