Hi,

I just wanted to hear how everyone liked to clean their PC pads, soak time, solutions / soaps, cleaning methods, etc.etc.......

Also, what types of pads do you like? and what kind of usage / life are you getting out of your pads on average?

Haven't had a chance to watch the DVD yet, but it is supposed to rain for the next 2 days, so no polishing for me, just studying........

Thanks

 

I spoke with Rick at ADS yesterday about cleaning one of my pads. I got some tire dressing on one of my 9006's . (don't ask) He suggestind cleaning it with dish soap and warm water, then letting it air dry.

 

^^^ Exactly how I do it... Kitchen sink, dawn liquid detergent, warm water... repeat until clean as a whistle. Leave standing in kitchen drainboard until dry, or wifey insists they go back in the garage... Whichever comes first.

 

What are PC pads???

 

PC= Porter Cable



Pads= Velcro backed pads used for polishing and waxing when using your PC

 

They get thrown into the wash with all of the other car cleaning stuff that gets washed. On HOT.

 

most of the time I just spin mine on a rotary while running a bristle brush over them .. but when I wash them, i do the following

at the sink, I wash them with Dawn Ultra, and a small bristle brush ..

rinse them a few times, until I get clear water from them

wring them out, then go outside, put them on the rotary, and spin them dry @ low speed while holding it down in a 5 gal bucket, so it doesn't sling every where. tne I set them out on the counter to air dry for a day or so .. then into a ziploack bag, along with a blue scott's shop towel.

as for pads, most fo mine are Meg's, although I have a few sonus pads, and I like them also ..

 

Great,

Thank you guys, very much for all the info!!

 

Micro Fiber Wash has been by far the best solution I have found to clean pads.

 

I use Murphy's Wood Oil Soap. A tiny dab (about the size of a penny) does the trick.

Clean out the sink, fill it with HOT water (as hot as you can stand with your hands). Soak the pad after beating it out to remove 'loose' stuff left on the pad. Place a penny-sized drop on the pad, work it in by hand. Go to the sink again, press it several times in the hot water. Repeat once if necessary. Empty sink.

Fill back up with hot water again. Pump the pad while under water to remove the excess MWOS. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Lay them out to dry flat on a cabinet or similar under a towel. Flip them about every 4 hours for a day or so... you're done.

I would *NOT* recommend putting them in the washer... the velcro backing will rapidly separate from the foam causing the pad to be a very lightweight frizbee...

 

Thanks RP,

Good advise, I had heard / read elsewhere not to put them in a clothes washer. I don't need any $9.00 lightweight frisbees, although the dog would like them..

Thanks for the info on the Murphys, already have some at home.


Much thanks!!

 

I should have mentioned, my pads were free from a buddy who was a porter at the local Toyota dealership...

 

Free, is always a nice thing!!

 

Mequair's does not recommend washing the pads. Their directives is to hold a MF towel to the pad while spinning to asborb excess product. Then store in an open top gallon zip lock bag. When you go to reuse and the product has dried you then whop it against your other hand a few times to dislodge any dried product. Then your ready to go again. The reason they recommend no washing is that detegents can cause bonding failure between the pad and the velcro.
Here is the link to the "official word" from Mequair's

 

Right on,

Thanks Harley, I still may try to gently clean them when they get bad.

May have to try both ways and see how each pad lasts / performs.

Thanks