New Technique- Pad cleaning

budman3

budman3

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Hey everyone. I had some free time again today (nothing to detail) so I decided to do a thorough cleaning of my pad supply. I usually just wash them by hand with dawn and oxy clean. I have also let them soak in some APC overnight. However when I let them soak, I put some weights on top of them to keep them underwater... but the weights rusted and left my pads discolored, which you'll see :(. I haven't ventured into machine washing yet, but that may be next.

Today's process. I had a few dirty pads which needed to be cleaned. I don't remember what I used it on but they were filthy. I used Pinnacles Pad cleaner, 1/2 scoop of oxy clean w/ 12 oz water and Folex carpet cleaner. Out of the three that I used today, Pinnacle pad cleaner was easiest to use and produced the cleanest pads. I still prefer my oxy clean wash though. The pre mix oxy clean did the trick but IMO soaking the pads in oxy clean is much more effective than spraying it on. As for the Folex, it did pretty good. It worked best when you sprayed it on and rubbed it in right away. It didn't fare too well when you let it soak though... I think my next test will be doing an oxy clean wash and soak in the washing machine...
Onto the pictures many of you have been waiting for :Picture:

Pinnacle cleaner (about 20 sprays)
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Oxy clean via sprayer
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Pinnacle again (don't mind the stains....)
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Oxy clean via sprayer
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Folex
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So, that's that. Take this thread for what it's worth. I may have sparked someones interest or shut a door... I don't think I'll be cleaning them in the driveway anymore. The hose was nice to rinse the pads out but it was almost too strong... the water didn't absorb into the pad to rinse out, it just delfected off of it. So how do you guys usually wash your pads? Machine, hand, soak?
 
Very nice review there bro...to me they all look clean but I've been using the XMT pad cleaner for all this time (I ordered a large container of this stuff). The time was perfoct too, as I'm jus about to run out of XMT pad cleaner so I may have to give your methods a try. I enjoyed your review.

Thank you for sharing...wicked results too :righton:
 
nice write up! I hate the fact that the pinn. pad cleaner makes me cough when i use it, it gets in the air and its hard to breath, it smells bad too. I think i might start using 303 cleaner
 
Budman...before the new washer I use to wash my pads by hand 100% of the time...I would spray a APC on the them and let dwell a few minutes..then I would spray either dawn soap or power disolver on them and wash in a bucket....they came out very clean....

now I decided to try the washer since its a front loader and seems more gentle on them..no agitator beating them up....I spray with APC as I always did....let sit awhile...then before I toss them in I spray with power disolver...start the machine and add a little detergent...and they come out very clean....If i have just 2 pads I will still do by hand....but if 5-6 pads I use the washer...I guess I am getting lazy...lol....

PS..I think the XMT pad cleaner is sorta a APC...as it does give the same effects as a APC to me...Chokes me...

AL
 
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Hey Al, do you do the samething for the wool pads? Just wondering. I don't use the machine to clean my pads I just do it by hand still....not sure if I would throw them in the washer though...one of these day's I'll have to give it a try.
 
I have always sprayed them with pinnacle pad cleaner, and rinsed with a hose. But they don`t get all clean. Have also tried with dp pad cleaner, and that works better. But I will try to wash them in a washer next time. Thanks for the review :)
 
Thanks for the write-up.
I usually soak the pad with Pinnicle pad cleaner, let soak in, and then "finger" scrub under the shower faucet.
 
Nica said:
Hey Al, do you do the samething for the wool pads? Just wondering. I don't use the machine to clean my pads I just do it by hand still....not sure if I would throw them in the washer though...one of these day's I'll have to give it a try.
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Nica....I have good luck with either a car shampoo. or Dawn...wash in a bucket...rinse with a hose and try to press out what water i can and then spin them...but you will get wet....You can spin them in a bucket also...I am to lazy...but they come very clean with either product...dawn for heavy stuff...I use a cheap shampoo also..like NXT...KIT....they are harsh and clean good...

