My preference is alcohol. It works fine just by itself in removing ball marks and overall dirt and grime---especially when applied with a mico-fiber towel.
Acetone is far superior but it's illegal under USBC rules. I used to use acetone in my garage for removing tough petroleum-based grease and stains but abruptly abandoned it after I had become ill from it. Even though I always made sure to apply it in a well-ventilated area, it still had an adverse effect on my health. It was beginning to
affect my liver enzymes even though the amounts I used were very small---not good. It is also easily absorbed through the skin.
Acetone is also highly flammable, so if you are going to use it for ANY purpose, be
extremely careful. By all means, do not bring it into the bowling center to clean your equipment.
My advice is to simply stick with USBC-approved ball cleaners or go with alcohol and/or Simple Green (or something similar). You might need to apply a little more elbow grease but healthwise and for overall safety, you will be far better off.
I also have a general rule when it comes to maintaining my equipment. I would never use my kitchen appliances (i.e., dishwasher, microwave or conventional oven) or any appliance or food utensils to bake, broil, or clean my equipment. It's best to keep them separate for not only your safety, but for the safety of your family as well.
