One of the best games that you can depend on to bring many hours of enjoyment is the game of darts. It doesn’t take much equipment other than a good quality dartboard and a set of darts. What is required is proper cleaning and maintenance of the board. If you follow these few steps for doing this, you are going to find that your board remains in pristine condition and creates less wear and tear on your darts.
Cleaning a Bristle or Cork Dartboard
You may have chosen a bristle or cork dartboard. These are the common types that most people start with when they want to start playing this game. They are both similar except the bristle boards are made with sisal fibers that are packed very close together. As soon as the dart is removed from the board, the fibers go back to their original shape. Boards made from cork don’t have the ability to do this, so they wear out quicker than the bristle type. No matter which one you have the cleaning process is similar.
Here is what you will need:
- A vacuum cleaner that has a low setting or
- A scrub brush
- Soft cloth
Step One:
You will need to remove the wire frame that covers the face of the board.
Step Two:
Here you have a couple of options. You can either use a scrub brush or your vacuum cleaner on low pressure to go over the entire face of the board. This will remove the larger accumulation of dust and debris. If you choose the brush, be sure to use it dry.
Step Three:
Now you can take a dry cloth and wipe the board down again. This removes all the smaller debris that were not picked up in step two.
Additional Tips:
There are some other steps you can take to increase the longevity of your dartboard.
- When you put the wire frame back on each time, you clean your dartboard rotate it to a new position. This stops constant wear and tear on the wedges of the board that are commonly used.
- Your board may have some mold or mildew buildup if you have not used it for a while. Don’t throw it out as you can clean this. All you need to do is lay the board outdoors in the sun for a few days. The sunlight will kill the mold and mildew, but the downside to this is the light may cause the board to fade.
Cleaning an Electronic Dartboard
If you have this type of dartboard, the cleaning process is simple.
What You Will Need:
- Dry cloth
- Cotton bud (q-tip)
- A damp cloth moistened with water and gentle detergent (optional)
Step One:
Using the dry cloth and with light pressure, wipe the entire board down. You do not want to press too much as it could damage the electronic components of the board.
Step Two:
Some suggest that a damp cloth that has been moistened with water and a gentle detergent can be used to clean a heavily soiled electron board. If doing this, it is important not to get the board wet. Also, you don’t want to use any cleaner that has ammonia in it has this will cause the plastic facing of the board to dry out and crack.
How To Clean A Horsehair Dart Board
These boards are not as common, but you may have one that has been handed down to you from your parents or grandparents. If so, chances are it may be in pretty rough shape, especially if it has been stored away for a while. It is probably full of dust and may even have some mold and mildew. No doubt, this board means a lot to you, and you can clean it. However, if you see that large air pockets have formed on the face of the board, then it is not salvageable.
What You Will Need
- Screwdriver
- Steel Brush
- Dry Cloths
- Toothpicks
- Polishing oil for wood
Step One:
You will need to remove the wire frame. Try gently pulling the frame out of the holes that are holding it in place. If it does not come out easily, then use the screwdriver to pry it loose gently.
Step Two:
Using the wire brush gently brush the entire board. Do not use too much pressure as this can damage the face of the board.
Step Three:
If mold or mildew is present, place the board out in the sun until it dries off and can be brushed off.
Step Four:
Take one of your cloths and lightly moisten this with the wood polishing oil. Then using a circular motion, go over the entire board. This will help to reduce holes that were created by the darts. The bristles in this type of board tend to dry out, and the oil helps to put some of the moisture back into them.
Step Five:
Set the dartboard aside for 24 hours to dry. Then take a toothpick and insert it into the board. If the toothpick is dry when you take it out, then the board is ready for another application of the oil as done in step four. You want to repeat this step until when you remove the toothpick, you can see some moisture on its tip.
Step Six:
Replace the wire frame rotating it from its previous position.
Maintenance of Your Dart Board
You will be able to reduce the amount of cleaning that is necessary if you follow a few maintenance steps.
- Store your dartboard in a clean, dry place when not in use
- Periodically rotate the frame of the board to reduce the wear and tear on the common wedges
- Above all, do not get your dartboard wet. If you do clean with a damp cloth, make sure all of the excess water is rung out of the cloth before using it.
- If your cleaning requires the use of wood polish, do not soak the board with the polish. Instead, apply several coats as outlined for the method used for the horsehair board.
Following these simple but important steps for cleaning and maintaining your dartboard are going to ensure that you are getting the most from what your dartboard has to offer.