When should I wash/trash a polishing pad?

[Davidss]

Hi I`ve been using a PC for about a year now, I`ve done maybe 1/2 a dozen car and am really getting the hang of it. One question I`ve always had is:



How do you know when you need to wash a pad?

What is the best way to wash/dry a pad?

When is it time to throw away a pad?



Thanks autopia!

[Ignition]

How do you know when you need to wash a pad?

What is the best way to wash/dry a pad?

When is it time to throw away a pad?

After detail, you don`t want to use dirty pads.



Search is your friend as this has probably been discussed several times.

I use dishwash detergent for handwashing the pads, good rinse/press out excess water and left to dry.

Use common sense, most pads do work ok even though they look bit worn.

[imported_Denzil]

:welcome to Autopia Davidss.



- Usually I`ll wash my pads after a detail and if they get pretty caked on during a detail, I`ll wash them.



- For me, the best/cheapest way to wash my pads is fill a bucket with a little bit of Dawn and water and massage the product(s) out of the pads.



- You can kind of tell when it`s time to throw away your pads. Usually that`s characterized by varying degrees of pad wear such as: deteriorating foam, backing separating from foam pads, etc.



I hope this helps.

[Accumulator]

Davids- Welcome to Autopia!



Most polishing/finishing pads will last a good long time. Cutting pads sometimes wear to the point that they become more gentle, which may or may not be a big deal depending on what you`re doing with `em.

[Davidss]

Thanks for the info guys! I have searched a lot and there is some info on how to wash pads but not much on when to wash them. So can I make it through a whole car without washing a pad?

[cshorey]

Welcome Davidss,



I use 4" pads and following advice I got here at autopia I change my pads while polishing. This means I am using a hand full of pads by the time I am done (I switch to new ones when they start getting built up polish, or if they get dirty or something). I wait till am all done polishing for the car and then clean all of the dirty pads.



I am using Dawn Power Disolver to clean then (search, as its been talked about a lot here). Works really good. After they are cleaned I let them air dry usually, though I just did a few in a dryer run on low heat as I wanted to use a few again pretty quickly. I then store then in plastic bin waiting to be used again.



I haven`t been detailing long enough to wear out a pad. So I am curious how long it will take me to get through my first batch of pads.



chris

[Accumulator]

.. can I make it through a whole car without washing a pad?

Probably not. It`ll probably get too loaded up with product.

[imported_DJ Mayo]

when doing a full paint correction, I use 8-12 pads I would say.

[Davidss]

Thanks for the help! This answers my question!