Cleaning buffing pads

R

RUBigDog05

New member
Today I used a couple buffing pads on my PC for the first time and need to know how to clean them. As of right now, they are in clean bucket of water soaking. I need to use them again tomorrow morning to fnish my detail. SHould I go ahead and take them of the bucket and let them airdry or can I wait till the morning to take them out, dry them off on the PC and then let them airdry till I'm ready to use them again?
 
I would finish washing them now and let them dry overnight. I don't know what you are soaking them in but, I usually squirt some Dawn on mine, rub it into the pad, add a little water and rub in some more ... then rinse under the faucet until the water runs clear. I then squeeze out as much water as I can.
 
Right now I just put mine in a big zip lock baggie that I've labeled with the product. If I need to clean them I've had great luck with Murphy's Oil Soap. MOS seems to get the product out of the microfibers and pads fast. I do the MOS in a bucket by hand though.

Someone mentioned that you need to be careful with want you put in a washer. I don't know if MOS is bad for the washer. But when I do the hand wash I see that there is a lot of product in the pads and towels. When i hand wash I get a better sense of if they are clean and none or very little of the product goes though the washer. Then I do the machine wash (not any PC pads) with Woolite and then the Microfiber restorer.

Could be over kill, but that's me. And I'm still new so wait and see if I'm doing anything wrong.
 
I jumped the gun a little bit in my last post ...
If I am going to be using the pads, with the same product, the next day or within a week or so, I will just store the pad in a zip-loc bag and not completely seal it. That allows a little air to get in so the pad doesn't start to mold. When you take them out of the bag and before using them, run a stiff nylon brush over them to remove any dried product.
 
ok I found this thread in archive with a search. My question is, Can pads be cleaned so you can use a different product with them,ie changing polish brands or wax brands,or do I have to stay with the product they were originaly used with? I would like to compare on my own abrasive polish vs chemical polish. or wax vs sealant.
second, do they need to be washed after every use if you stay with the same product. thanks :dunno :huh
 
montster2000 said:
ok I found this thread in archive with a search. My question is, Can pads be cleaned so you can use a different product with them,ie changing polish brands or wax brands,or do I have to stay with the product they were originaly used with?
Click to expand...
Yes, pads can be cleaned so that you can use other polishes with them.

montster2000 said:
.
second, do they need to be washed after every use if you stay with the same product. thanks :dunno :huh
Click to expand...

If you're going to use the pad in the next couple of days, no. If you're going to store it for a while, yes. Don't let product sit in the pad for extended amounts of time - stuff can begin growing in them....
 
Hey Thanks Jared. I appreciate the help. I need to get a collection of pads and I don't want to ruin them straight off. :D
 
I find that Snappy Clean works great...I just use half of a packet in about 1 gallon of water and let it soak for about 30 min. Then, just rinse off and the product comes running out. Snappy is available at most detail supply shops...I have not tried any other methods because this works so well. Whatever you do, don't let the product dry up and get rock hard in the pads.

Mike
 
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