Last Updated on December 20, 2022
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If you have a brass pole, then this needs a different approach than other pole finishes such as Chrome, Stainless Steel or Titanium Gold. Silicone and Powder-Coated poles are different as well. If you want your pole to last for a long time, like it should, then you need to keep it well-maintained and clean!
Lupit Pole and X Pole both sell popular dance poles in the materials and finishes mentioned here.
Why Should You Clean Your Pole?
There are many ways your dance pole get dirty and needs to be cleaned;
- Grip products leave a residue on the pole’s surface
- Sweat and dead skin cells stick to the pole (nice!)
- Antiperspirants, lotions and other skincare products worn by the dancer will also leave a residue
Dance poles in clubs, studios and gyms are going to be dirtier than your pole at home, as they see a lot more use. Studio poles should be cleaned at least twice a day, or each student could be asked to wipe down their pole at the end of each lesson.
The Proper Way to Clean your Pole Dancing Pole
If you have a regular Chrome pole, then you can use cleaners such as alcohol, window cleaner and vinegar. Brass poles, on the other hand, need to be polished with Brass polish and you can’t use any standard cleaner on silicone or powder-coated dance poles or it will ruin the surface.
Here is a detailed guide for you to properly clean your dance pole, separated by the different dance pole materials and finishes available.
What you will need to Clean your Dance Pole
There is usually no need to take your pole down before cleaning. You may need to climb slightly to reach the top, so it’s best to clean the pole ‘top-down’. I usually have a microfiber cleaning cloth tucked into the waistband of my shorts when I do this!
As you’re cleaning the pole, you may as well check its safety at the same time, right?! Check that all the pole’s joints and screws are fully tight because safety is paramount when pole dancing at home.
You will need a selection of the following products to keep your pole clean:
- Glass/Mirror Cleaner – This is used for cleaning standard Chrome, Titanium Gold or Stainless Steel Poles. It’s simple and cheap!
- iTac Pole Cleaner – This is an all-natural product made from essential oils and comes with a free microfiber cloth! You can use this on any pole surface except for silicone.
- Brass Cleaner – If you have a brass pole, then you’ll eventually need a brass cleaner. Brass-o is the most popular brand and you’ll be able to buy this almost anywhere!
- A Microfiber cloth – Microfibre clothes are the best material for cleaning your dance pole, they’re antibacterial and very inexpensive to buy.
- Disposable cleaning wipes – you can use these to wipe off the pole quickly after sessions.
- Rubbing alcohol – for general pole cleaning/maintenance.
- Gloves – Brass cleaner is messy! Trust me, if you don’t have gloves then you’ll regret it! Also, if you have a bad skin reaction to any of the other products listed here then you’ll want to protect yourself.
DO NOT any of these products to clean your pole:
These products should not be used as they will damage the surface of your dance pole.
- Scouring pads or Brillo Pads
- Bleach-based cleaning products
- General household cleaner/Multi-purpose cleaning spray
- Furniture polish
Any of these products could cause long-term damage or completely ruin your pole!!
How to Clean your Chrome, Titanium Gold or Stainless Steel Pole
Chrome poles and Stainless Steel Poles are the most common dance poles around the world; Titanium Gold is also a popular pole finish. When looked after, these materials will last for a very long time, although Chrome is susceptible to becoming worn over long periods of time and Titanium Gold can change color slightly.
Here is the correct way to clean your Chrome, Stainless Steel or Titanium Gold Pole:
- Clean the pole with a dry microfibre cloth to remove any dust and grip powder residue, etc.
- Spray a small amount of glass/mirror cleaner onto the microfiber cloth and wipe over the pole’s surface from top to bottom.
- Pay extra attention to any areas of the pole’s surface that have become tarnished over time. If you accidentally used too much spray, then wipe it away with a dry cloth (wipe rigorously) and wait for it to dry naturally.
