How to clean a bowling ball and remove oil at home (and revive a dead one)

Why reactive balls 'die'

Reactive coverstocks are slightly porous, so over months of play they absorb oil from the lane. That absorbed oil dulls the surface's grip, and the ball gradually loses its hook. A 'dead' ball is usually not worn out — it's saturated. See how the coverstock works in how balls work.

Routine cleaning (do this often)

The simplest habit: wipe the ball with a microfiber towel between shots to remove surface oil, and use a proper ball cleaner after every session before the oil soaks in. This alone dramatically extends how long a ball keeps its reaction. See the maintenance schedule.

Reviving an oil-soaked ball

For a ball that's already dulled, you need to pull the absorbed oil back out. A common at-home method is a careful, manufacturer-approved warm-water bath — but it must be done within the temperature limits the maker specifies, because too-hot water can damage or warp a ball. When in doubt, a pro shop's oil-extraction (oven) service does it safely.

Don't overheat it

This is the one warning that matters: bowling balls are sensitive to heat. Never use water hotter than the manufacturer allows, never leave a ball in a hot car, and never improvise with high heat to 'speed up' oil removal. Patience and the right temperature protect your investment.

Bowling ball oil remover: what actually works

There are three levels, from everyday to deep. Each is described by Hank Boomershine of Storm Products in a 2012 Bowling This Month round-table on ball maintenance:

• A ball cleaner after every session. "First and foremost is simply cleaning your ball with a manufacturer recommended cleaner after each session of bowling." Coach Michelle Mullen says the same in that piece: "Use a ball cleaner every time you finish bowling." This takes the oil off before it soaks into the cover.
• A hot-water bath for an oil-soaked ball. "I would recommend a good hot tap water bath in a 5 gallon bucket with some ball cleaner added to the mixture," for about 30 minutes. Hot tap water, not boiling, and not a hot car or a heat gun.
• An extraction machine for the deepest clean. "The final and best way to extract oil from a ball is with an oil extraction machine like a Revivor or Rejuvenator." Many pro shops have one.

One firm rule from the same source: "You should NEVER put a bowling ball in your oven at home." And a caution from the article itself: using anything other than the maker's recommended products and practices "might negate the warranty on your ball," so check your ball's warranty before you try heat. Boomershine's maintenance range runs from a microfiber wipe after each shot "to an aggressive resurfacing every 60 games."

Can you clean your ball during league play?

Not with a cleaner. USBC Rule 18 says that while bowling in USBC competition, a ball cannot "be cleaned with any liquid substance or cleaning agent," sanded with an abrasive, or carry "powder, rosin, marker or paint." A ball altered that way "must be removed from the competition." The details from USBC's rulebook:

• Clean before you start. You may sand, polish or clean "prior to the start of competition," and competition starts once any bowler throws a ball for score. That includes balls still in your bag: USBC suggests you "clean all your bowling balls prior to the start of competition."
• Practice is fine. An approved cleaner can be used during practice, unless your league or tournament rules say otherwise.
• Residue is the exception. If something on the ball won't come off with a dry towel, an approved cleaner may be used with a league or tournament officer's consent.
• A dry towel is always allowed, which is why bowlers wipe between shots.

Some cleaners are sold as "approved for use during competition." Rule 18's wording doesn't carve out any product, so ask your league officer before you rely on that label.

When cleaning isn't enough

If a ball is cleaned and de-oiled but still flat, the surface may need refreshing — a re-sand or polish to restore the texture, often paired with the oil extraction. A pro-shop resurface can make an old ball react close to new for far less than a replacement. Full detail in surface prep.

Sources: USBC, Playing Rules, Rule 18 and its commonly asked questions; Mike Jasnau, "A Discussion on Surface Preparation and Maintenance", Bowling This Month (June 2012), quoting Hank Boomershine of Storm Products and Michelle Mullen. Checked 23 October 2026.