A lot of people assume that the quality of a ping pong racket deteriorates according to the frequency of use. However, while this may be true , it is safe to say that proper maintenance goes a long way to significantly slow down this deterioration process.
The rubber coming off the blade or the handle breaking accidentally will no doubt affect the quality of a paddle to some degree , however , little things such as dust accumulating on the surface of the blade over a period of time could have a more greater effect on the overall lifespan and effectiveness of a racket.
With this in mind , it is important to adopt a routine to effectively clean and maintain your ping pong paddle to ensure efficiency.
How to Clean Ping Pong Paddle
There are more than one ways to clean your paddle and each method requires a certain amount of know-how. If you engage one method with an uneducated skill set, you might end up damaging the paddle you’re intent on preserving.
The methods discussed thus will be based on the solution used, in what quantity they should be used and how they are best applied.
- Water :
This is the simplest and cheapest solution used for cleaning ping pong paddles. However, you can’t just rinse it with your bare hands and expect the dirt to come off.
You can use either a soft sponge or a tooth brush to cover the hard-to-reach spots between the pimples on the surface of the blade and even though it’s just water, you have to be careful not to misuse it.
For sponges, dampen the sponge and gently wipe the surface of the blade with it. Take your time with it, but make sure that the water in the sponge is not so much that the paddle becomes dripping wet.
Also, it is best to wipe the surface in a straight line (from the bottom of the paddle to the top), or in a circular motion (from the outermost part towards the center of the blade). This way, you can keep track of the areas you have touched and get all the dirt out without much trouble.
You could try the same with a soft-toothed brush. This has proven to be more effective. However, whichever you end up using, avoid rigorous scrubbing to avoid compromising the roughness of the paddle unintentionally.
- Rubber Cleaning Solutions :
Rubber cleaning solutions are more delicate. There are lots of rubber cleaning solutions on the market today that come in different forms such as foams and sprays.
They are more efficient than plain water and sponge as they help to cut out the dirt that has built up to level up the paddle and make it smoother than it should be. However, it’s more advisable to only try this if plain water doesn’t do the job.
There is a lot of controversy surrounding this method. Some users have complained that rubber cleaning solutions could be too sensitive for the rubber on your racket and could deteriorate the rubber faster.
If you’re scared of that, you could go for less potent solutions that work just a little better than ordinary water.
To be on the safer side , make sure that every trace of the solution is gently wiped off the surface of the rubber after cleaning because residues could do more damage (such as oxidization or aging) than overused sensitive chemicals
The method of application is the same as using water although it is not advisable to use brush with cleaning solutions. Use a softer material like a towel or tissue paper.
Conclusion
There is more focus on cleaning the blade than the handle because it is the most vulnerable spot on the paddle. You can clean the handle of the paddle with a clean cloth every once in a while to keep it clean.
Also, after cleaning with whichever solution , leave the paddle on a clean surface for it to dry off before returning it into its case. Avoid the use of detergents and always keep your paddle covered when not in use.
If you’re looking to purchase new paddles , have a look at our buyers guide : https://pingthatpong.com/best-ping-pong-paddle/
See also :
Hey! , I am Roland Campbell , a recreational table tennis player for over 5 years and counting. I do a lot of research on table tennis (Ping Pong) and publish my findings here at Pingthatpong.
Leave a Reply