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Tennis is a sport that provides fun and excitement to all of its players. However, if the court surface or tennis ball becomes too dirty or soiled, you will not be able to enjoy tennis to its utmost, and the court will not be able to perform its function as well as expected.
Tennis courts are considered important facilities that help us have fun in our day. But this court dirt can also make tennis balls dirty and decrease the value of the sport itself. Cleaning of tennis balls should be done regularly to prevent such undesirable things.
Tennis balls are easy to clean but will get dirty when exposed to pollution. So how to clean tennis balls is a topic worth knowing about. The methods used in cleaning Tennis Balls depend on the conditions under which the ball gets dirty.
If it is wet or oily, a water-based cleaning agent should be used, and if it is dusty, a brush-based cleaning agent should be used. If it is heavily stained with grass or hair, detergents or hot water should be used.
Methods To Clean Tennis Ball
The method used for cleaning tennis balls can be categorized into 3 kinds: Cleaning with detergent, Cleaning with detergent + hot water, Cleaning with a brush.

Each method has its characteristics and application scope. The present study describes these three methods in detail and their applications in various circumstances.
Determining whether a particular kind of cleaning agent can be used depends on whether it can remove stains from the ball’s surface and if it can effectively disinfect and sanitize the surface of the ball.
Then based on these conditions, an appropriate detergent or detergent + hot water method is selected for cleaning tennis balls.
Pre Cleanse
The first step is the pre-cleanse which includes two basic methods: rinsing and scrubbing. These two methods can be applied alternatively or combined.
Next, cleaning by hand with a sponge is necessary to remove dust from the ball’s surface. Finally, using a damp towel and pressure on the ball surface will eliminate any debris on the ball’s surface.

To avoid losing some amount of air inside the ball, some quick-dry fabric or similar cloth can be used for cleaning tennis balls.
Another method for cleaning tennis balls is a water spray system which consists of three main parts:
- A nozzle that sprays water directly onto the ball.
- A bowl where the water collects after it sprays out of the nozzle.
- A pump that pressurizes the water inside the bowl and allows it to shoot out of the nozzle again
Spray systems have distinct advantages over manual cleaning methods: cost-effectiveness, quick drying time, convenience, hygiene, ease of use, less waste, etc. For this reason, they are more suitable for domestic purposes than professional uses.
Bubble Drying
After pre-cleaning, a dryer with direct heat (no air blow) is applied to dry the ball thoroughly.
The process should take approximately 30 minutes and involves putting the ball inside a washing machine (automatic washing machine)
Starting the washer with cold water, running the machine with hot water, and finally spinning the machine dry.
Cleaning Tennis Balls Step By Step Guide
- Cleaning tennis balls is like
- Firstly, start by wetting the ball and soaking it in water for 30 minutes.
- Next, add one part household vinegar to five parts water in a container and then dip the ball into the solution.
- After soaking, wash the ball in hot water (60 degrees C).
- It should take 15 minutes to finish this stage.
- Finally, clean the ball in cold water (10 degrees C) for about 10 minutes.
- The final step is to spin the ball dry in a high-speed washer for 2 minutes. The result is a sparkling clean tennis ball that looks as good as new.
- You can use any form of solvent or detergent you prefer. Just remember that some chemicals will attack the ball’s material and could affect its playability.
Bottom Line
Tennis ball cleaning is a simple process based on several easy to cope methods and steps. But if you don’t know the clear steps, it may mess things up for you.
So, I recommend that you carefully go through these easy steps before doing anything else. Firstly, ensure that you have an outdoor shower which can give you good facilities for rinsing your balls.
Make sure that you are fully prepared before starting any activity related to cleaning your tennis balls.
Always take precautionary measures when using solvents or other harmful chemicals to avoid accidents. Lastly, once you have cleaned your tennis balls properly, make sure to let them dry out completely. We wish you all the best in playing your game!