How to Clean Lawn Bowls

Last Updated: June 29, 2021 Approved

Lawn bowls is a popular game that involves rolling balls, known as bowls, toward a target on the playing green. Since this game is usually played outdoors, your bowls may get scuffed or accumulate grime and dirt during play. If your bowls get dirty, you can clean them with gentle soap and warm water. Polish your bowls regularly to maintain proper grip and a nice shine.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Removing Dirt and Grime

1
Use a wooden toothpick to clean the grips. Many lawn bowls have grips to help you hold the bowls more easily during gameplay. Dirt and grime can quickly build up in the grips, especially if your bowls have ring or groove grips. Before washing your bowl, chip any stubborn dirt out of the grips with a large wooden toothpick or skewer.^{[1]
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- Don’t use a metal toothpick or skewer to clean the grips. This could scratch up your bowls.
2
Wash the bowls in hot water with mild detergent. Once you’ve scraped any excess dirt out of the grips, soak your bowls in hot water and soap or a gentle detergent, such as laundry detergent or dishwashing liquid. Rub the bowls with your hands or a microfiber washcloth to dislodge any stubborn dirt.
- You can also use a steam cleaner, like those used to clean bowling balls, as an alternative to washing with soap and water.
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3
Use mineral spirits to clean off tougher dirt. You can remove stubborn grease, dirt, and stains by wiping your bowls with a cloth soaked in mineral spirits. You may wish to do a spot test first to make sure the mineral spirits don’t damage the paint on your bowls.^{[2]
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- Mineral spirits are also known as white spirit, mineral turpentine, or turpentine substitute. You can purchase mineral spirits at a hardware or home improvement store.
4
Dry the bowls with a microfiber towel. Once your bowls are clean, you can either air dry them or wipe them dry with a soft towel or polishing cloth. If you use a towel, choose one made of soft microfiber so that you don’t scratch up your bowls.
- After the bowls are dry, polish them with some bowl polish and a polishing cloth, then put them away in their bag or carrier.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Polishing Your Bowls

1
Get a specialized bowls polish. There are a variety of bowls polishing products on the market, including Grippo, Multigrip, and Crack-A-Jack. Purchase one of these products and apply it to your bowls to remove minor scratches and restore your bowls’ finish and shine.
- Some bowling greens and indoor bowls venues do not allow the use of certain bowls polishes. Check with your venue to find out what kinds of polishing products are allowed.
2
Apply the polish with a soft polishing cloth. Following the directions on the bowls polish packaging, rub the polish into the surface of your bowls with a soft cloth. You can purchase a specially made bowls polishing cloth or sleeve, or use any general-purpose microfiber polishing cloth.
- If too much polish builds up on the bowls, you can wash it off with soap and warm water.^{[3]
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  Research source} Reapply the polish once the bowls are dry.
3
Polish your bowls at least once a week. Your bowls will look their best and be easier to grip if you polish them regularly.^{[4]
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Research source} Polish your bowls at least once a week, or do it after every game to protect your bowls from abrasive grimy buildup.
- You should also polish your bowls every time you wash them.
4
Buff out marks or scratches with a polishing cloth or fine steel wool. If your bowls accumulate marks or scratches, you can remove or minimize them by polishing them with a polishing cloth or sleeve. For extra stubborn scuffs or scratches, lightly rub the area with a fine steel wool (such as 0000 grade).
- After buffing out a mark or scratch, polish your bowl as you normally would.
Tip: Lawn bowls can sometimes pick up color from other bowls when they bump against each other during a game. You can usually remove these marks by washing the affected bowl in soap and water, then polishing the bowl as usual.

Community Q&A

Question

What type of paint would you use to re-paint the rings?

Community Answer

Valspar is a very good paint brand. They also have sealers and majestic colors.
Question

Do I use enamel or acrylic paint to paint rings?

Gawainsmith

Community Answer

Acrylic is easier to clean, but doesn't leave a smooth surface. Enamel is smoother, and will generally last longer, but is hard to clean up if you want to change it or make a mistake.
Question

Do you use a different polish on wooden bowls?

Hobie Dial

Community Answer

If you want to keep a wooden bowl in as-new condition, protect it from knocks and scratches. Don't expose it to liquids. If you keep the bowl dry, it will need nothing more than perhaps an occasional rub with wax polish. Some wood species change colour slowly with time.