Blog/Gear Care
How to Clean the Inside of a Golf Bag
Everyone wipes the outside. The inside is where the sand, snapped tees and old glove smell actually live. Here is how to deal with it properly.
Most golf bags get wiped on the outside and never opened up. Meanwhile the bottom of every pocket is collecting sand from bunker shots, broken tees, half a glove, and a granola bar from a round you no longer remember. That is where the smell comes from, and it is also what wears the lining out from the inside.
Empty it completely first
Not mostly. Completely. Take every club out, unzip every pocket including the ones you never use, and turn the bag upside down over a trash can. The amount of sand that comes out of a bag that gets used weekly surprises people every time.
- Pull all clubs and headcovers out before you start
- Open every pocket, including the valuables pocket and the rangefinder sleeve
- Turn the bag over and shake it out rather than reaching in
- Check the ball pocket seams, where sand collects and stays
Then work the lining, not just the shell
Wipe the inside of each pocket with a damp cloth and let it dry with the pockets open. The lining holds moisture longer than the outer fabric because nothing moves through it, which is why a bag can smell fine on the outside and still be the source. If a pocket has been holding a damp towel or a wet glove, that is the one to focus on.
The dividers and the base take the most abuse
The top dividers collect grip residue and grit, and that grit is what wears on your grips every time a club goes in or out. The base sits on wet grass and in a trunk. Both deserve a wipe and a full dry, and both are almost always skipped.
Dry it open, store it upright
Leave every pocket unzipped until the whole bag is dry. Store it standing up somewhere ventilated, not lying in a hot trunk. A bag that is put away damp is a bag that smells next weekend, no matter how well you cleaned it today.