How to Clean Billiard Balls — The Correct Way vs. Common Mistakes
Why Cleaning Billiard Balls Matters
Billiard balls accumulate chalk residue, skin oils, and table dust with every game. That grime affects how the ball contacts the cloth, how it reacts to spin, and how accurately it rolls. On a competition-grade slate table, dirty balls can also grind chalk into the felt fibres, causing premature wear and rough patches.
Professional-grade balls — primarily Aramith phenolic resin sets — are designed to last decades if properly maintained. Neglect accelerates yellowing, surface crazing, and the ball going off-round.
What You Need
- Warm water and a mild dish soap (for general cleaning)
- Microfibre cloths — lint-free is essential
- A dedicated billiard ball cleaner or restorer (Aramith Ball Cleaner is the most widely used)
- Optional: a ball spinner or a purpose-built ball polisher for deeper cleaning
Avoid anything abrasive — scouring pads, rough cloths, or kitchen cleaners will micro-scratch the surface and permanently dull the finish.
The Correct Cleaning Method
- Wash with warm soapy water. Fill a basin, add a few drops of mild dish soap, and wash each ball individually with a soft cloth. Rinse thoroughly — soap residue left on the ball transfers to the cloth.
- Dry completely. Water sitting in any micro-pits or the number stamp can cause staining or slow the drying. Pat dry first, then leave on a clean dry towel for 10–15 minutes before polishing.
- Apply ball cleaner/restorer. Put a small amount of Aramith Ball Cleaner (or equivalent) on a microfibre cloth and work it into the ball with circular motions. Buff off with a clean cloth. This removes deep chalk and restores surface gloss.
- Polish if needed. For older balls with surface hazing, follow the cleaner with a small amount of Aramith Ball Restorer, which has a very mild abrasive component to remove yellowing and restore clarity.
Can You Clean Billiard Balls in a Dishwasher?
This is debated online, but the answer is generally no for quality sets. The high heat of a dishwasher’s drying cycle can warp or crack phenolic resin balls — particularly the cue ball if it has different internal weighting. The water jets also cannot clean chalk residue from ball surfaces reliably. Stick to hand-washing.
Cheaper polyester resin balls (typical on budget tables) are more tolerant of temperature variation, but it is still not worth the risk.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using WD-40 or furniture polish: These leave an oily residue that soaks into the cloth fibres and ruins the surface.
- Toothpaste as a cleaner: A popular DIY hack — toothpaste does work as a very mild abrasive polish, but it is difficult to remove completely from number engravings and can leave behind residue.
- Letting chalk build up: Cleaning after every session (or every few sessions for home tables) is far easier than trying to shift weeks of baked-on chalk.
- Soaking the balls: Extended water contact can penetrate micro-cracks and accelerate crazing on older sets.
How Often Should You Clean Billiard Balls?
For home tables: wipe down with a dry microfibre cloth after each session to remove surface chalk. Deep-clean with ball cleaner every 1–3 months depending on frequency of use. For club tables running multiple sessions daily, weekly cleaning is realistic.
Clean balls roll truer, spin more predictably, and keep your billiards equipment in better condition overall. Pair the cleaning routine with regular brushing of your table cloth — see our guide to cleaning pool table felt for that process. And if you are in the market for a quality ball set, our buyer guides cover the best options at every price point.
