Washing Table Tennis balls

rae carter Asked 1 week ago

How can you clean the balls between play? They get a bit dusty and we especially don't want the dust affecting our robot, but also regular play. I don't know if water would harm the ball.

Alois Rosario Answered 1 week ago

Hi Rae,

Keeping your table tennis balls clean is a great way to ensure both the longevity of the balls and the quality of play.

For light dust and dirt, a simple and effective method is to use a soft, dry cloth or a microfiber towel to gently wipe the balls. This usually removes the loose dust without needing any water or chemicals. If the balls are considerably dirty and a dry wipe isn't enough, you can use a slightly damp cloth to wipe them. After wiping them with a damp cloth, follow up with a dry cloth to remove any moisture. Avoid using any harsh chemicals or detergents as these can degrade the plastic and alter the surface properties of the balls, affecting their performance during play.

Regularly cleaning the balls like this not only helps in maintaining their quality but also protects equipment like your robot from accumulating dust and dirt transferred from dirty balls on to your rubber as well.