How to Clean Golf Shoe Spikes

A golf swing only works from the ground up, and that all starts with the connection your shoes have to the turf. Keeping your golf shoe spikes clean isn't just about keeping your car trunk tidy, it’s about maintaining the traction you need for a stable, powerful, and consistent swing. This article will walk you through a simple, effective process for deep cleaning your spikes, along with quick tips to maintain them on the course, so you can build your swing from a solid foundation every single time.

Why Clean Spikes Make a Real Difference in Your Game

As a coach, one of the first things I look at when a student is struggling with balance or power is their footing. Your connection to the ground is everything. Think of your spikes as the treads on a high-performance tire. When they get clogged with mud, clippings, sand, and old grass, they lose their ability to dig into the ground effectively. You’re essentially playing on a slippery, unstable surface.

This instability forces your body to make subconscious compensations. Instead of rotating freely around a solid base, you might sway. Instead of transferring a powerful unwinding motion into the ball, you might lose energy because your footing isn't secure. In wet or uneven conditions, a lack of legitimate grip can be the difference between a solid strike and a slip that sends your ball miles off-target. Essentially, a dirty spike turns a golf shoe into a bowling shoe - and nobody wants that when they're standing over a tough approach shot.

Taking a few minutes to clean your spikes is a small investment that pays huge dividends in confidence and performance. It guarantees that the equipment designed to support you is actually able to do its job, letting you focus on the most important thing: making a good swing.

Gathering Your Cleaning Toolkit

You don't need a professional workshop to get your spikes looking and performing like new. Most of what you need is probably already in your garage or utility closet. Here’s a simple checklist to get you started:

• A Standard Spike Wrench: This is a must-have for any golfer with replaceable spikes. It’s a T-shaped tool with two small prongs that fit perfectly into the holes on your spikes, allowing you to loosen and tighten them easily.
• A Stiff-Bristled Brush: A brush for cleaning dishes or scrubbing laundry will work perfectly. Avoid wire brushes, as they can be too abrasive and damage the softer materials on the sole of your shoe.
• A Bucket of Warm, Soapy Water: A little bit of dish soap or a mild detergent mixed into a bucket of warm water is all you need to break down the grime.
• An Old Toothpick or Golf Tee: Perfect for getting into those really tight crevices and picking out stubborn, caked-on mud.
• Old Towels or Rags: You’ll need a few for drying the spikes and the shoes themselves.

The Deep Clean: A Step-by-Step Guide

For a thorough cleaning that will restore your spikes to prime condition, follow this routine every few rounds or whenever your shoes have faced particularly muddy conditions. Give yourself about 20-30 minutes for the process, plus drying time.

Step 1: The Dry Brush Pre-Clean

Before you introduce any water, take your shoes outside and give them a good bang against each other, sole to sole. This will dislodge all the large, loose chunks of dirt and grass. Then, take your stiff-bristled brush - while it's still dry - and vigorously scrub the soles and spikes. The goal here is to remove as much dry debris as possible. It makes the wet cleaning phase much easier and far less messy.

Step 2: Remove the Spikes

Once the big stuff is gone, it’s time for disassembly. Lay a towel down to work on. Insert your spike wrench into a spike, making sure the prongs are fully seated, and turn counter-clockwise to loosen. It might require a bit of force if they haven't been removed in a while. Take your time to avoid stripping the holes in the spike or the receptacle in the shoe.

Place all the removed spikes into a small bowl or directly into your bucket of soapy water. This is an absolutely critical step for a true deep clean. Dirt and grime love to hide in the threads and underneath the base of the spike where you can't reach them otherwise.

A quick note: If you have "spikeless" shoes with permanent rubber nubs, you'll obviously skip this step. The rest of the cleaning process, however, still applies to getting those traction points clean.

Step 3: Soak and Scrub the Spikes

Let the spikes soak in the warm, soapy water for about 10-15 minutes. This will do most of the work for you, softening and lifting the gunk. After they've had a good soak, take each spike one-by-one and scrub it with your bristled brush. Get into every nook and cranny. Use a toothpick or golf tee to dig out any caked-on material from the center holes or indentations. Once they look clean, set them aside on a fresh, dry towel.

Step 4: Clean the Shoe Soles

While the spikes are air-drying, turn your attention to the shoes themselves. Dip your brush into the soapy water and meticulously scrub the entire sole of each shoe. Pay special attention to the empty spike receptacles. These threaded holes are magnets for sand and fine dirt. A good, thorough scrub here ensures that when you put the spikes back in, they will seat correctly and firmly.

After scrubbing, give the soles a quick wipe with a damp rag to remove any soapy residue. Avoid getting the upper part of your shoe soaking wet, especially if they are leather. The focus here is entirely on the sole and its components.

Step 5: The Final Rinse and Dry

Rinse the cleaned spikes under some fresh water to wash away any remaining soap. Pat them dry with a towel and leave them out to air dry completely. Do the same for the shoe soles, wiping them down with a dry towel. It's important to make sure both the spikes and the receptacles are completely dry before reassembly to prevent any potential for rust and to stop moisture from getting trapped.

Step 6: Reassemble and Inspect

Once everything is bone dry, it's time to put it all back together. Hand-thread each spike back into its receptacle, turning it clockwise until it feels snug. Then, use your spike wrench to give it a final quarter-turn to tighten it. Do not over-tighten! You want them to be secure, but overtightening can strip the threads or make them incredibly difficult to remove next time.

This is also the perfect time to inspect your spikes for wear. If the plastic is significantly worn down or any of the tips are broken, it might be time for a fresh set. A bag of replacement spikes is an inexpensive way to completely rejuvenate the grip on your favorite pair of shoes.

Quick Maintenance on the Course

You don't always need a deep clean. To keep your traction consistent during a round, especially on a wet day, get in the habit of quick, on-the-go maintenance.

• Use a Golf Tee: Between shots, a simple golf tee is the perfect tool for picking out mud and wet grass that has become compressed in your spikes.
• The Brush on Your Divot Tool: Many golf towels and club brushes have a small, stiff brush attached. That’s not just for your club faces, give your soles a quick scrub after a shot from the wet rough.
• Knock 'Em Together: The classic move. Firmly knocking the sides of your shoes together is a fast way to dislodge bigger pieces of turf before you address your next shot.

Final Thoughts

Maintaining clean golf shoe spikes is a simple task that supports the very foundation of your golf swing. By ensuring your spikes provide maximum grip, you create the stable base needed to rotate with confidence, transfer energy efficiently, and stay in balance from start to finish.

Just as a solid footing provides you the confidence to commit to a physical swing, having a clear and sound strategy removes the hesitation from your decision-making on the course. We built Caddie AI to act as that instant, on-demand expert in your pocket. From getting a smart play off the tee to analyzing a photo of a tricky lie in the rough, it provides the kind of tour-level advice that lets you face every shot with absolute clarity and confidence.