Do you remember buying your first set of clubs? Sure, we all received someone’s hand-me-downs at some point, but when you have a handle on the game, there’s nothing as thrilling as visiting the pro shop to get fitted for a set of clubs – well, shooting under par on any hole is also a win.
But we digress. It’s years later, and your golf bag that was so pretty when it was brand new is looking a little worse for wear. It’s time to break out the cleaning stuff and recondition the bag to its former glory.
So, how do you clean a golf bag? Follow our step-by-step guide, and your bag will look new in no time.
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What Do I Need to Clean My Golf Bag?
Before you start cleaning the bag, you have to gather your supplies for the task. We recommend collecting the following before you start cleaning.
- A spray bottle.
- Specialized sports fabric leaner. (You can use dish soap, but we prefer specialized cleaners).
- A hose or pressure washer.
- A stain remover that you would use for fabrics in the laundry.
- An old, clean rag.
- A sponge with an abrasive patch.
- A vacuum cleaner.
Once you have everything ready, it’s time to move on to cleaning your golf bag.
How to Clean a Golf Bag – A Step-by-Step Guide
1. Empty the Golf Bag
The first thing you need to do is remove your clubs and golf accessories. Clear out the pockets of all the stuff you forgot you even had in there. Once the bag is empty, it’s time to start cleaning.
2. Dry, Wipe and Vacuum the Interior
Turn the bag upside down and shake it out onto the driveway or street outside. Smack the bottom of the bag a few times to loosen the debris.
Take the bag back inside and use the long neck of the vacuum cleaner to reach into each of the pockets in the bag and suck up any remaining dirt.
Wipe out all the pockets and ensure you remove all dust, dirt, and debris.
3. Take a spray bottle and fill it with a specialized sports fabric cleaner, diluted to the manufacturer’s specifications on the product container.
You can find these cleaners at online retailers like Amazon. It costs a few bucks and lasts for years.
Spray the cleaner on the bag and let it sit for 5-minutes to absorb into any deep stains.
4. Scrub Out Dirty Spots
Take a sponge and wash the bag, dipping the sponge in a bucket of fresh water as you go.
Wash the bag until it’s clean. If you come across tough dirt, use the scourer side of the sponge to remove the dirt. However, be careful not to scuff the material with the scourer.
5. Use a Stain Remover
Use a fabric stain remover to get rid of stubborn stains on the bag. Fill the spray bottle with it and spray directly onto problematic areas. Let it steep into the stain for ten minutes, then scrub it out using a cloth.
After the bag is scrubbed and soaped, it’s time to wash away the dirt. We recommend blasting the bag clean using a pressure washer.
The pressure washer produces a deep cleaning effect. Some pressure washers come with soap compartments allowing you to soap up the bag with your cleaner before you start scrubbing.
If you don’t have a pressure washer, you’ll have to rely on a hose or a bucket and water to rinse off the bag.
6. Drying the Bag
After rinsing the bag, leave it in a shady, warm area to dry, preferably outdoors.
Never leave the bag to dry in the sun. It might cause the shrinking or cracking of the materials and fade their colors.
Leave the bag outdoors overnight to dry in warm areas, or leave it to dry in the garage if it’s cold outdoors.
7. Protect and Shine with Vinyl Protector
After the bag is dry, protect your hard work with some leather and vinyl protectors. If you have a leather bag, use some leather care to protect it against scrapes and scuffs and nourish the leather.
If you have a vinyl bag, prick up some UV protector spray to keep the bag looking its best. The vinyl protector or leather treatment is inexpensive and readily available from online retailers. It’s a small price to pay for all the protection your bag needs from the elements.
Can I Get My Golf Bag Back in Shape?
If you’ve had your bag for a few years, all the transportation in the car to and from the course, tossing it in the back of the cart, and lugging it around deforms its original shape. If your bag looks a bit worse for wear, you could say it’s “out of shape.”
If someone tells you your bag looks out of shape, they’re telling you it’s scruffy, and you should think about buying a new one. Is it possible to get a golf bag back “into shape?”
You can try this strategy to restore your bag to its original form.
- Pack all the pockets and the main compartment with fabrics like old clothes.
- Pack it as tightly as you can and leave it to sit overnight.
- The following day, you’ll find the bag returned to its original shape overnight.
In Closing – When is it Time to Invest in a New Golf Bag?
If you wash and treat your bag using the process outlined in this post or recondition it back into shape using the method above, and the bag still looks terrible, it’s time for a new bag.
When purchasing a new golf bag, avoid white. White looks impressive and stands out when it’s fresh. However, when it fades and starts to collect scratches, it looks terrible, twice as fast as other colors. Stick to neutral or darker colors for your bag.
