How to clean a dartboard Remove the numbered ring from your board and clean it with WD40 and a wire brush. Vacuum your board to eliminate any dirt buildup. Finally, clean the board with a soft, moist cloth and dry it with a separate dry cloth.
Because dartboards are composed of distinct materials, they have specific cleaning requirements.
To properly clean and preserve your dartboard, I'll go through the measures you should take in this article, as well as something you should never do while cleaning a dartboard.
Why Do Dartboards Need to Be Cleaned?
If a dartboard is not properly maintained, it can result in bulging, worn-out numbers, missing bristles, and a board that is no longer playable. Cleaning and maintaining your board is also not a time-consuming task.
How to Clean a Dartboard
There are three materials that are usually utilized in the manufacture of dartboards, and because the end product is varied, the cleaning techniques are also diverse.
How to Clean an Electronic Dartboard
The easiest to clean is an electronic dartboard. These boards are made entirely of plastic, making them extremely sturdy and easy to clean. Cleaning an electronic dartboard is as simple as wiping it down with a dry towel.
You can also lightly vacuum these boards to remove dirt from hard-to-reach spots, or use a cotton wool swab to forcibly remove dirt accumulation. Using water to clean these boards will destroy the electronic circuits and render them unusable.
How to Clean a Bristle or Dartboard
You should never attempt to clean a bristle dartboard with water, and I'll explain why shortly. Most people believe that you can soak these boards or wipe them down with hot, soapy water, but this will almost immediately damage your board. A bristle board is the most common type of board, but it is also the most difficult to clean.
Remove the outer ring.
This will help you not only clean the ring but also remove any dirt that has accumulated on the board. Personally, I use WD40 and a wire brush to thoroughly clean and polish the ring, as these rings are prone to corrosion and dirt buildup.
Wipe the board down with a dry cloth.
Wipe the board with a dry towel to remove any loose surface dirt and break up any dirt. It's also a good idea to go over your cables with the wire brush to remove any debris. For this stage, do not apply any WD40 or liquid.
Vacuum the board to remove dirt.
Because sisal fibers are tightly packed on a dartboard, any dirt should be on the surface and readily wiped with a dry cloth and vacuumed. This is the best and safest way to clean your board without risking damage from water or harsh cleaning agents.
Wipe the board with a soft, mildly damp cloth.
To remove any stains and last bits of dirt that vacuuming didn't quite catch, wipe the board with a mildly moist soft cloth. To clean the board, the cloth must be slightly dampened.
It's a more intensive process than you think, but due to the construction of these boards, getting them wet isn't an option. Finally, dry the board and reattach the numbered outer ring.
How to Clean a Wooden Dartboard
Cleaning and maintaining a wooden board is a bit different. To clean a wooden dartboard, you must wet it while not in use to prevent it from drying out and breaking.
You shouldn't touch the board while it's soaking and softening because it's fragile. Remove a wooden board from the water and let it dry for 30–60 minutes. Cleaning with a gentle cloth or an old toothbrush removes grime.
A toothbrush's bristles are gentle enough not to damage the wood and keep the board looking clean. Wooden boards are either soaking wet or bone dry, so cleaning them requires a 30-60 minute window of dampness.
How Often Should You Clean a Dartboard?
An electronic dartboard will certainly collect more dust, but it will also be the easiest to clean, so wiping it down before and after each game should become a habit. The same is true for a wooden dartboard; by soaking it in water in between uses, dirt is less likely to accumulate. If you play every day, I'd recommend cleaning them once a week, or once every two weeks if you play rarely.
How Do You Clean a Moldy Dartboard?
Because dartboard mold can be difficult to remove, prevention is always the best method. Harsh chemicals in mold spray are likely to damage and discolor the board's dye. Mold thrives in moist environments, so our first action should be to relocate your board to a dry location (possibly sunlight). Once dried, use a wire brush or an old toothbrush to remove the mold.
Should You Soak a Dartboard?
Soaking a dartboard does more harm than good and can ruin a bristle dartboard. Soaking is a great way to break up dirt and make anything easier to clean. However, if you need to soak a wooden board to keep it from drying out and breaking, you should not soak it.
Can a Dartboard Get Wet?
You can't soak a dartboard, but you also can't let your board become wet. This is due to two factors. This causes your dartboard to stretch and swell because sisal fibers absorb water (and moisture). There is no dartboard technology that allows you to wash and wet the dartboard, so this should be avoided at all costs.
Final Thoughts
To keep your board clean, all you need is a moist cloth and an old toothbrush. Just make sure not to get your bristle board wet because it will clean it quickly but will leave you with more problems to cope with as a result. Cleaning a dartboard is an important concept, as is rotating the board on a regular basis and keeping your dart tips sharp.