how to clean polishing pads - buffing pad cleaning tips

Meguiars APC
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#forensicdetailing #detailing

[@colinmcburnie2881]

Just got into my detailing over the last six months, love your vids learning so much but your costing me a bloody fortune 😂 great vids keep em coming really enjoying 👌👍

[@ForensicDetailing]

Your wallet belongs to me now!

[@stevegreer1963]

I basically use the same procedure, but I tend to use a dedicated pad cleaner by Chemical Guys. I spray and completely saturate the pad before letting it dwell about 15 minutes. Then I simply rinse until the water I'm ringing out of the is clean. On heavier soiled pads, I may have to repeat the process another time. The CG Pad Cleaner does a good job breaking down the polishes, waxes and paint transfer. Another great video Jon!

[@Ashley-dy7bx]

I do the same proccess apart from the drying, a quick spin on your DA at full speed will get them dry in seconds.

[@EazyDuz18]

You're an absolute oracle of information. Best detailing channel on KZbin by a long way.

[@MilesDrive]

banging out these vids, Jon! I think no matter how long you been in this detailing business, you can always pick up something new or add to your own methods - your vids are great for this and fantastic for those who are new to it. I use to throw all my towels & pads in the washing machine!...just do the microfibers now & the Pads in a bowl! Super advice!!

[@martin05916]

I clean mine similar to you. Soak in G101 (mixed 10:1) for a few minutes then scrub with a toothbrush and rinse in warm water. In my experience machine washing foam or MF pads ruins them over time as the adhesive backing is basically broken down.

[@michalmarcinkiewicz1980]

Thanks for all your videos. That's the most professional and straight to the point detailing channel. High 5!

[@PaulDoldenDetails]

My tip is wait till HER INDOORS goes out then wash like crazy in the machine 👍🏻😳

[@MultiTerpen]

While I polish I put the pads in a bucket with 1:20 surfex HD Then I take one out when I need to change pad, scrub it with a nails brush. Then I take the pad onto the machine and spin it freely to make it dry! Now I have a dry and clean pad.

[@uscfroadie]

Thank you so much for all of your videos. I've watched a fair amount of them, and all of them have been nothing but spectacular.

[@maxburg4817]

I do the same, but generally use a nail brush whilst the pad is still on the machine in order to get most the material out of the pad, then do the same steps as you suggest. Good one John !! Keep em coming...

[@yellowhanzel]

I always after cleaning the pads stick it back on the da. Use speed 1 to get water out. And after few seconds i speed upto 6 and let it spin for a minute. Most water will spin out and drying will be a bit faster

[@tommyrnningsveen2058]

I find using the tornador with some APC in the easiest way to clean pads. After the tornador I put them into a bucket with clean water, and when I'm finished I give them a spin on the machine to get 90% of the water out before I leave them to dry.

[@dellar94]

I have been using an air filter cleaner and have to say I'm really impressed managed to lift out old products aswell

[@Matkinson91]

Excellent video Jon, good to see that your putting out more hints and tips videos! keep them up, I also use the same method but use the master blaster for drying the last little bits before i put them away

[@Jnaszty559]

I use a pressure washer on the pad while on a grit guard. Really does a good job. Also for microfiber pads you can use a shop vacuum with a crevice tool on to suck out the gunk if you don't have access to air.

[@averagedetailer9908]

I used a product called LAs Awesome, to clean one of my PADs, I cannot afford all the chems I need to do it all yet. It took all the product out of the pad. This stuff has nothing harmful in it that I can read on the label. have you heard of it and what do you think about using it.

[@PaulDoldenDetails]

Top tips Jon I'm awaiting pads from EBay after watching your brilliant video

[@maximolotov]

Ty vm John

[@berczigabor]

After wringing them out just put the pads back onto the backplate, and spin them gradually to maximum speed for about 10-15 seconds, until they stop expelling water dust. Make sure they're attached properly to the backplate, because with all the remaining water in them, they'll be subject to stronger centrifugal forces than during regular use, and if not secure properly, they just might fly off. Even after this they will not be completely dry, and if you'd use them again, they'd still dilute the polishing product and sling it around. However, they will dry waaaaay faster this way, than if you'd just put them out after wringing them out, in which case it might take a full day 'til they dry completely. Also, make sure that you wring them out as much as you just can prior to spinning them, because obviously you don't want them to make your polisher soaking wet, which doesn't go well with electricity. Do this away from the car you are or were working on, and/or "submerge" the pad part into an empty (!) bucket, which will stop the water dust from flying around. This will also hinder the pad getting dirty in the case it flies off the backplate because of the stronger centrifugal forces.

