Have you ever cleaned your pickleball paddle? If not, you should because your pickleball paddle can become quite dirty. The grit of your pickleball paddle can capture dirt, which will make your pickleball paddle smooth and less effective at putting spin on the pickleball. As a result, you should clean your pickleball paddle from time to time, so that it plays more “like new” and you have the benefit of the gritty, textured paddle surface.
Best Way to Clean Your Pickleball Paddle
There are a couple of ways that you can clean your pickleball paddle:
- Clean Magic Eraser – My personal preference (which was a tip passed along to me from Senior Pickleball Pro, Steve Kennedy) for cleaning my pickleball paddle is to use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Use the Magic Eraser to lightly scrub the dirt away from your paddle surface. Then, wipe your pickleball paddle with a damp cloth. Wipe away any water residue and leave to dry.
- Glass Cleaner and a Microfiber Cloth – You can also use glass cleaner and a microfiber or lint-free cloth to clean your pickleball paddle. Spray the glass cleaner into your cloth and lightly scrub the dirt away. Wipe your pickleball paddle clean and leave to dry. To note, be sure to avoid a heavier cleaning solution, as it may leave a residue on your pickleball paddle.
To note, do not be alarmed if the graphics on your pickleball paddle start to wear. This is normal and simple sign of lots of pickleball play over time.
Replace Your Pickleball Grip
Also, do not forget to replace your grip on your pickleball paddle from time to time. Your grip can lose tackiness, resulting in a slippery grip (especially when wet or sweaty), and otherwise wear down, which will result in less support for your fingers and palm of your hand. No one wants to drop their pickleball paddle on the winning point, so be sure to change your pickleball grip from time to time.
To learn how to change your pickleball grip, check out Pickler’s pickleball blog on pickleball grips.
Bring Your Pickleball Paddle Inside
Be careful of leaving your pickleball paddle outside or in your car. Treat your pickleball paddle like the prized possession it is and bring it inside when you are not using it. If you leave your pickleball paddle – or pickleballs – outside or in your car, they may be affected by weather conditions. Avoid this needless wear and tear on your pickleball paddle by bringing your pickleball paddle indoors when you are not using it.
In summary, clean your pickleball paddle, change your pickleball grip, and keep your pickleball paddle indoors when not in use in order to extend the life of your pickleball paddle.