PC foam pad cleaning?

[Sin MINI]

Whats the best way to clean foam pads? I used the Paradise white (Amigo) and black (Epic)

[ScottRiqui]

I'm sure there are soaps specifically for pads, but I just use dishwashing soap. Get the pad wet all the way through, put a little soap on it, palpate/massage the soap into the pad, and then rinse it out under running water while repeatedly squeezing (not wringing) the pad. Then I prop them up in a dish-drying rack.

[OctaneGuy]

Washing Amigo and Epic are the most difficult to wash products from Prima because they both contain the very polymers that make them so durable and resistant to water!

Dawn worked into the pad and rinsed out works best for me.

Richard

[Sin MINI]

Originally Posted by OctaneGuy

Dawn worked into the pad and rinsed out works best for me.

I'd rather be lucky than good. I did exactly that!

Thanks!

[lotsie]

Originally Posted by ScottRiqui

palpate/massage

Love doing that

Dawn works for me, along with a little palpating

Mark

[MiniMaybee]

I spaced out after one detailing session and found later I forgot to clean my black pad with Epic on it. Conventional wisdom said to toss that pad but I worked rubbing alcohol into it and then Dawn and let it sit for about an hour. Rinsed and I'm still using that pad today.

[OctaneGuy]

Yep has happened to me many times. Dawn, lots of rubbing, and some warm water works great. Despite the article that Phil quoted...I have not had any foam pad delamination issues with Lake Country when rinsing with warm water..unlike Meguiar's pads.

Originally Posted by MiniMaybee

I spaced out after one detailing session and found later I forgot to clean my black pad with Epic on it. Conventional wisdom said to toss that pad but I worked rubbing alcohol into it and then Dawn and let it sit for about an hour. Rinsed and I'm still using that pad today.

[lotsie]

Originally Posted by MiniMaybee

I spaced out after one detailing session

Only spaced out once, newbie

Warm water and soap fixes a lot of things, beer fixes the rest.

Mark

[ma78]

I use a pad cleaning system that I bought from Autogeek. It works very well, but can be a hassle to set up and use. But, when I bother with using it, it works very well.
Looks like this:

[OctaneGuy]

This is sooooo overkill for Prima. If you're using a rotary, Swirl washes out in seconds even in a bucket of water, and spin dries in that same bucket...without spending any extra money or requiring setup.

PC users don't have the luxury of spin drying the pads...but I think spending $20 at harbor freight for a cheap rotary makes sense if you only use it as a pad dryer and not polishing paint.

Richard

Originally Posted by ma78

I use a pad cleaning system that I bought from Autogeek. It works very well, but can be a hassle to set up and use. But, when I bother with using it, it works very well.
Looks like this:

[ma78]

Originally Posted by OctaneGuy

This is sooooo overkill for Prima. If you're using a rotary, Swirl washes out in seconds even in a bucket of water, and spin dries in that same bucket...without spending any extra money or requiring setup.

PC users don't have the luxury of spin drying the pads...but I think spending $20 at harbor freight for a cheap rotary makes sense if you only use it as a pad dryer and not polishing paint.

Richard

Wouldn't know about the Prima thing. Never used their products. But it works great with all three of my machines, PC and Cyclo included.

[OctaneGuy]

Exactly my point. Had you been using Prima, you wouldn't have felt the need for such a device....

I have several "students" who have purchased them and love them for cleaning Meguiar's and other popular product from their pads...one of them sold his after I converted him to Prima.

Someday you will see the light..trust me. Everyone does.

Richard

Originally Posted by ma78

Wouldn't know about the Prima thing. Never used their products. But it works great with all three of my machines, PC and Cyclo included.

[Detailers Paradise]

Originally Posted by ScottRiqui

I just use dishwashing soap. Get the pad wet all the way through, put a little soap on it, palpate/massage the soap into the pad, and then rinse it out under running water while repeatedly squeezing (not wringing) the pad. Then I prop them up in a dish-drying rack.

Originally Posted by OctaneGuy

Washing Amigo and Epic are the most difficult to wash products from Prima because they both contain the very polymers that make them so durable and resistant to water!

Dawn worked into the pad and rinsed out works best for me.

Richard

Originally Posted by MiniMaybee

I spaced out after one detailing session and found later I forgot to clean my black pad with Epic on it. Conventional wisdom said to toss that pad but I worked rubbing alcohol into it and then Dawn and let it sit for about an hour. Rinsed and I'm still using that pad today.

I agree with all of the above.

All of the Prima abrasives (Finish, Swirl, Cut) are water-based and are therefore significantly easier to wash out than most other abrasive polishes (most others are oil-based). A little Dawn (or similar) dishsoap and water and they wash out quickly and easily. ScottRiqui's process is exactly what I do as well.

Amigo and Epic can be more stubborn- especially Epic. In both cases, do not allow the product to dry in the pad! Although MiniMaybee has proven that with some rubbing alcohol and time you can still clean out dried Epic, it is very difficult and becomes even more difficult (if not impossible) as time goes on.

If you simply cannot immediately wash your pads after Epic, at least toss them into a bucket of soapy water until you can. Epic is extremely durable on your paint but it doesn't discriminate... it is durable in your pad as well!

Originally Posted by lotsie

Only spaced out once, newbie

Warm water and soap fixes a lot of things, beer fixes the rest.

Mark

-Heather

[kenchan]

for cleaning foam pads, i use griot's MF towel and foam pad cleaner under warm water. works great.

[MiniMaybee]

What is that strange light? So bright - must resist ... must stay in the dark ... nooooo!
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