The Difference Between Bowling Ball Polish and Cleaner

If you own a bowling ball, it is important to keep it well maintained. Bowling balls are porous and very prone to collecting body oils, lane conditioner and dirt, both while in storage or in play. There are unique differences between ball cleaner and ball polisher. Some cleaners remove surface oils, whereas other cleaners go deep into the pores and remove all debris, but polishes help keep the shine and slickness of the bowling ball.

  1. Ball Cleaner

    • Commercial ball cleaners are formulated to clean the oil that has accumulated both inside and on the surface of the ball. Clean the ball with a spray cleaner and wipe off with a soft towel, or use a microfiber towel designed to clean bowling balls to remove the oil. You can also wash the ball with mild detergent and warm water -- not over 140 degrees -- for 15 minutes.

    When to Use Cleaner

    • Clean your bowling ball every 50 games or bimonthly if you play often. Doing so keeps your ball from collecting too much debris and oil, which affects the curve and speed of the ball. When bowling, bring microfiber towels with you and clean the ball immediately after play to remove surface oils.

    Ball Polish

    • Ball polish is different from ball cleaner because it is meant to add sheen and slickness to the bowling ball. Though there are polishes that are added to ball cleaners, many polishes come separate in "wax" or liquid form and are designed to be applied after you clean and sand your ball. One of the benefits of polishing your bowling ball is that along with oil and dirt, grooves can also form on the ball and polish can help fill in spaces to make the ball move smoothly.

    When to Use Polish

    • Bowling balls should be polished every 80 to 100 games. Polish lasts a long time, which is why it is not as important as cleaning. However, you should always thoroughly clean and sand your ball before adding polish. The polish will not soak in as well if the pores are not open.