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After using a pad I will clean it with warm water and Dawn. For Epic pads I have started using vinegar warm water and Dawn (I have also been adding vinegar to my microfiber wash water on occasions). Cleans them up real good.
While polishing I have a stiff brush like for fabric. I use it to periodically remove the crusties that form on the outer radius. It needs to be stiff, but not so much that it damages your pad. The black pad is softest and therefore most susceptible to damage so if your cleaning brush won't hurt the black pad you're good to go.
Sink full of warm water, half a cup of laundry detergent. Let them soak for like 10 minutes. Agitate the pads a little. Drain the water and rinse off with cool water.
Depending on how dirty the pads are you may have to wash, rinse, wash, rinse.
I first handwash them, with a little dish soap and plenty of working and squeezing. Then I throw them in the washing mashine with all my towels/MF and wash with Der Wunder Wasche
After using a pad I will clean it with warm water and Dawn. For Epic pads I have started using vinegar warm water and Dawn (I have also been adding vinegar to my microfiber wash water on occasions). Cleans them up real good.
While polishing I have a stiff brush like for fabric. I use it to periodically remove the crusties that form on the outer radius. It needs to be stiff, but not so much that it damages your pad. The black pad is softest and therefore most susceptible to damage so if your cleaning brush won't hurt the black pad you're good to go.
That is very similar to how we wash pads too... some warm water and Dawn.
Fill sink (or bucket) with soapy (Dawn), warm water
Let pads soad for 10-15 minutes
Work work in the soapy water with your thumbs
Rinse with warm water
Air dry (often it takes several hours to a couple of days to dry)
Water-based polishes (like Prima) will wash right out, even if they been sitting for a long time before washing. For these, you can usually just wash them with some Dawn and warm water and don't have to let them soak.
Oil-based polishes can be a little more stubborn, but still wash out without too many problems, especially when soaked.
Synthetic waxes, like Epic, should be washed immediately after use to prevent them from curing in the pad. I advise to wash synthetic wax out of a pad within 10 minutes after you're done using the pad. This usually works out to be pretty convenient since most synthetics require some wait time before buffing off anyway.
Also, vinegar or rubbing alcohol can both be very helpful in removing stubborn oil-based polishes or synthetic waxes from your pads.
Fill sink (or bucket) with soapy (Dawn), warm water
Let pads soad for 10-15 minutes
Work work in the soapy water with your thumbs
Rinse with warm water
Air dry (often it takes several hours to a couple of days to dry)
I'll 'ditto' that process. I use the Sonus polishes and, after a longer polishing session there will be a fair amout of polish stored in the pad. I start by just squeezing a bit of dawn directly on the pad and working it well with my fingers to squeeze out the excess polish and rinse with warm water to remove the bulk of it. Then I work steps 1 through 5, above.
Pad storage is also important to me, as my garage is old and dusty. I keep 'em in gallon size zip-loc bags, stored OPEN and open-side-down until they have had several weeks to dry out
Pad storage is also important to me, as my garage is old and dusty. I keep 'em in gallon size zip-loc bags, stored OPEN and open-side-down until they have had several weeks to dry out
Yes, that is a great idea! You don't want dust/dirt settling on them while the dry. Ditto that!
Yes, that is a great idea! You don't want dust/dirt settling on them while the dry. Ditto that!
-Heather
I used to store my pads in the open, on a shelf in my garage. When I first got involved with my local club (www.metroplexmini.org), a member came over for some quick polishing work... an installer had botched a clear bra install and used a dirty t-shirt to try and rub out the bubbles... turning the brand-new jet black paint to a scratchy dark grey when you looked at it in the light. I started polishing and immediately noticed a scratch (deeper than the ones I was supposed to be removing) that looked like it had been made by an etch-a-sketch... right down the middle of the bonnet! A fleck of dirt must have fallen on the pad and the owner suddenly got very nervous. The scratch came out (once I switched to a fresh, clean pad, and spent a few minutes working on it), but I've been much more careful with my pads since then...
if you ever go to the Container Store get some round jars with
sealable twist top. the smaller ones will fit the Griot's dressing applicator
(the blue round one) perfectly. i got a couple of those for my
blue pads, and also for my Q-Tips and for some misc applicator pads.
yah, it's a bit pricy but it's really nice. 
