Handle & Grip Care

Cleaning Wooden Sweep Handles

If you have wooden handles on your sweep oars, they will tend to accumulate oil and dirt over time. They can be cleaned and revitalized by scrubbing with a solution of Ajax (or similar cleanser) and water with a stiff bristled brush.

Cleaning Black Rubber and Blue Ribbed Sculling Grips

The black rubber and blue ribbed sculling grips will age over time with exposure to sunlight. This may result in some of the surface layer of the grip material coming off on your hands as you row. To alleviate this problem, you can clean the grips periodically by scrubbing them with water and a non-abrasive pad.

Cleaning Blue Cellular Grips

Blue cellular grips will need to be cleaned often to maintain maximum performance. If they feel slimy when wet, it is time to clean your grips. The frequency of cleaning blue cellular grips will depend on the environment in which you row. The more warm, wet or dirty the conditions the more frequently cleaning will be necessary. Be sure to wash your hands after applying sunscreen!

Procedure:

1. Scrub the blue grips with a nylon brush (the type used for cleaning vegetables or fingernails) and rubbing alcohol, or in a diluted solution of bleach and water (approximately 10 parts water: 1 part bleach). Do not soak grips in the bleach solution. Cleaning the grips with bleach will have the added benefit of disinfecting them.
2. Rinse well with fresh water.

Cleaning Green Rubber Grips

Though the green grips do not accumulate dirt as readily as the blue ribbed grips, it is advisable to clean them occasionally using the method described for cleaning blue cellular grips.

Grips can be easily replaced when they wear out. Handles can also be replaced, but this involves more work.