Pool balls need to be cleaned every now and then so they can be free of smudges, stains, chalk marks and won’t get an old, yellow shade. A game of pool will be much better if you have shiny pool balls that roll on green, well-kept felt. So when you feel that your pool accessories and things have that tired, worn out look, here’s what you can do to make them shiny again. This article will go into how to clean yellow pool balls so that you can always keep your balls in good condition.
How to Clean Yellow Pool Balls
Don’t know how to clean yellow pool balls? You can try some DIY methods such as using soapy water or use professional pool ball cleaning products to maintain your pool table.
DIY or Professional Cleaning Product?
Are DIY methods such as soapy water better than professional pool ball cleaning products, or is it the other way around?
As it turns out, there’s a difference between them in terms of application. Regular soap and water can only be used on phenolic or plastic resin balls and not those that are made of ivory or wood. Plus, water and detergent can only clean the balls and not get rid of the yellow stain that shows up over time.
If you’re looking to remove the yellow hue out of your pool balls, then it’s best to use a professional pool ball cleaner. Most of the time these products double as a felt cleaner for an all-around pool cleaning treatment.
Cleaning Using Soap & Water
Heat up a pot of water, grab two buckets, a dish soap, a microfiber cloth and a towel.
Mix soap and water on one bucket, then soak your pool balls in it for about 5 to 10 minutes. Prepare lukewarm water on the other bucket. After the time is up, take out the pool balls and use a microfiber cloth to ‘buff’ them up for 20 to 30 minutes.
Then, rinse out the soapy pool balls by dunking them on the bucket of lukewarm water. Once you’ve taken out the soapy residue, use a clean towel to dry off each ball before returning them to the table or their respective container.
Cleaning Using Professional Products
If your pool balls have that yellowish look and you want them to be like new again, then a professional cleaner should do the job quite nicely.
A word of caution, as the chemicals can be too strong for materials other than phenolic resin balls. That said, follow the instructions on the label for the best results.
First, shake the bottle thoroughly before use. Get a microfiber cloth and put a few drops of the cleaner on it. Wipe a yellowing pool ball and polish the whole ball for about half a minute or so. Using another microfiber, wipe the same ball until there’s no trace of the chemical on it.
Do this on all the balls until you achieve the desired result.
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Conclusion
It’s easy to learn how to clean yellow pool balls when you have the right products, tools and know the right pool table basics. Gather a few microfiber cloth, your preferred restorer and professional cleaning product and half an hour or so to get rid of the yellow age spots and make them look like new again. For maintenance, regular cleaning with soap and water works in removing dirt and chalk marks. While your pool balls may be clean, it’s equally as important to maintain other parts of your pool table such as the leather pockets and more.