Cleaning foam pads

I

imported_RedlineIRL

New member
I've got a question on cleaning my LC CCS pads. I cleaned them out using the XMT pad cleaner under hot water, agitating the polsih out with my palm. Then I rinsed them and squeezed them out with cool water. Will squeezing the pads out cause any premature wear to them or cause them to fall apart? Or should I just shake them back and forth to wring them out? Yeah, I know this sounds like a dumb question, but I don't want to risk the pads getting messed up during use if I can prevent it.
 
I've been squeezing, pinching, flinging to and fro to get water out after a post cleaning final flush and then I put it back on the buffer and spin it as fast as it can. I'll even roll it up like a taco and squeeze like heck before spinning and then let them air dry overnight.



I've not had any problems from cleaning (sometimes rather agressively) that resulted in premature wear. When I think about the abuse of spinning at speed 6 on my PC or at 1800-2000 on my rotary I think they get more abuse actually buffing the vehicle than from me cleaning them. The only thing I have been a bit leary about is using a strong APC product to get out some of the tougher polish staining and my concern is targeted to the adhesive used for the velcro bond and the foam. Sounds like the XMT product and methods seems to work for you.



Bottom line, I've never had any unusual wear problems and I have some pads that are going on 5 years old. That's not a dumb question at all and is actually quite a common concern. Pads aren't cheap and your approach to maintain them for the long haul is a good thing IMO.
 
RedlineIRL said:
I've got a question on cleaning my LC CCS pads. I cleaned them out using the XMT pad cleaner under hot water, agitating the polsih out with my palm. Then I rinsed them and squeezed them out with cool water. Will squeezing the pads out cause any premature wear to them or cause them to fall apart? Or should I just shake them back and forth to wring them out? Yeah, I know this sounds like a dumb question, but I don't want to risk the pads getting messed up during use if I can prevent it.
Click to expand...

Just rinse and spin dry on your pc, udm, flex, rotary or whatever.
 
you should be less worried about the squeezing

and make sure you remove all the polish and soap

that is what will kill your pads
 
Thanks, glad to know I'm not doing anything wrong. After squeezing them out I did attach them to the PC on 6, that did seem to sling off a lot of excess water.
 
hand cleaning



Apply some liquid detergent, apply warm water and using my fingernails, I bring up all the residue, then I rub my hand along the face of the pad at high speed to clean it

Followed by a long rinsing and a wringing



Machine - simple - same detergent, warm to hot water, double rinse

So far no affect on pad life. I can get years and years out of them
 
I have no experience with the pads.. getting my equipment in Tomm. Or Thurs. Though what do you guys think about:



Duo Spur Wool & Foam Pad Cleaning Tool: Scrub dirty pads clean with this multi-pupose cleaning tool!





I ordered one as it looked like the most 'hi-tech' and sensible way to clean pads. These things work at all? I have toothbrushes,.. I have two hands , and I have water. I just thought maybe mid job if needed I could use the spur on a pad with rotor spinning.. seemed designed for it. Also at the end of my work, I could spur them all, then take them and rinse them out with water, pop em back on DA and spin them dry.



Sound good? And , again, does the product I linked work to any degree? Please only comment if you've used something like it. :)



It looked like a nice little gadget to have,.. maybe for caked on wax and such other products.. or maybe if some things got dried on your pads if you didn't clean them right away, and got them wet again with water or QD then used the spur.



Thanks
 
jamrin said:
I machine wash all my pads and yet to have problem with wear, even my woal pads. Just don't machine dry
Click to expand...



Same here. I put the pads through the washer twice. First with a cleaning detergent and then with just water. Both times using hot water. I machine dry afterward. Although, I set the dryer to the gentle fluff mode, where it doesn't use any heat. Basically acts as a dehumidifier while keeping the pads moving until they are dry. I always do a visual check when I pull them out of the dryer, and I even smell them to make sure that no soap is left on the pads. Haven't had a problem at all, and the pads always come out really clean, and I can do all of them at the same time.



:bigups
 
Neofate said:
I have no experience with the pads.. getting my equipment in Tomm. Or Thurs. Though what do you guys think about:



Duo Spur Wool & Foam Pad Cleaning Tool: Scrub dirty pads clean with this multi-pupose cleaning tool!





I ordered one as it looked like the most 'hi-tech' and sensible way to clean pads. These things work at all? I have toothbrushes,.. I have two hands , and I have water. I just thought maybe mid job if needed I could use the spur on a pad with rotor spinning.. seemed designed for it. Also at the end of my work, I could spur them all, then take them and rinse them out with water, pop em back on DA and spin them dry.



Sound good? And , again, does the product I linked work to any degree? Please only comment if you've used something like it. :)



It looked like a nice little gadget to have,.. maybe for caked on wax and such other products.. or maybe if some things got dried on your pads if you didn't clean them right away, and got them wet again with water or QD then used the spur.



Thanks
Click to expand...
I hope your going to wash the pads after your done.
 
Question on the pads...



Does one 5.5" LC pad last the whole car? or do you use multiple pads? Sorry.. first time.. Trying to decide on how many pads I need to buy...
 
JLui83 said:
Question on the pads...



Does one 5.5" LC pad last the whole car? or do you use multiple pads? Sorry.. first time.. Trying to decide on how many pads I need to buy...
Click to expand...



You can use one pad, but you're going to have to clean it often. I used to polish that way until recently. I got tired of having to stop and clean my pads. I'm using more pads now and saving myself the hassle of having to stop often.
 
I usually wash, rinse and then place the pad on one half of a towel and press the other half of the towel over the pad so it will soak up the bulk of the water left . . . then just leave them to air dry or spin them on my makita.
 
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