How to Clean a Golf Cart
Posted by Alex Sturwold on Jul 24, 2024
What to Clean a Golf Cart With: A Quick and Safe Guide
Estimated Read Time: 1-2 minutes
Keeping your golf cart clean not only means your cart will look better than your neighbors, but it also prevents unnecessary early wear-and-tear on your components, which saves you money.
You clean your car, right? Your golf cart needs the same attention! But cleaning your cart properly requires more than just a quick spray down with a hose and dish soap. After 10-years of helping our customers, here's a quick guide on what to use to clean your golf cart for the best results (and not damaging anything important).
Cleaning Supplies You'll Need for Your Golf Cart
- Mild Dish Soap or Car Wash Solution: Removes dirt without harming your cart's finish.
- Soft Sponge or Microfiber Cloth: Non-abrasive and gentle on surfaces. Golf cart plastics require gentle cloth. to prevent swirl marks in plastic panels.
- Bucket of Water: For mixing your cleaning soaps / solutions.
- Hose or Pressure Washer: A hose is efficient enough for rinsing. If using a pressure washer, make sure to use low pressure around sensitive areas (electronics).
- Soft-Bristled Brush: Perfect for scrubbing tires and hard-to-reach spots.
- Acrylic / Glass Cleaner: Keeps windshields and mirrors spotless.
- Vinyl and Plastic Cleaner: Ideal for seats and plastic body components.
- Tire Shine: Specifically formulated to hydrate golf cart tires, gives a brilliant shine, and prevents dry-rot.
- Drying Towels: Microfiber towels are best to prevent water spots and micro-scratches.
Step-by-Step Golf Cart Cleaning Process
- Get Setup
- Move your cart into the shade. Sunlight and heat can dry soap on your cart before you have time to rinse it and can also leave water spots at the end of your cleaning.
- Remove any personal items, including those inside storage cubbies, from your cart.
- Put your cart into Tow Mode.
- Pre-Rinse the Cart
Use your hose or pressure washer to remove the largest bits of loose dirt and debris from the entire golf cart. Focus on the outside of the cart. Do not spray water in the battery compartment/motor area beneath your front seat. These areas require gentle hand cleaning with a wetted towel.
- Wash Cart Body with Soap
Mix a small amount of mild dish soap or car wash solution in a bucket of water. Use a soft sponge or microfiber cloth to wash the exterior of your cart, starting from the top and working your way down. This way gravity will aid in dirt falling off of your cart.
- Scrub Tires, Wheels and Tough Spots
Use a microfiber towel on the wheels and tires. Use a soft-bristled brush to clean any remaining stubborn dirt from the tires and rims. If your golf cart wheels have a chrome finish, do not use a brush on your chrome. Use a damp towel to clean the edges of your battery compartment and outside of your motor controller (near your rear axle). DO NOT SPRAY BATTERY COMPARTMENT or CONTROLLER WITH WATER. Hand clean these areas only.
- Rinse
Thoroughly rinse off all soap using a hose or pressure washer, ensuring all areas are clean. Begin your rinse at the top of the cart working downwards, allowing gravity to help you in the rinsing process. This is a good time to blast off the underside of your cart as well. We recommend avoiding the use of soap or cleaner on the bottom of your cart.
- Clean your Seats and Plastic Parts
Apply vinyl cleaner (or mixture of 2-parts water, 1-part bleach) to your seats using a sponge. While most golf cart seats are made of UV marine-grade vinyl, it doesn't mean that mold or mildew won't occur on your seats. Regularly cleaning them will prevent this. Apply vinyl and plastic cleaner to another cloth. Wipe down other plastic elements to hydrate and protect them.
- Clean Windshield and Mirrors
Golf cart windshields are typically made of acrylic that scratches easily. We strongly suggest using a microfiber towel and warm water to clean your windshield. Avoid using paper towels or old rags on your windshield if you don't want micro-scratches. You can feel free to use a glass cleaner on a microfiber cloth to wipe down your mirrors though. Using the right chemicals here will ensure a streak-free finish.
- Dry Your Cart
Utilize microfiber drying towels to dry the golf cart completely. Hard to reach areas can be blown-dry if you have a leaf blower handy. Using microfiber towels, and air (if available) avoids water spots and streaks.
- Finish With Tires
Apply tire cleaner to hydrate and restore the look of your golf cart tires. We recommend using a water-based tire shine to avoid any "sling" that can occur on your body panels with solvent-based tire shines.
By following these straightforward golf cart cleaning steps and using the right products, you'll keep your cart in showroom quality condition. This 9-step approach ensures you won't damage any of your expensive golf cart accessories and helps prevent early, unnecessary wear-and-tear maintenance.
