How to Clean Carbon Fiber Pickleball Paddle?
Needless to say, you need to clean your pickleball paddle if you want it to last longer. Likewise, cleaning it the right way is equally important, as a little mistake can make your paddle worse.
For instance, using household cleaners will make your paddles even dirtier the next you play.
Therefore, in this article, we will discuss how to clean a pickleball paddle, including the carbon fiber paddle, and give some maintenance tips.
If that sounds interesting to you, read on.
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How To Clean Carbon Fiber Pickleball Paddle?
To clean a carbon fiber paddle, use a CRBN pickleball paddle eraser instead of a microfiber cloth for the paddle face. Carbon paddles are grittier, so dirt and residue gather quickly between the grooves. CRBN erasers can not only remove accumulated dirt but also minor scratches.
Make sure to rub the eraser gently, either in circles or up and down. This not only gives your paddle a newish look but also increases the spin as dirt is removed from the textured surface.
And just to clarify, the same cleaning process works for raw carbon paddles.
Other than the hitting surface, cleaning carbon fiber paddles is the same as any other paddle. You can use a damp microfiber cloth for the grip and follow the same maintenance tips.
How To Clean Pickleball Paddle?
Cleaning your pickleball paddle is quite simple and easy. Here are the three steps to clean your paddle.
1. Clean the Paddle Face
To clean the dust on your paddle surface, you’ll need a microfiber cloth (the cloth used for cleaning eyeglasses and screens) and a glass cleaner.
Moisten the microfiber cloth by spraying glass cleaner. Gently wipe the dust away off the paddle. Then, leave it for some time to let it dry.
If you don’t have a glass cleaner, you can use water to moisten the microfiber cloth but use a damp cloth. Similarly, never use a household cleaning solution because it makes the paddle surface even stickier, ultimately leading the surface to attract more dust.
2. Clean or Replace the Grip
The grip of the paddle comes in contact with your hands. As a result, it becomes dirty and sticky as it absorbs all the sweat and dirt. That’s why it is important to clean your grip, and you can do this with the same micro-fiber cloth.
But it’s a better idea to replace your grip, as it becomes slippery and less comfortable with time. Pickleball paddle grips are usually quite inexpensive and easy to replace. But, the comfort they offer can significantly improve your game.
3. Store the Paddle Properly
Once you’ve cleaned your paddle, it’s really important to store it properly to prevent it from getting dirty again.
This is where paddle covers or storage bags come into play. They protect your paddle from heat and water, increasing their lifespan.
Cold weather shrinks the paddle and causes cracks. On the other hand, hot weather softens the paddle surface and causes delamination. That’s why it is important to store your paddle in a storage bag after cleaning it with a microfiber cloth. Never leave it in the open air.
How to Take Care Of Your Pickleball Paddle?
Pickleball paddles do wear out. But taking care of your paddle takes only a little effort and increases its life. Following are the few things you can do to keep your paddle safe.
1. Wipe your paddle:
After each match, wipe your paddle with the towel or clean it with a microfiber cloth and a glass cleaner as described above.
2. Store it Properly
Buy a new paddle cover or a storage bag to store your paddle. This way, you can protect your paddle surface from weather conditions.
3. Avoid Clinking
Avoid clicking your paddle to increase its life span, as clinking can break your paddle. Although you can fix a broken pickleball paddle, there would be a significant drop in its performance.
4. Use Paddles Only With Pickleball
As the name suggests, the pickleball paddles are made to play with the pickleball, not with other balls. So, avoid using your paddles to play with different balls, such as tennis balls.
Why Do You Need to Clean Your Pickleball Paddle?
Grab your paddle and rub your index finger on the paddle surface. Notice the dirt and scratches on your paddle surface. This is why you should clean your pickleball paddle.
The textured surface on your paddle is constructed, so you can easily spin the ball. But during the play, when the ball continuously strikes the paddle, the surface gets dirty because the ball carries the dust from the court, and that dust sticks to your paddle surface.
Besides making the paddle look dirty, it makes spinning the ball much more difficult because the dust covers the textured surface of the paddle.
By just removing the minor scratches and the dust, you will be able to improve your paddle’s performance. And to do so, you just need to follow the above-mentioned steps.
The Bottom Line
Though pickleball paddles are not meant to last forever, it doesn’t mean you should stop cleaning them and let them wear out. Cleaning the paddle takes only a few minutes but adds several months to the life of your paddle. So it’s worth it.
With the above-mentioned guide, you should be able to clean your pickleball paddle and take proper care of it.
Do comment below if you have any queries or tips.
