It is easy to get a high-quality ping pong paddle. They are sprawling everywhere, and as long as you have the means, you can get them anytime you want.
A brand-new paddle produces glorious results. The rubber is tacky and doing spins and loops is as easy as doing the alphabet.
But over time, the finesse of a paddle deteriorates, especially if it is dirty and full of grimes. Once a paddle is dirty, it would not perform the way you expect it to be.
Is your ping pong paddle dirty? Then it is time to clean it!How To Clean A Ping Pong Paddle?
Keep in mind that there are multiple ways of cleaning a ping pong table. Your options are not limited; you can just take the approach that you feel can achieve the cleaning results that you desire. Water and Sponge
Water and Sponge
The first cleaning method that you can do is to try the combo of water and sponge. It is the least expensive, but somehow, it is the preferable route by many ping pong players.
You see, unlike cleaning solutions, water does not cause any harmful interactions to the rubber. Specifically, it does not result in the wearing or deterioration of the rubber, which is common when you are using harsh solutions.
Furthermore, this process is very easy to do. Follow the steps below.
- First, take a kitchen sponge and dampen it to a bucket of warm water.
- After that, you can start scrubbing the surface of the rubber until such time that all the dirty and unwanted particles come off. However, in doing this, don't ever do rigorous scrubbing; it can result in the gradual removal of the rubber's tackiness.
- If you notice that it is a heavy build-up of grime and oil, just let the moisture coming from the sponge remove them. Wait until such time the residues are lifted by the moisture before you wipe the rubber clean.
- Just continue and repeat the said procedures until such time your rubber becomes sticky. You don't need to wipe a wet paddle with a cloth; you can just air-dry it, and it is good to be used again.
You should know that there are specialized sponges that are designed to clean ping pong paddles. Aside from not being harsh to the rubber, these sponges also produce more efficient results than ordinary sponges.
Speaking of high-quality paddles, I know that some of you are already in the hunt for them. You can check out these ping pong rackets from the site KingKongPong.comfor a more comprehensive guide!
Cleaning Solutions
Admittedly, there are some people that are not satisfied with the water-and-sponge approach. For them, the said method is not enough to eradicate the dirt that settled to the paddle.
Because of this particular need, cleaning solutions came to existence. Based on how they are advertised, it is said that these cleaning solutions can do deep-cleaning action.
Typically, these cleaning solutions come in the form of spray and foam. You can try different brands of these solutions since they can provide optimal results when it comes to making your racket free from dirt.
However, there's a caveat here that you should adhere. Some of these solutions are too harsh; there are numerous instances where a myriad of solutions actually damaged the rubbers rather than restoring their quality.
To avoid this predicament, you have to select a cleaning solution that has a gentle and light interaction with the rubber. Read the labels and make sure that it will not cause quick deterioration to the rubber of the paddle.
Also, don't forget to follow the instructions set by the label of the solution. If there's a prescribed amount that you need to use, just follow it.
Toothbrush Method
Some of you are using paddles with pimpled rubbers. Players who specialize in defense are quite a fan of these pimples, especially the long ones.
However, these pimpled rubbers are quite good at attracting dust, grime, and debris. After all, unlike inverted rubbers, these pimples are good spots for these specks of dirt to cling and hide.
Over time, they will cause a build-up, which, in turn, affects the performance of the paddle severely. If you don't clean a pimped racket regularly, expect that it will deteriorate at a faster rate.
Fortunately, there's a way on how you can do this. The previous methods that I taught you are meant for inverted rubbers, and they are not applicable when it comes to pimpled rubbers.
The use of a toothbrush is effective in dishing out the dirt out from the crevices and gaps of these pips. The bristles are enough to capture the foreign objects from the hard-to-reach areas of the rubber.
You don't need a special solution for this. Water is enough; but if you persist, you can also use a gentle cleaning solution.
Of course, I suggest that the toothbrush you use has soft bristles. If the bristles are hard or tough, it might graze the rubber.
While it might not affect the performance of the paddle as a whole, these scratches are quite unsightly. You will never want them at all.
Be gentle when brushing, too. Scrubbing it ferociously will ruin the rubber, even if you are using a brush with soft bristles.
Conclusion
As you can see, cleaning a ping pong paddle is not an arduous task. It is not something that should dread you.
If you want to retain the quality of your paddle and prevent yourself from buying one from time to time, proper care is necessary. Cleaning is just one of the most important things that you can do to ensure that your arsenal is always in its top condition.
Well, if you want to become a top table tennis player, you need a clean paddle at all times! That's it for now. If you have questions, feel free to drop them in the comment section below.
