We’ll forget the stains on our baseball bats that accumulate over time from this heavy usage for a while after we’ve used them. Although we believe that bat marks add character to your bat, there are occasions when you want to preserve your bat’s original shine and erase any scuff marks. We’ve seen many methods touted as ideal for cleaning a baseball bat over the years, such as dish soap (mild) and water, brushes for rough stains, rubbing alcohol, and so on.
To clean your bat, just use mild soap and water that will not damage the surface coating or graphics on your baseball bat. Solvents, acetone, and other harsh cleaners should be avoided because they can harm the surface. Most baseball bat manufacturers recommend that you clean your baseball bat with mild soap and warm water. While this approach will work on most stains, it will not work on more severe bat marks. This page should help you get closer to the 3,000 mark. To assist you, we’ve compiled a list of Dos and Don’ts.
How to clean your baseball bat – Dos and Don’ts checklist
Dos:
- If your bat has a Pro Ink Dot, hit with the mark facing up or down (Pro Series). In that scenario, you’ll strike with an ink dot, either up or down.
- Keep your bat in a dry, climate-controlled setting, and preferably vertically.
- Just use your wood bat to hit regular issue leather baseballs.
- Make touch with the wood bat’s “sweet spot.” This is in the last 8-9 inches of the barrel EXCEPT for the last 2 inches.
- Take your time. This isn’t the aluminum you’re used to seeing. It will snap.
Don’ts:
- Do not leave your bat unattended outside or in a hot car.
- Do not strike a cage, or some other ball other than a baseball.
- Don’t hit animals or humans with your baseball bat.
- Don’t hit the ball near the logo or inside the last 2 inches.
- Do not attempt to sand, or refinish your wooden bat.
- Don’t let someone else play with your bat. It’s similar to a toothbrush…or socks. Don’t give it up.
How to clean wooden baseball bats?
Finding out how to clean a baseball bat in a way that suits you best can be tricky, especially when it’s wooden. Cleaning a wood baseball bat is more difficult than cleaning other forms of baseball bats. You obviously cannot clean it off with regular water because the wood will absorb the water and cause damage to the bat. To clean the bat, follow the steps below:
Find a clean, soft cloth and soak it in rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol is excellent for removing tar, grime, sweat, and other contaminants from the bat. Using the wet cloth, clean the whole bat from top to bottom. Since you grip the bat from the handle so much, it absorbs a lot of sweat. So, for a better result, clean this area thoroughly. Rub another rusty baseball bat against the scratches in the first. The scratches will fade with time. When you’re done, scrape the bat. If you’re having trouble with this move, you can use a magic eraser. It is a product that you can look for in baseball equipment stores because it can remove scratches and marks from the bat and give it a high-end glossy finish.
Keep the bat away from the water as soon as you’re finished. Furthermore, keep the bat away from direct sunlight. Make certain that the bat is not detached from its handle. Since the barrel’s weight would be on it, the bat’s handle will be damaged.
1. Wipe your wood baseball bat with alcohol
Alcohol can remove any dirt or other buildup that could have gotten onto your bat during gameplay. A clean bat provides a good grip for hitting.
2. Keep the bat cool and dry
Keep your wooden bat away from wet areas and high temperatures. Avoid allowing your bat to come into contact with wet surfaces. If the bat gets wet, make sure you have a soft cloth on hand to quickly dry it off and rub it down with linseed oil.
3. Keep your baseball bat dent-free
The wood of your bat can become dented after hitting baseballs. Rub out any misshapen sides with a bone or another wooden practice bat. This ensures that you get a perfect hit every time.
4. Keep the bat handle-side up
Keep it straight at all times, making sure it doesn’t get kicked or knocked over. Often, make sure it’s in a cool, dry location away from humid or high temperatures.
These few measures will ensure that your maple or ash wooden bat is in good working order. To ensure the best hitting bat for the next game, repeat this regimen after each game or practice.
How to clean aluminum baseball bats?
When taking care of and / or cleaning aluminium baseball bats, one should follow the following steps:
Step 1 – Using a damp/moist rag, remove dirt and grime.
Step 2 – Scrub clean with the bleach-free soap combination and moderately warm water, using elbow grease on harder marks. Take care not to make the gripping tape wet.
Step 3 – For tougher stains, a slightly damp magic eraser can be useful.
Step 4 – Rinse the bat with clean, freshwater to remove any remaining soap residue.
Step 5 – Dry the bat with a clean, soft cloth.
Using only water and soap may be sufficient, but to completely restore the sheen and gloss, you may need to go the extra mile as described above, or even invest in some professional quality cleaners for your baseball bat.
Take the longer end of the handle when adding a grip to a bat for a right-handed batter. Begin with the angled edge of the longer end of the grip (usually unfinished as well). Place the angled edge flush with the point where the bat’s handle meets the knob. Then, wrap the bat around the handle and up into the barrel (it will naturally wrap into an angled manner). When wrapping the grip, just remove a few inches of protective tape from the grip’s adhesive side when you seal the handle. When adhering the grip to the handle, make sure the grip slightly overlaps the portion of the grip that is already adhered to the handle. Continue in this manner until the grip is exhausted.
When you reach the end of the grip, align it with the portion of the grip that is attached to the handle to form a flat edge. To hold the grip in place, apply the supplied adhesive tape to the end closest to the barrel. When gripping a bat for a left-handed batter, begin with the longer end of the grip, as previously stated.
How to take care of composite baseball bats
A soft rag, dishwasher soap, and warm water will suffice to clean a slightly dirty baseball bat. Magic Eraser, for example, acts as a charm to clean dirtier bats with scuff marks. Solvents, acetone, and other harsh cleaners should be avoided as they can harm the glossy finish on your bat. Read our complete guide to cleaning and removing stains from your baseball.
Hitting a baseball puts a lot of pressure on your bat. Rotate the baseball bat 14 turns with each blow to prevent it from being worn on one side or denting. Similarly, do not use your bat to scrub your cleats. The finish will be harmed as a result of this. This is what you can do with a metal brush.
When used in temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, alloy or composite bats are susceptible to injury. Balls become denser in colder temperatures and waterlogged in wet climates. These balls have the potential to dent your alloy bat, crack your composite bat, or even smash it. It’s understandable that playing in cold weather is often unavoidable. However, if possible, aim to minimize the number of times you use your bat in such situations. Alternatively, instead of your costly youth bat or BBCOR bat, use a wood bat or a less expensive bat. Furthermore, when not in use, keep your bat in a cool, dry spot, such as a closet. Never do it in a garage or some other place where it can get incredibly hot or cold.
Using the flat edge of the grip’s longer end in particular (usually finished as well). Place the flat edge flush with the point where the bat’s handle meets the knob. Following that, all gripping paths for a lefty hitter would be the same as those for a righty hitter.
Summary
When it comes to how to clean a baseball bat, we hope that you’ve found this article helpful. In conclusion, although taking good care of the baseball bats does not make the bats last forever, at least you’re able to play longer with them. Regardless of what bat you have, you need to make taking care of it a priority. Anyone can keep their baseball bat in good condition by following the instructions outlined above, and they can also improve their hitting skills. If you keep the above factors in mind when knowing how to clean your baseball bat, you should be able to take good care of it. Good luck out there this season!