AL
 
Thanks for your thoughts Al. I'll save some pads and try them out in the washing machine. We'll see how it turns out since there really won't be a lot of agitation (compared to doing it by hand). I do like the thought of the dwell time in the machine, plus the pre treat. I too noticed the pad cleaner to make me cough... worked really good though. Anybody else use a different APC or detergent?
 
pinnalce xmt pad cleaner is just an APC with a nice misting spray head on it and some red coloring :) ..... just about any "soap/cleaner" type product works well on pads....spinning them dry yields fastests drying...i pretty much grab whatever cleaner is near me to clean my pads...woolite, carpet cleaner, pad cleaner, apc....they all pretty much work the same depending on how much i have diluted them....obviously stronger concentrations yield better results...great writeup budman.....and just like AL i have a front loading washing machine so i use that when i have 4+ pads to clean...
 
Al-53 said:
Budman...before the new washer I use to wash my pads by hand 100% of the time...I would spray a APC on the them and let dwell a few minutes..then I would spray either dawn soap or power disolver on them and wash in a bucket....they came out very clean....

now I decided to try the washer since its a front loader and seems more gentle on them..no agitator beating them up....I spray with APC as I always did....let sit awhile...then before I toss them in I spray with power disolver...start the machine and add a little detergent...and they come out very clean....If i have just 2 pads I will still do by hand....but if 5-6 pads I use the washer...I guess I am getting lazy...lol....

PS..I think the XMT pad cleaner is sorta a APC...as it does give the same effects as a APC to me...Chokes me...

AL
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Somebody tell me if this is bad--I use some APC, and then I put the pad on my rotary and hold the hose nozzle against it to flush it, being careful not to electrocute myself, then I spin the pad out.
 
BlackCoupe said:
Somebody tell me if this is bad--I use some APC, and then I put the pad on my rotary and hold the hose nozzle against it to flush it, being careful not to electrocute myself, then I spin the pad out.
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to me..YUP....I have been zapped before....running water..plugged in machine ...used together...equals Afro and mule kick...LOL....

I will tell you what..If I was Mobile detailer and did cars every day..I would seriously look into the LC pad cleaning machine...I seen the video on it and a few reviews....and they clean pads nice....

AL
 
I don't think I'd be running the rotary with a hose near it... I just rinsed them out thoroughly (front and back) on the grit guard. Then spin dry via rotary.
 
Like others here if I have 4+ I drop them in the Maytag. A bit of Oxyclean powder and some Micro Restore in warm water and let 'er rip! Haven't had the backing come off one yet and they come out cleaner than they do with me hand washing them.
 
Nice review Budman. That was good to see the different methods. They all did OK, huh. You must have used XMT Glaze with the one white pad. Got one that looks the same.
My pad cleaning improved a lot when I started adding very little water after spraying with XMT Pad Cleaner. Here's what I do. Spay with cleaner (enough to wet surface, 4-5 sprays), then add water to a pad brush and knead in as deep as I can to a section of the pad, then do another section, another, etc. Let sit for 5-10 minutes and then rinse and knead. Spin dry.
 
What I find works really really well for pads is Clean & Clear (the orange face wash). I gets stuff out pretty effortlessly. I would like to try the Dawn Power Dissolver, but it is not available in Canada yet.
 
Jimmie said:
Nice review Budman. That was good to see the different methods. They all did OK, huh. You must have used XMT Glaze with the one white pad. Got one that looks the same.
My pad cleaning improved a lot when I started adding very little water after spraying with XMT Pad Cleaner. Here's what I do. Spay with cleaner (enough to wet surface, 4-5 sprays), then add water to a pad brush and knead in as deep as I can to a section of the pad, then do another section, another, etc. Let sit for 5-10 minutes and then rinse and knead. Spin dry.
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The blue stain is from SSR2, purple from SSR 2.5 and not pictured I have a hot pink pad that is from SSR1... those are the only pads I use the same products on ... easy enough to tell the differences.
 
might I suggest for the weight you put keep the towels in the water, you should put it in a plastic baggie and it will keep the weight from rusting.

By the way, thanks for the tips and review.
 
scoobnewb007 said:
might I suggest for the weight you put keep the towels in the water, you should put it in a plastic baggie and it will keep the weight from rusting.

By the way, thanks for the tips and review.
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Didn't even think of that! Thanks. :righton: After the pads got discolored I decided that wouldn't be worth it to have them soak that way if they'll just get screwed up... I think the best way to clean pads is to let them soak for a little while. I wouldn't suggest the weight technique without wrapping them in a baggie now :p.

Who would have thought there was so many ways to wash pads?
-Wash by hand in the house
-Wash via machine
-Wash in driveway
-Soak and rinse
-LC pad washing machine
-Some don't even wash (more for wool I believe)
 
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