Typically, for the casual bowler it is recommended that you clean your ball several times a year, roughly after 30 – 35 games. Professionals and serious bowlers will do it much more often, but periodic cleaning is sufficient for the amateur, once-a-week thrower.

Bowling Ball Bath

The easiest and most efficient way of cleaning your bowling ball is to give it a bath. At least twice a year, it is good practice to clean the bowling ball in warm soapy water. Using a utility tub, sink or bathtub, completely submerge the ball in warm water. Some bowling balls manufacturers recommend taping or plugging the holes to prevent water from entering (check with your manufacturer for details).

With a wash cloth and soap, rub the surface gently. They key is to remove any dirt or particles without scratching the surface of the ball. Small scratches can affect performance of the ball so you want to make sure not to rub too hard.

Rinse the ball completely and repeat the procedure until the water is clear. Be sure to completely dry the ball, especially the holes.

Alcohol Rub

Bowling lanes are coated with oils and a ball picks up quite a bit of the oils every time they are rolled. Soap and water will not remove all of the oils which is why an alcohol rub is a great way to remove the film. Dirt and particles become trapped in the oils and are not removed with basic soap a water.

Using a cotton swab or a a soft cloth, dab with a small amount of alcohol and rub in circles. Again, don’t rub too hard or you may scratch the ball. A soft-circular motion one time around the ball should be enough to remove the rest of the oil and any remaining dirt.

Professional Cleaning Products

Once a ball has been cleaned with soapy water and alcohol, many bowler will do one final cleaning with professional products. These products are available at the bowling alley pro shops and not only clean but treat the surfaces of the balls to bring out a smooth surface. By treating the ball with professional products you remove any deep grime while concurrently smoothing the surface so that the ball is protected and more accurate.

Vinyl Cover

The vinyl cover. The simplest way of keeping the cloth of your pool table clean. A vinyl cover is cheap and easily protects your cloth from dust, pets and children; the worst offenders of them all. The cover keeps unwanted pet dander and hair away as well as your children’s Kool-Aid and all the other sugary items they seem to constantly be in possession of. Even if you don’t have kids or pets, a vinyl cover is still a good idea.

Damp Rag

Another simple way of keeping your cloth clean is by using a damp rag. Take your rag and run in under the faucet using cold or cool water and wring the rag out as much as possible. You do NOT want their to be any water droplets falling off of the rag and ruining that beautiful green cloth. Gently wipe down the cloth, do NOT use circular motions. This will remove the bits of chalk and other miscellaneous objects from your cloth.

Billiard Brush

Billiard brushes are a necessity when it comes to owning a pool table and are also another cheap way of keeping it clean. So as often as necessary, take your brush and dust your cloth from the head of the table to the foot of the table with slow, straight strokes. Again, do NOT brush in a circular motion. Make sure to brush beneath the bumper overhangs to remove any other dust and chalk bits.

Hand Vacuums

After brushing your cloth it is a good idea to take a hand vacuum, or a vacuum attachment with a brush-end and suck up excess dirt and hair. Do NOT use a standard vacuum as this creates too much suction and can stretch your cloth.

Maintenance is an important part of pool table ownership and shouldn’t be seen as a chore. And regardless of how much time you spend cleaning it, it will inevitably take your child or pet a fraction of that time to ruin it. So keep your eyes open, your table covered and your belt ready.

Cleaning Kit

Before you even have the Katana for very long, you should have a cleaning kit handy. The items in the kit should be, brass awl and hammer just to dismantle the Katana, rice paper, extra large uchiko (powder ball), a bottle of choji oil, and a plastic container for oiled cloth.

Simple Cleaning

Use the rice paper to clean off the oil from any previous maintenance. Keep that sharp edge away from you. You can even use a soft cloth for a rice paper substitute. Then, use the powder ball to dust it lightly. Tap it against the blade every couple of inches. Next, use the rice paper to rub over it again to do the polishing. Do it until the powder is gone. Now, apply just a few drops of oil on each side and use the rice paper again to spread it evenly.

Removing Stains and Rust

If you have any rusting or stains showing, try this. If there isn’t too much, just use a pencil eraser to see if it works. If not, use wet sandpaper to sand it. When finished, dry it and oil it again immediately. If the sandpaper doesn’t even work, then the blade is very corroded and probably has some pitting. If it’s not too bad, leave it alone. If it’s bad, you may need a replacement blade.

Polishing

It is recommended to use a hybrid polish. You need to use finer and finer sandpaper as you go along. Start with 900 grit to 1500 grit. Wet sand it parallel on the MUNE on the sword. Only do this on the MUNE. Then just finish it with a light hand buffing and a compound.

That’s mainly it. That’s how to clean a Katana. Some good advice would be to clean that Katana often enough so the process will become shorter and easier. Don’t wait until it gets too bad. Just remember the simple cleaning process, the stain removal and the polishing.

Maintenance

First, keep an eye on your board as you use it. Basically, you don’t want any mold to start growing on your dart board, so you don’t want it to get wet. Contact with water could also cause the sisal fibers to expand too much, damaging the board beyond repair. You might consider investing in a cabinet or cover to reduce dust.

Cleaning a Sisal or Cork Board

Number one; remove the outer metal scoring frame, if applicable. Some boards will just have the numbers painted on them. Clean the metal with a light metal polish if it needs it. As for the board itself, just make sure your brush off any dirt or dust off. Then, using an ordinary wood polish, dampen a clean rag, and slowly work the wood polish into your dart board. Let the board sit over night. You don’t want to clean your dart board twice in one day, because you don’t want to over saturate it, causing damage. Continue this each day until you feel your dart board is clean. If it’s clean, but not moist enough, take a rag and dampen it slightly with wood polish, and then just lay the rag on top of your board over night. Some of the moisture may soak into the board from the rag, and the chance of too much moisture soaking in is very unlikely.

New Styles of Boards

If you have a plastic board, you can probably use Windex or some other light cleanser on the board. Just be sure to never spray any cleaners directly onto any electronic device. First spray into a rag, and use the rag to wipe away debris. If your board is cloth, remove all pieces from it, and wash just the cloth itself either by hand or in your washing machine on the gentle cycle. For any other type of board, be careful, and remember that when using a vacuum it may be best to use a soft bristle attachment to avoid damaging the board.

Whatever type of dart board you own, just keeping up on the maintenance will save you time and work in the long run. But if you do need to clean your board, be careful, and most importantly, have fun!