This at-home cleaner will make your grips feel like new in minutes

One of the easiest ways to make your clubs feel new without any investment is thoroughly cleaning your grips. 

Cleaning your golf grips only takes a few minutes, but the process can add new life, and — pardon the pun — put a fresh grip on your game. The reason it makes such a big difference is that just like any porous material, rubber grips absorb sweat, dirt, and other foreign substances from things like sunscreen into the pores, and over time harden to reduce traction. 

Tiger Woods cleans golf club
Tiger cleaning his grip before a shot

The steps for cleaning grips are simple: A simple combination of some hot water with dish soap and a scrub brush will do wonders. But one final step that I have discovered helps add just that little extra tack you can’t get anywhere else – Windex. 

Windex cleaner

Now before you start quoting My Big Fat Greek Wedding, yes I’m being serious. That magic blue liquid intended to offer a streak-free shine helps restore that tacky feeling to rubber grips after the cleaning process with the soapy hot water. Now, if you’re in a pinch and don’t have time to break out the bucket before your next round of golf – even a few sprays of Windex along with a damp cloth with help remove surface dirt and improve traction.

Last but not least, if hot soapy water and a scrub brush aren’t doing the trick, it might be time to completely replace those old grips, and give your clubs a whole new lease on life.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2022? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf. For more on the latest gear news and information, check out our latest Fully Equipped podcast below.

Ryan Barath

Golf.com Editor

Ryan Barath is GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com’s senior editor for equipment. He has an extensive club-fitting and -building background with more than 20 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. Before joining the staff, he was the lead content strategist for Tour Experience Golf, in Toronto, Canada.