BALL CLEANING TIPS & TRICKS
What’s the difference between cleaning and polishing?
On the topic of billiard ball cleaning, polishing or even restoration, I could easily scribe a 12-page article or small booklet. How about we skip 11 pages and get the key points on one page....a Top 10 if you will.
But first:
POLISHING implies leaving some sort of surface protectant and shine enhancer on the ball, which is what you do not want to do for many reasons - mainly these two: most rules prohibit ANY type of wax or polish to be used on balls and the balls will not play correctly or consistently......which is why you don’t see Aramith using the word “polish” on their product labels.
For purposes of this discussion, I will use the word “polish” to mean [BUFF a ball free of all things including hand oils, dust, chalk and cleaning product using a dedicated clean and dry microfiber towel] Period.
We CLEAN balls. Then we BUFF (polish) them.
We DON’T scrub them or wash them or soak them. We CLEAN them. And the only product I can endorse is the blue labeled Aramith Billiard Ball Cleaner.
Here are the TOP 10 TIPS & TRICKS to maintaining your ball sets with optimal outcome - giving you the perfect finish and perfect play afterward. By the way.....this is not a definitive list. That is reserved for the 12-page cleaning guide
This is a quick Top 10 List...
[Numbered for reference only]
Use the RIGHT products. That means made for maintaining billiard balls. Aramith Billiard Ball Cleaner will suit 99% of your needs. Add in (2) microfiber towels: 1 for cleaning (with Aramith product) and 1 plush towel for buffing afterwards. (1) pair of perfectly sized rubberized task gloves allowing you to easily hold a ball in one hand with a microfiber towel as well as keep the chemicals off your hands. DO NOT use the green labeled bottle of Aramith Billiard Ball Restorer - it is much more abrasive and can do damage if not used with extreme care. Use the blue labeled Aramith Billiard Ball Cleaner exclusively. Patience and passion will prevail.
DO NOT use anything other than what is listed in #10 above. If you can order chalk, cues, balls, and tables with a cart and a click, the right products can be on your doorstep in mere days. IF you’d like to experiment with any other products not listed here, skip over the rest and head right to tip #ZERO at the end of this list.
Use WHITE, high quality microfiber(MF) towels for the cleaning. Do not use colored MF towels if you can help it. Colored MF towels are ok for buffing the balls once they have dried after cleaning and a faint haze appears.
The one exception to using only billiard ball cleaning products - and a personal recommendation: PREP your white, cleaning microfiber towel with a very small spritz of Meguiars Ultimate Quik Detailer (or similar quick detailer product) for maximum lubricity on the fingertip-sized are of the towel you will place be placing a dime-sized amount of the Aramith Billiard Ball Cleaner. Do not place the Aramith Billiard Ball Cleaner directly on the ball. The quick detailer products have zero abrasion and help tremendously with even spreading of the Ball Cleaner solution. A touch of water will also work on the MF towel if you don’t have access to the detailer.
ALWAYS wipe the cue ball whenever it is pocketed AND between racks with a clean MF towel. No product necessary. This will minimize cue ball skids and adverse throw due to chalk buildup. Care for the cue ball is key.
SPOT CLEAN the marks and chalk areas on balls that you can see first, using a broad circular motion around the trouble spot - then go to work on the entire ball with broad sweeping pressure using one or two fingers. To ensure even coverage, keep the ball numbers top and center as a reference point.
Store your ball set on a BALL TRAY and not the original ball box they were purchased in. The tray can be easily cleaned to remove finger oils, chalk and dust. The cardboard box will not clean up as as easily and it will hold all of the contaminants. Think 10-20-50 years ahead and the buildup. The box will also hold moisture along with chemicals in that paper you don’t want ON your balls. Save the box. Use ball trays.
BUFF (polish) your balls WITHOUT any product after a regular day of play with either 1 minute around your ball cleaning machine (like a Diamond) or by simply wiping each ball briefly with a dedicated, dry and clean microfiber towel as you set them onto your ball tray when putting things away for the night.
don’t OVER CLEAN your ball sets with product after every time you’re finished playing with them. BUFF them often - CLEAN them after 5-10-15 hours of play depending on the table and playing conditions.
ASK FOR ADVICE (from one of the experienced collectors with expert results from this thread) with any issues or questions BEFORE damaging your precious ball set or entire collection. We’re here to help - and you can be assured these tip and tricks are used by each of us.
Caveat Emptor.
If anyone would like a pdf copy of the list and product pics mentioned in this post, by all means fire off a PM or email me directly at
toKerry@aol.com and I’ll be sure to help any way I can and send over a copy for the asking.
A before and after to close out...
~ K.