Worn-out lacrosse balls get slick and slippery and lose their grip or tacky rubber texture, making it harder for players to control the ball during the game. The ball slips out of the pocket of your stick and it is hard to control your shot. Save a little money by cleaning your lacrosse balls so they last longer. With the right care, you can extend the life of your new lacrosse balls and revive old slippery ones.
Soak the lacrosse balls in hot, soapy water, made with liquid hand dishwashing detergent, for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, rinse the soap off the balls, using cold water. Or, instead of soaking the balls, wash them in the top rack of your automatic dishwasher, using regular automatic dishwashing detergent.
Dry the balls off with a towel or allow them to dry on the top rack of your automatic dishwasher.
Wipe off the balls using athletic equipment disinfectant wipes or 70 percent isopropyl alcohol, to remove remaining soap and dirt residue.
Store your lacrosse balls in a dry area, away from the sun, to extend the life of the balls. Long-term exposure to moisture and the sun deteriorates the rubber material of lacrosse balls.
Scuff up slippery lacrosse balls to restore grip, using a 220-grit piece of sandpaper. Rub the sandpaper around the entire surface of the ball to scratch the rubber and give the ball better grip during gameplay.