- To get rid of any tough dirt or dried-on chalky residue, use some strong rubbing alcohol with a cloth and put a bit of elbow grease into your cleaning work!
Do this regularly and it will stay in great condition for a long time!
How to Clean your Brass Pole
Brass is a wonderful material to use for a dance pole; it does not rust and it’s easy to grip. You will notice, however, that brass is very quick to become tarnished. If your brass pole gets a lot of use, then it will become tarnished even quicker. By looking after your brass dance pole, then it will last you for a very long time.
If you’ve noticed that the finish on your brass pole is becoming tarnished then this is how to properly clean your brass pole:
- Clean the pole with a dry microfibre cloth to remove any dust and grip powder residue, etc.
- Using disposable cleaning cloths and while wearing gloves, polish the pole evenly with a brass cleaner such as Brass-o.
- Pay extra attention to any areas of the pole’s surface that have become tarnished over time. If there is any excess Brass cleaner on the pole then pat it dry with the cleaning cloth.
- When the brass cleaner has dried, use a tiny amount of rubbing alcohol or alcohol wipes on the pole.
- Never use water on your brass dance pole, brass is porous and will become easily tarnished when it gets wet.
See this video from X Pole that gives a demonstration of cleaning your brass pole:
How to Clean Your Silicone Dance Pole
Silicone poles are different again. Their coating is not metal, so you can’t use any of the cleaners we’ve mentioned so far as they will seriously damage the silicone. Any cleaning material with abrasive ingredients (e.g. most of them) will ruin your pole.
For silicone poles, it’s recommended to use a cleaner designed for sex toys, as it won’t damage the silicone! Here is the correct way to clean your Silicone Pole:
- With a dry microfiber cloth, wipe the surface of the pole to wipe away any powder or grip aid residue.
- Use a small amount of silicone toy cleaner and wipe the surface of the pole with the microfiber cloth.
- If there are any stubborn areas of dried-on grip aid residue, just give it some elbow grease!
- Let the pole dry naturally.
Do this often, and your pole will be in a better condition and feel nicer to use!
How to Clean Your Powder-Coated Dance Pole
Like with silicone dance poles, you can’t use any standard household cleaner such as glass/mirror cleaner this time. If you use anything abrasive, it will cause the powder-coating on your dance pole to wear off, leaving it ruined.
The one product that is recommended for a powder-coated dance pole is iTac Pole Cleaner, this is made from natural ingredients and doesn’t damage the surface of the pole. It’s not essential to use this specialist pole cleaner, as you can actually use mild soapy water with a powder-coated pole.
Here’s the best way to clean your powder-coated pole without damaging it:
- With a dry microfiber cloth, wipe the surface of the pole to wipe away any powder or grip aid residue.
- Dilute some very mild detergent, such as washing-up soap with some warm water. Wring out a cloth so it’s not dripping and wipe the pole over.
- If there are any stubborn areas of dried-on grip aid residue, just give it some elbow grease!
- Let the pole dry naturally, pat dry with a microfiber cloth if necessary.
Do this only when needed, as you don’t want to cause premature wear of the powder coating on the pole! Use a dry cloth after pole sessions to wipe away any residue.
Clean your Dance Pole Regularly
You should clean your pole regularly, after each use in order to keep it in its best condition. If you use grip aid products then you may find that you need to clean the pole more often.
After a workout or practice session, use a small amount of rubbing alcohol and a microfiber cloth to remove any residue of chalk or grip aids. Next, use a dry cloth to polish the pole.
For a comparison of different materials finishes on dance poles, read our informative guide here.
Always put Safety First
After you’ve cleaned your pole, you may find it more slippery than it usually is, or it will feel different in some way. You should be extra careful if this happens, warm yourself up first and use grip aid products to help you grip the clean pole surface.
We hope you’ve found this guide on how to clean your brass pole useful. If you found this guide helpful, please share it with your friends and other pole dance enthusiasts!
Happy poling!
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