Polishing Pad Cleaners - which one

kevincwelch

kevincwelch

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The only dedicated polishing pad cleaner I've used is Wolfgang. I feel like it worked all right -- still noticed left over polish debris in the pads.

WRAPT recently posted a rave, albeit short, review of McKee's. There are quite a lot of reviews of the product, suggesting that the reviews were carried over from XMT or DP reviews. Not sure.

Blackfire has one, and it is currently BOGO.

There is Marine 31.

There's Poorboys.

Of course, Griot's has one too.

Snappy cleaners for bigger batches.

What do people like? Is anyone using a basic APC like D103+ or D108?
 
I have had positive results from CG pad cleaner

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Poor Boys has a good one. I can't stand the Blackfire one. It has a very strong chemical smell.
 
I'm currently using th XMT polishing pad cleaner. I got them on BOGO before the brand transitioned to McKee's. Here's my review on it:
Review: XMT Polishing Pad Cleaner

I asked Nick@McKees37 if this is the same as the McKee's 37 polishing pad cleaner and he said they made slight improvements.

Once I run out of my XMT, I'll be getting the McKee's as a replacement.
 
I just use an ornage based apc and toss em the washing machine with 3D towel Kleen and have been having excellent results.
 
Chemical Guys Pad Cleaner works the best for me. Just soak and rinse.
 
I had 2 bottles of the XMT stuff and I thought the smell of that one was kinda strong. I have the poorboy's now and I like it and will continue to use it.
 
Ive been using XMT for about 1.5 years and ever since I have tried the PoorBoys I havent touched the XMT anymore. I think the XMT is great but PB just does a better job. Stains that the XMT didnt get out came out with PB and it cleans the pads just that much more to make me GLAD I tried it even though I was happy with XMT
 
KirkH said:
Chemical Guys Pad Cleaner works the best for me. Just soak and rinse.
Click to expand...
Same same. But I agitate then rinse. Had a bunch, received on discount, and like it. I am not comfortable throwing them in the washer. Even with a Duet, I fear residual. Deep sink or Grit Guard pad washer for me...
 
agreed with every word of marc's review. well done!

i've only used xmt as i've not done enough pad work to have gone thru my initial purchase. that said, it feels like i use a lot of xmt when i'm cleaning pads/(mostly)applicators. my cheap side creeps in as i'm standing at the kitchen sink and i usually reach for some dawn to supplement the xmt.

xmt works, but the smell/agitation, to me, is a deal breaker. i'll be looking at some of the others suggested here for a replacement.
 
I also really like CG cleaner.

Are you guys diluting it?

I remember through first time I used it. I installed the trigger, and used it straight. Wanna talk about clean pads?!

I usually put 4oz into a 16oz bottle, and fill the rest with water.
 
I use about 1 oz per 5 gallon of water to soak the pads, then rinse.


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I just tried Poorboys World Tornado Pad Cleaner on a couple of pads the other day. Coming from using Dawn and APC, it works well and rinses great.

I mixed up a batch of presoak (2oz/gal) and put 5 pads in a ziplock and added enough mix to saturate them. Some BOSS microfiber pads with Poli-Seal in them and some LC purple foamed wool with BOSS FCC. Massaged it in a little and let it sit.

I'm not sure if the presoak did much. You could see a lot cloudy stuff rinsing in to the sink but could also see a lot of polish at the base of the fibers.

Then I sprayed some undiluted on to the pad and agitated it with a brush and rinsed. Then they were very clean.
 
I find compounds and polishes easy to remove, it the selants that are difficult. On selants what works?

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I used goo gone on a hand pad to remove sealant, but I'm not sure it's good for the pad.

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If the pad quantity being washed is small, I recommend:

(i.) wet face of the pad with warm water and rub in a small amount of Dawn; let sit for 30 min.
(ii.) rinse out pad
(ii.) spray pad with LATA (either undiluted or 1:1, depending on how bad the pad is soiled) and agitate face of pad with non-aggressive nylon brush
(iv.) let pad sit for 5-10 min while you do steps ii & iii. for other pads
(v.) rinse out each pad

Pads have always turned out great this way, plus it saves $$ (32 oz. refill of LATA for $1 and 9 oz. of Dawn for $1 at Dollar Tree) and water.
 
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