If your pole is dirty it can become very slippery with hard-to-remove, stubborn stains.
Why Your Pole Needs Cleaning
The short answer is it’s because of you – we shed and regrow our outer skin cells each month, and some of this skin will inevitably end up coating your pole.
You’ll also transfer a portion of the grease and grime you’ve picked up throughout the day, as well as creams, moisturizers, and other beauty items.
This all results in a filthy and slippery residue on your pole.
How Often Should You Clean Your Pole?
The answer really depends on how intensively you use it, but in general, I’d suggest cleaning your pole once before you start your session, again mid-workout, and then finally, wipe it down at the end of your session.
If you attend a pole dance class, a good hygienic practice you might notice is the poles being cleaned every 20 minutes, but many attendees will carry their own towels as well and do this themselves.
Stop Your Pole Getting Mucky
There are a few things you can do to help keep your pole cleaner for longer, though most of the answers aren’t quick fixes, unfortunately.
- Practice makes perfect – If you’re just starting to pole dance you will probably leave quite a bit more residue behind because of over-gripping the pole.
This is a perfectly normal response, and as you become more comfortable and confident with your pole dancing your grip will naturally loosen. - Don’t sweat it – Sweating can make the pole mucky and slippery more quickly, as the day’s grease and grime released by your pores sticks to the pole. And if you get sweaty hands at the same time this will just compound the problem.
There’s no perfect answer, but the best advice is often to take a short break before coming back relaxed and ready to nail that move! - Grip products – Some pole grip aids work by coating your hands with sticky wax layer. If you find this rubs off excessively on your pole, try exercising without or experiment with one of the other products available.
- You can leave your boots on – Less skin contact usually means less dirt on your pole. Wearing a nice pair of boots will not only keep your pole cleaner for longer, but also give you some useful extra grip too.
Keeping Your Pole Clean
Simply grab an old tea towel, towel, or t-shirt and give the pole a wipe for a quick cleanup. Fabric made of cotton or a synthetic mix is typically effective, but avoid fabric that is too fluffy since this can leave its own residue on the pole.
Some choose to use special polishing cloths to give their poles that special showroom shine. Personally, I’ve always felt that this buffing time could be better spent spinning around my pole, but if you do decide to get one make sure it’s not impregnated with wax or polish as, of course, the trick is to remove the grease not add more.
best cleaner for dance poles & What To Use To Clean Your Dance Pole
After an intensive pole dancing session, you may find that your pole needs a little more attention to restore it to its former shiny, grippy self.
There are a number of cleaning products that can help, though do make sure they won’t damage your pole first. I’ve used most of these without any problems on my poles, but Vertical Leisure, for instance, advise against using acetone on their X-Poles.
- Water – At the top of the list, water is the best cleaner for a dance pole, and water is always a safe option. It is usually rather effective, too. Dampen part of a cloth and wipe firmly down and around the pole. Dry the pole off again and you’re good to go!
- Acetone – When my poles are in high demand during busy classes I often use acetone (nail polish remover) to help clean the poles. Because it’s a solvent, acetone is usually a lot more effective than water for cleaning a greasy pole.
(It’s also great for removing grease and creams from the body – I normally use a small amount to dry my hands at the start of a session, and some of my students have even used it to clean moisturizer off their inner thighs!) - As with water, apply a small amount to a cloth and rub your pole down. Make sure you give the pole a quick wipe to remove any excess acetone before jumping back on again.
- Alcohol – You can use alcohol on your pole in exactly the same way as acetone, though some people prefer it as it evaporates more quickly. Of course, if your pole manufacturer recommends you don’t use acetone this may simplify your choice…
- Baby Wipes – Quick, clean, and supplied in handy packs, baby wipes are great for getting grime off your pole. Some baby wipes contain alcohol, which is what actually does the hard work of cleaning your pole.
Do check they don’t contain moisturizer, or you’ll end up with a much more slippery pole than when you started! - Likewise, face cleanser wipes will also do the trick, providing they are clarifying and moisturizer-free.
- Glass cleaner – Some of my students swear by this to clean their poles. I’ve never used it myself though – do leave a comment if you have to let me know how you got on.
