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Whether you are an avid ping pong player or someone who rarely plays, your paddle can and will accumulate dust and dirt. As such, cleaning it regularly will help you keep the paddle newer for a longer period of time. It may also help improve your performance to a certain extent.
In this article, we are going to go over the best ways to clean your ping pong paddle, so if you are looking for that, just keep on reading.
Why Is It Important to Clean Your Paddle and How Often Should You Do It?
It is important to clean your ping pong paddle regularly to keep it in good shape. If you neglect cleaning your paddle, it will only get dirtier and more worn out meaning you will have to spend money on a new one sooner.
A dirty ping pong paddle will also not have the same spring that a clean one does. This could be because it is sticky or simply weighed down by the dirt that is on it. Either way, it is important to get those things off of them.
While the frequency with which you have to clean your paddle will vary depending on how often you play, you should do so at least once every month or two.
4 Best Methods to Clean a Ping Pong Paddle
Now, let’s take a look at some of the most common ways to get the job done.
#1: Using a Ping Pong Paddle Cleaner
Many companies that make ping pong paddles and tables also make cleaners for those things. These, like this one from Butterfly, are by far the best things to use since they are made by a company that knows exactly what it is doing with ping pong paddles. They know what goes into making them so they know how to safely clean them as well.
These cleaners do not put excess moisture into your paddle so it dries much faster and is ready to use much faster as well. These will also keep your paddle cleaner longer since the products are formulated specifically for this single purpose.
The prices of these kits that normally include the cleaner and a sponge that is used to clean are fairly affordable. It makes sense to buy these kits so that you do not have to replace your paddle as often.
#2: Using A Rubber Cleaner
The next best method is using a cleaner that was specifically made for rubber since much of the paddle is rubber. This is almost as good as using a specific ping pong paddle cleaner just not quite there.
Just as using a ping pong paddle cleaner, using a rubber cleaner is fairly quick and simple. You put the foam or liquid onto the paddle and rub it in with a sponge or a rag. Then you leave it out to dry after.
#3: Using Water
Using just water is the worst way to clean your paddle besides not cleaning it at all. This is because water will obviously leave more moisture than the foams or liquids that are specifically made for this will. That extra moisture can stay in your paddle far too long prolonging drying times and causing excessive wear on your paddle.
This method can be done using either warm or cold water. You simply dip your rag into the water and rub it on the surfaces of the paddle. Then you air dry it, although it may take much longer than the previous two methods.
#4: Using Alcohol
This is not a great method to use every time you have to clean the ping pong paddle, it is really only suggested if there is stickiness on your paddle and you need to get it off. This is because using alcohol on rubber regularly will wear it out and dry it up. That will then mean you have to get a new paddle.
If your paddle is sticky then this can be done with a rag or a sponge. You simply rub the sticky spot gently until it is all gone from the surface of your paddle.
Things to Avoid at All Costs When Cleaning Your Paddle
There are certain things that if done to your paddle will result in you having to buy a completely new one. Obviously, it is best to stay away from those things so that you can save money and play a good game.
Never use harsh products like bleach or vinegar. These will wear the rubber of your paddle out to the point that it cannot be used anymore. Along with this, be sure to steer clear of any harsh sponges or scrubbers. These can cut the rubber on the paddle which will mess with your swing and ability to hit the ball with the paddle.
3 Best Ping Pond Paddle Cleaning Products
If you are looking for the perfect cleaning product specifically for ping pong paddles here are the three that we recommend looking at.
Top Pick: Butterfly Table Tennis Racket Care Kit
This kit includes a great foam cleaner and a nice sponge that are said to last for 125 cleans.
This product is said to rejuvenate the rubber surfaces of the ping pong paddle and from reviews, it supposedly works well to do just that. This is a great product for someone who is just starting out with cleaning their paddle because it has everything you need in one package.
Runner Up: MightySpin Ping Pong Paddle Cleaner
This is said to be a very gentle cleaner that will keep your paddle cleaner for longer without wearing down the material.
Worth Consideration: Killerspin Ping Pong Paddle Rubber Cleanser
This higher-end cleaning solution comes with a more innovative and soft-touch sponge/rag. This is able to clean more effectively without having to scrub so much which will make your paddle last longer.
Summary
Cleaning your ping pong paddle is necessary in order to keep the paddle nice and keep your game as good as it possibly can be. There are many options on how to clean the paddle but the best will always be cleaner that was made specifically for ping pong paddles.
Never use a harsh substance like bleach because it will wreck your paddle no matter how gentle you are.
Hopefully, this article gave you some great insight on what products to use to clean your paddle at home.