Foam Pad Cleaning Recommendations?

I was wondering what recommendations are out there for cleaning foam pads? Does anyone have any cost effective (cheap) methods for cleaning foam pads? Could you use something as simple as tossing them in a bucket of Tide detergent? Thanks.

 

I use really hot water, dawn, and a soft bristle tooth brush. Just run it under hot water, then pour the dawn directly into the pad, and scrub with teh toothbrush. Then Rinse again with hot water.

 

Hot water, and i spray APC on it, let it soak a little, just run my finger over it to kind of loosen up the grime then run it in hot water and use my thumb to "push" out the grime

 

Both mentioned are great ways to clean your pads and how I do it as well then just let them air dry indoors and store them in a plastic bin after they are fully dry to prevent dust and dirt particles getting in them.

 

Usually after a detail, toss them in a bucket of water and pour some Zep Citrus Degreaser in there overnight. The next day, spray each of them with Zep 3:1, let it sit for a few minutes, then run under hot water and brush out from the middle to the edges. Run under hot water again and wring them out. If I need them sooner, I'll put on the PC and spin them dry. If not, I let it dry indoors which usually takes a few days to fully dry. Even after a few days I find them a bit moist, so I'll either throw them into the dryer on low heat for a while or continually let them air dry.

 

^^^^^ X2 Zep Citrus Works fantastic AND so many other uses. Cant clean a car with Snappy Clean Packets.LOL

 

^X3 LOL so many uses with Zep Citrus. LSP stripping, pads, carpets, tires, wheels, wheel wells, engine bays, exhaust tips, cloth seats, interior surfaces. It all depends on the dilution. I find full strength, 2:1, and 3:1 and to be the most effective for exterior surfaces. Interior I can go up to 9:1 depending on what I am cleaning.

 

Sorry, not try to hi jack the thread, I wondering if I could spray the 409 all cleaning purpose on the pads and leave it for 10-15 min. The put pads in the bucket with dawn soap to soak it up another 10 min. After that rinse pad with warm water. Would 409 product ruin the pads? Using Uber's pads.

 

After all these years, I am still using the Snappy Clean powder in those packets.
It cleans really well, no huge soapy mess to try to rinse out, and they can pretty much take everything out of foam pads or foam wool pads.
At the start of the correction phase of my Details I will throw a packet into a 5 gal bucket, fill it up to 2 or 3 gallons of water depending on how many pads I think I am going to use, throw them into the bucket, (make sure they are pushed down and all the air comes out) as I go, and by the end of the time I am using pads, they are all ready to go get rinsed out easily and set out to dry.

I know of another good pad cleaner but you have to be careful how much you use or it will remove the glue from the velcro on top of the pad - Meguiars Super Degreaser which is really fast at cleaning, rinses clean with hardly a bubble to worry about, and your pads are in excellent shape.
But you have to be careful how much product you use with water or it will remove the glue from the velco and the pad is now useless unless you know how to glue it back..

Dan F

 

I agree. When I start polishing, I fill a wash bucket 1/2 to 3/4 full with water a nd a bit of APC. One or two glugs. As I finish with a pad I toss them in and hold them under until they are saturated. After polishing, I leave them in the bucket overnight. Next day, massage under warm running water and you're golden.

 

Warm water and dawn, and/or W99, then hang dry.

 

I keep a little leftover CG citrus wash in a bucket from my prep wash. as pads get saturated I toss them in there. rinse when i'm done on the job. when i get home I spray APC at10:1, work it with my fingers, and rinse clean with warm water.

the above works really well for me. BUT on those occasions where it isn't doing the trick, a dedicated pad cleaner will do slightly better in my experience. I've used the powdered WG pad cleaner and it took out some stuff that APC couldn't.