How to Clean Billiard Balls

Do you want clean, shiny and stain-free billiard balls? Clean billiard balls are key to silky smooth shots and enhanced spin control. When your billiard balls are clean and scratch-free, you can enjoy a better playing experience — and admire the sophisticated appearance of a polished set.

You can use vinegar, soap and water, a ball washing machine, or a professional cleaning service to clean your pool balls. If you want to learn how to use these cleaning methods, you've found the right guide. We'll teach you how to keep them clean without causing unnecessary damage or discoloration.

The Importance of Clean Billiard Balls

Clean, shiny billiard balls add to the classy aesthetic of a billiards room. However, they don't just look better — they play better. They roll straighter, giving players more predictable shots and improved spin control. Plus, when they're free from dust, billiard balls don't stick to each other or the cue. The result is a better game overall, both in terms of play and appearance.

Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Billiard Balls

Billiard balls are used in games like pool, snooker and carom. Keeping them clean can significantly impact your game. There are various ways to clean your billiard balls. Follow these instructions and use these tips to get the best pool ball cleaning results.

1. Vinegar

If you want to know how to clean billiard balls with yellow stains, look no further than vinegar. A mild bleach solution, like white vinegar, effectively removes the yellow stains that can form on billiard balls over time. All you need to do is follow this process:

1. Create your solution: Fill a bucket with water and add half a cup of vinegar. Stir consistently until the vinegar is homogenous with the water.

2. Add the billiard balls: Place your billiard balls in the bucket with the solution and let them soak.

3. Wait five minutes: After waiting for five minutes, remove the billiard balls from the bucket and rinse them with clean water.

4. Wipe the billiard balls: Wipe off all residue on the billiard ball and ensure you have rinsed them thoroughly. You want to ensure the vinegar is completely removed from the billiard ball. Any vinegar left for too long might damage the surface of the ball.

2. Soap and Water

The best way to clean billiard balls and remove stains by hand is with soap and water. This process works similarly to the vinegar process:

1. Fill a sink or bucket with warm water: Water that's too hot will damage your billiard balls. Warm water is the best way to loosen the dirt and grime.

2. Add mild detergent: A little bit of mild dish soap will work. Create a sudsy solution to soak your billiard balls in.

3. Add the billiard balls: Add the billiard balls to your solution and let them soak for around five minutes. Leave the billiard balls for a max of 10 minutes. Any longer will cause discoloration and may create more stains.

4. Scrub the billiard balls: Remove all the billiard balls and wipe them with a microfiber towel or rag. Scrubbing brushes are too abrasive and will scratch the billiard balls and cause discoloration.

5. Dry the billiard balls: Take your time to dry the billiard balls thoroughly. Make sure there is no remaining soapy residue on the billiard balls. This will help avoid water spots and stains.

3. Ball Washing Machine

A billiard ball washing machine is a gadget that any avid pool or billiards player should look into getting if they want to learn how to clean pool balls at home easily and effectively. These devices are easy to use and have slots for each ball so you can clean them all at once. While they are niche, if you play billiards or pool often, then a pool ball cleaner is a worthwhile investment.

4. Professional Cleaning Services

You can also hire professionals to clean your billiard balls. They will use specialized pool ball cleaners and equipment to provide proper billiard ball cleaning and restoration services. 

How to Properly Maintain and Store Billiard Balls 

Properly maintaining your billiard balls can help them remain in pristine condition. After each game, you should give them a quick wipe down with a slightly damp rag or microfiber towel and dry them completely.

How often you play will also impact how often you'll need to clean your billiard balls. If you play a game of pool or billiards once a week, you will only need to clean your billiard balls every other month.

If you play a couple of times every week, cleaning the billiard balls every couple of weeks is good practice. If you play daily, you should clean them every week.

You should avoid leaving your billiard balls out on the table for an extended period of time. This can lead to small indentations being left on your table and discoloration of billiard balls. It will expose the billiard balls to dust and dirt, which can build up quickly when left out on the table.

Store your billiard balls in a case or on a rack to keep them away from the table and safe from becoming too dirty.

Polishing pool balls is a good way of keeping them in pristine condition. Avoid oil-based polishes and wax, as they will damage your table's felt. Use a microfiber cloth to apply the polish after you've washed and properly dried the billiard balls.

How Do You Make Old Pool Balls Look New?

Over time, pool balls can start to yellow or become stretched and chipped. You don't need to throw them away. With a few simple steps, you can refresh your old billiard balls so they look good as new.

Removing Stubborn Stains

As billiard balls age, they can start to yellow because of exposure to heat, ultraviolet light and oxygen. When left untreated for a long time, it can be challenging to get rid of stubborn stains.

If the vinegar solution doesn't work, try a paste with baking soda and water. Check that this method is suitable for your billiard balls beforehand. Apply the paste to the problem areas and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing. It's crucial to thoroughly dry the balls afterward to prevent water spots from forming.

Addressing Scratches and Chips

Investing in good-quality phenolic balls can prevent them from becoming scratched easily. For example, high-quality phenolic balls can last up to five times longer than other balls that are made of polymers or polyester. They can prevent premature scratches and yellowing, saving you money and time in the long run.

Over time, pool balls can get small scratches. Cleaning products don't take scratches away, but fine-grit sandpaper can help gently smooth them out. Slightly deep scratches may call for a pool ball polishing compound, which can buff away deeper scratches.

Very deep scratches and chips may be tricky to fix. In these cases, it's best to replace the balls because they can destroy the table felt and affect gameplay.

Troubleshooting for Common Billiard Ball Issues

These are some troubleshooting tips and tricks to follow to avoid common billiard ball issues:

• Cleaning the cue ball: The white cue ball is the most susceptible to yellow stains, so it’s important to keep it away from heat, moisture, air, and dust. Ensure you regularly clean and polish it.

• Dealing with discoloration and fading: Plastic balls are more prone to discoloration than other materials. Billiard balls can degrade from sunlight, so keep them away from UV rays. Prolonged exposure to heat and dust can accelerate discoloration. While the white cue ball is particularly vulnerable to yellow stains, all billiard balls can experience fading if not cleaned and polished regularly.

• Addressing damaged balls: While it's almost impossible to break a billiard ball in half, it is possible for them to chip and crack. Damaged balls can greatly affect your game. Your billiard balls should last for years, depending on how often you use them. To prolong their life span, avoid dropping them on the floor, banging them together forcefully, washing them in hot water, scrubbing them, using corrosive materials to wash them, and throwing them.

• Using the right products: Refrain from using toothpaste, household cleaners, the dishwasher, oil-based polishes and wax, and strong detergents to clean your billiard balls.

FAQs

Do you have additional questions about cleaning billiard balls? Explore the answers to two common FAQs:

What Is the Best Thing to Clean Pool Balls With?

The best cleaning product for pool balls is a mild soap and water mixture or a soft microfiber cloth. You can also use a billiard ball washing machine or pay for professional cleaning.

How Do You Clean Chalk Marks off Pool Balls?

To clean chalk marks, wipe the balls with a soft, damp cloth. For chalk that's been dried on the balls for a long time, use a mild soap and water solution and dry them with a lint-free towel.

Shop High-Quality Billiard Balls at Imperial

You can find high-quality billiard balls and sets and a collection of stylish pool tables from Imperial. Imperial is known for our wide range of stylish pool tables seamlessly blending into your home's decor. From classic playability to contemporary design, we have an awesome pool table for every home. 

Imperial offers the highest-quality game tables and accessories for the ultimate gaming experience, from pool to foosball. We have everything you need for pool and billiards game night. Purchase the table and accessories you've been looking for at Imperial!