Cleaning Pads

HondaMan

HondaMan

2004 Civic EX magnesium
Used my Green SONUS pad today along with SSR 2.5 to work on a friend's car.......


(1) Can I or should I soak them in Dawn like MF pads/towels ??

(2) Can they go in the washer with some MF detergent cleaner?

(3) If "NO" to (1) or (2) above or both, do I just rinse it out until I get most of the gunk out?
 
You can wash them by hand relatively easy. The pre soak is not a bad idea, just make sure not to let the product sit in the pad too long (like more than a day or so IMO). I usually wash my pads out after a detailing session. I have also heard of some people cleaning themn in the washer with no ill effects, but I personally choose not to do it that way. No real reason, just a personal choice.
 
I have just been using the PC for a couple weeks now and just got my new set of LC pads from PAC but what I have done so far and comes out pretty well is when I'm done with the pad I place it in my wash bucket, aggitate the pad a little with my fingers to loosen and remove some of the product from the pad, and I rinse it pretty well, and then I take it in the house and put in very hot water, and aggitate some more with the hot water and dawn dishsoap. I let it air dry. Seems to work pretty well. Don't expect the SSR1 stains to come out though. Haven't for me and most say they wont. Hope that helps.
 
When I'm done for the day, I soak mine in a bucket of warm water with Snappy Clean for about 25 min. Then, just rinse out well and let them air dry. Piece of a cake! I agree with Jared, don't let the product sit in the pad for over a day unless you have a way to keep the pad from drying out. I just like to know I have a clean and dry pad each time, then I know nothing is caked in there either!


Mike
 
I've used the washer and washed out by hand in the sink. I usually go with the by hand in the sink method. I did just get my order from Autogeek with some DP pad cleaner powder in it, so that's what I will be going to next time. If you are going to use Dawn, be prepared to rinse and rinse and rinse and rinse....when you're done with that....rinse some more. :D
 
I put the soiled pad(s) in a pail of soapy water as soon as I'm finished with it to avoid the possibility of an abrasive product drying on or near the surface of the pad. If you don't work the abrasive products long enough, the residue and/or unbroken-down abrasives could form an abrasive lump that'll be riding on your paint next time.

I tried washing some LC pads in a washing machine. The 6.5" pads came out OK 'cause the velcro is fastened securely to the pad but I lost a couple 6" LC pads (velcro came off) so I won't be repeating that experiment.

I soak the pads in soapy water, squeeze them out, knead the surface with my knuckles and transfer to a pail of clean water. Repeat the process until the water squeezed out of the pads runs clean.

I dry them by laying them facedown on a clean towel, fold the towel over the pad & pressing down. Repeat a few times until the "blot" mark is almost gone, then I let them air dry in the sun.

You can also try putting them on a PC (or rotary) and spinning them facedown in a bucket.
 
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