Best solvent for cleaning grips?

[st1800e]

Ammonia in windex will degrade rubber.  While it will certainly add tackiness after cleaning it will , over time, compromise the rubber.  
I use dish soap and a scotch brite pad.  

[egolfer]

I've been using Chatrer's spray for years and it is very effective for me.

 

https://www.scheels.com/p/09865910017/?queryID=bcc1b3d7e0d1c315338858a03f9c317c

[Sparty4202]

Another vote for Simple Green and a scub brush…I used Comet Cleanser in the past but it can be rough on grips.

[ARL67]

On 5/4/2025 at 3:59 PM, Shilgy said:

Grips are rubber so use a product that cleans rubber.  This has been my go to for years.

 

Although it does appear Black Magic acquired Westley’s and some are saying they slightly changed the formula unfortunately.

 

 

With my CP2 grips, I just use warm water and a light scrub.

However if I need a really good cleaning, I use any tire cleaner with Bleche-Wite in it 👍

[Ripken08]

On 5/4/2025 at 3:54 PM, Old Tom Morris said:

Just a wet towel and elbow grease.  No need to put slippery soap or detergent on them.

Quite the opposite.  Soap makes them tacky.  Warm water with Dawn on a towel.  Wipe well, then hit it with a DRY towel.  Instant tacky that lasts for a while.

[Noodler]

I have to chuckle a little bit whenever I see threads about cleaning grips, trying to get the tackiness back and make the grip perform better.  Folks throw out the term "rubber grips" thinking that all these grips on the market are pure rubber grips, when the reality is that most are far from that.  A true real 100% pure rubber grip like the grips from Star (my favorite being the Sidewinder model), don't really even need to be cleaned to continue to perform very well.  I clean my grips once per season at the start of the season using some Simple Green and water.  They perform flawlessly, dirty or not.  Grips like GP Tour Velvet cannot compete.  If you're constantly needing to clean your grips, thinking that they're not doing well just because they "must be dirty", then consider changing your grips to a better brand/model.  Good grips don't care about no stinkin' dirt... 🙂

[Socrates]

10 minutes ago, Noodler said:

I have to chuckle a little bit whenever I see threads about cleaning grips, trying to get the tackiness back and make the grip perform better.  Folks throw out the term "rubber grips" thinking that all these grips on the market are pure rubber grips, when the reality is that most are far from that.  A true real 100% pure rubber grip like the grips from Star (my favorite being the Sidewinder model), don't really even need to be cleaned to continue to perform very well.  I clean my grips once per season at the start of the season using some Simple Green and water.  They perform flawlessly, dirty or not.  Grips like GP Tour Velvet cannot compete.  If you're constantly needing to clean your grips, thinking that they're not doing well just because they "must be dirty", then consider changing your grips to a better brand/model.  Good grips don't care about no stinkin' dirt... 🙂

That is funny.  Didn't realize you were a schill for Star.

[Noodler]

8 minutes ago, Socrates said:

That is funny.  Didn't realize you were a schill for Star.

 

Call me a "schill" I don't care.  Just evangelizing because I was frustrated for many years with the more "mainstream" grips, before I found Star grips.  They're simply so much better, that unless you've tried them for yourself, you just can't understand how much better a grip can actually be.

[Socrates]

3 minutes ago, Noodler said:

 

Call me a "schill" I don't care.  Just evangelizing because I was frustrated for many years with the more "mainstream" grips, before I found Star grips.  They're simply so much better, that unless you've tried them for yourself, you just can't understand how much better a grip can actually be.

I'll let you know if they ever make a cord grip with a reminder rib.

[Noodler]

4 minutes ago, Socrates said:

I'll let you know if they ever make a cord grip with a reminder rib.

 Simple to add a reminder rib to any grip (look up using string trimmer string).  Needing cord in a grip goes away with a truly good rubber grip. Way more comfortable with better grip overall.

[Socrates]

10 hours ago, Noodler said:

 Simple to add a reminder rib to any grip (look up using string trimmer string).  Needing cord in a grip goes away with a truly good rubber grip. Way more comfortable with better grip overall.

Yeah - sure.  I've tried it and it's the biggest PITA ever.  You never get it exactly where you want it and you never get it the right size (that is legal).  I've been using ribbed cords for 45 years and not going to change it now.  I've had plenty of opportunities to use various grips and I just don't like them.  Star makes a good grip.  Not my cup of tea.

[Noodler]

13 minutes ago, Socrates said:

Yeah - sure.  I've tried it and it's the biggest PITA ever.  You never get it exactly where you want it and you never get it the right size (that is legal).  I've been using ribbed cords for 45 years and not going to change it now.  I've had plenty of opportunities to use various grips and I just don't like them.  Star makes a good grip.  Not my cup of tea.

 

That's fine, to each their own.  The point of my post was to get folks thinking about their grip choice.  I used to think it was "normal" to need to change my grips mid-season and be constantly washing them to keep them tacky.  That was until I found the Star grips.  There are a lot of grip choices out there, but Star isn't usually in the convo unless a golfer is hanging out on GolfWRX or knows someone using them.