How to clean pads?

[RoyalBlUE08]

whats the best method to clean pads? I hear some of you use a few pads PER vehicle? I dont think thats necessary, will using the foam conditiiong brush work well to allow for quick cleaning and use just 1 pad per vehicle?

 

[Jimmie]

If they get too dirty I'll just throw on a new pad. The dirty one gets sprayed with cleaner right away then I scratch with water, and let dwell until the end of the day.Most often I'll just drag a towel across it while it's running.
The Makita I use a spur and love it.

 

[Porsche Pilot]

One pad per vehicle will be a bit limiting IMO. But, if that is all you have then you will need to clean it pretty often. Check out Mike Phillip's article on cleaning pads on the fly. A terry cloth towel works great at getting the spent polish out.

 

[trerc]

I use a cheapie nylon fingernail brush I pick up at walmart and compressed air. When I'm done wash them with Dawn in the sink until clean and dry on a rack overnight until dry. then I place them back in an open bag.

 

[slickooz]

When I finish detailing a car, I usually power wash out all the compound/polish out of them. Then air dried them, they look brand new after.

 

[Evan Nave]

I have been very happy with DP Pad Rejuvenator cleaner. The product makes cleaning a breeze and the pads look like new.

 

[Rav777]

When I finish detailing a car, I usually power wash out all the compound/polish out of them. Then air dried them, they look brand new after.

:iagree:

I pressure wash my pads as well and they are holding up great. What I do is fill a 5 gallon bucket up with about 3 gallons of water and dawn. I let them sit there for a bit and then I gently press on them flat with my hands until I drench the water out of them. You want to make sure you dont literally wring out the pad as it may expand the structure of the foam. I then toss the water and spray each one individually while they are sitting under the bucket. I then empty the bucket again and attach the pad to my PC then stick it in the empty bucket and let it spin dry. The rest I leave up to the hot weather to dry. It's nice to have a good number of pads.

 

[slickooz]

:iagree:

I pressure wash my pads as well and they are holding up great. What I do is fill a 5 gallon bucket up with about 3 gallons of water and dawn. I let them sit there for a bit and then I gently press on them flat with my hands until I drench the water out of them. You want to make sure you dont literally wring out the pad as it may expand the structure of the foam. I then toss the water and spray each one individually while they are sitting under the bucket. I then empty the bucket again and attach the pad to my PC then stick it in the empty bucket and let it spin dry. The rest I leave up to the hot weather to dry. It's nice to have a good number of pads.

From what I read, you shouldn't have a DA free spinning without resistant. It can be damaged because when turned on, it should always be on a surface. Same goes for you should turn off DA before lifting it off the car.

 

[Bunky]

whats the best method to clean pads? I hear some of you use a few pads PER vehicle? I dont think thats necessary, will using the foam conditiiong brush work well to allow for quick cleaning and use just 1 pad per vehicle?

You do not think it is necessary or is it you do not want to use more than one pad because that is all you have?

A fresh pad can give you more optimal results especially on nasty paint where polish, paint, crud, etc get on the pad.

You should always have several pads as spares and they do not cost that much.

I use Optimum Power Clean but that requires extra time to clean and dry.

 

[RoyalBlUE08]

Well i only have one polishing and one waxing pad from the kit that i bought from griots garage polish and wax kit. yesterday i ordered the meguiars microfiber da correction system which has 2 cutting and 2 finishing pads. i can use one microfiber pad for the whole car right? i just keep cleaning it as i move on to the next panel? those pads are expensive lol

 

[ScottB]

DP .. mix up as little or much as needed

 

[ethereal]

Meguiars Super Degreaser and APC+ work well to clean pads. When I finish working I use a towel to get as much out as I can (the clean on the fly method) then spray them with with SD or APC+ and let it sit for 10 minutes. I then rinse it out, then let it soak in hot water and dawn for an hour then rinse very well. Very cheap cleaning method, and the pads come out looking great.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Here's a way to clean your foam pads as you're working on the car, be sure to collect up 2-3 terry cloth hand towels, make sure they are clean.

How to clean your foam pad on the fly



For the Meguiar's Microfiber DA Pads air works best but most people don't have an air compressor so use a pad conditioning brush like you see me using to clean a Surbuf pads, or even a stiff tooth brush...

Joe aka Superior Shine shared his method of using a Bug Sponge which I show here from this thread...

Meguiar's Microfiber DA Correction System with Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher



Next up I tested the Bug Sponge to see if it would work to clean the pads on the 3" Griot's Mini Polisher and it did work but like when you're polishing, you need to keep the face of the pad flat against the Bug Sponge as any extra pressure on just an edge of the face of the pad slowed down pad rotation.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

yesterday i ordered the meguiars microfiber da correction system which has 2 cutting and 2 finishing pads. i can use one microfiber pad for the whole car right? i just keep cleaning it as i move on to the next panel? those pads are expensive lol

When buffing out cars... more pads are better...

If you haven't already, watch this video as it shares tips and techniques from Jason Rose and Mike Pennington on how to use the Microfiber DA Correction System.


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhJYFLgIjhE&hd=1]Autogeek.net - New Meguiars Microfiber DA System - YouTube[/video]