[@saglike93]

Pro tip, when you use the washing machine, once your pads are done run a hot hot drum clean cycle with a dishwasher tablet in there and you’re good as gold

[@jdog052]

Hi Jon, how many pads & microfibre cloths would you use per process on a medium size sedan? love your vlogs ...keep them coming!! Cheers

[@lukewestley3617]

That's some really great advice there Jon, cheers!

[@nissan300bhp]

squeeze mine out after use under hot tap water, or throw them in washing machine on soft wash and air dry. I would say wash straight after under hot tap with some soap/apc and air dry is best, but I have machine washed them before

[@flyingv7747]

Great video, good advice on the soak and keep moving. Is that your Eagle Edgeless you are using to dry the pads? Oh, the shame......just kidding. My EE towels are still too new so they get spoiled like an only child. Another great video, thanks again.

[@J1Z06]

Thanks for posting this!

[@woncho1]

Simple & perfect. Thanks.

[@brad2807]

What pads do you use? Massive fan of the channel by the way

[@zaink7037]

I would use a compressor and connect an air gun to it to blow the product off. It's easier when the pad is on the machine as you can spin it whilst you use the air gun on it

[@flyingv7747]

Not bad Zain K, just don't make my mistake. I have both a Flex 3401 and Porter Cable. Flex has a speed check but I forgot the Porter Cable will free spin when no pressure is applied and watched my foam pad self-destruct from the centrifugal force. Too bad I was cleaning this pad for the first time. The old pads just pointed and laughed.....

[@zaink7037]

Thanks for the heads up Chris, honestly i havent machine polished before but my dad had a go on my uncle's car an we came up with the idea as we have a compressor in the garage. really hoping i dont mess up with my first attempt

[@jc7879]

If you don’t have access to an air compressor, could one use a Metro Vac Air Force blaster at a safe distance to clear the pad of polish residue?

[@cliffgray9155]

Great advice.many thanks.

[@Knards]

Actually I wash the car with Optimum, then polish and put the pds in the bucket with optimum no rinse in it.Seems to drop whats on the pad right off. I squeeze them out and put them in the carport to dry

[@willosee]

Such a sensible idea to keep the pads wer

[@davepuffett8608]

Thanks! 😊

[@JimmyG91]

have you tried isopropanol/dest watermix to let them soak or dishsoap? i have done mine in the washer but think i should do it by hand from now. megs apc i have for the interior so i could use that to🤔

[@matthewgibb2709]

Hi Jon so I have a question. How long are your pads left to soak in your bucket before you clean themHere's why I ask. Water reduces foam pads density? Foam and water do not mix. If their wet for too long they can lose their like new stiffness and turn soft. If it's not long that's fine but if it's all day or longer I'd be concerned unless the foam starts out really dense and stiff when new.

[@ForensicDetailing]

maybe a few hours? I was always worried that soaking them for too long might effect the velcro backing more. not had any problems with premature stiffening (sounded dodgey) but what you are saying sounds like something to consider.. so perhaps dont soak for more than 2 hours? Or just soak and squeeze out and set aside to clean properly later on?

[@tpi1990]

Hi can do the same for meguiars foam pads the manufacturer says don’t wash them

[@markhart6743]

in the sink spot of washing up liquid massage with thumbs & then rinse squeeze until relatively dry then spin the rest out on the machine

[@tony.775]

Blimey, you do risk the wrath of the Mrs cleaning these items in the kitchen sink. Glad you don’t own the local restaurant LOL. On a lighter note, very good basic lesson and I have learnt a few good tips, thanks. Do you use Tri-Clean or APC to clean sponge type application pads for leather treatment as an example. Maybe you just use lint pads for trim, seats etc?

[@lilystrong9870]

what about the dyes? I could get the product out, but the dyes are a nightmare to remove

[@Breetzie]

how about cleaning wax applicatiors that you've used darker colour waxes with, I now have a dark purple wax and a black wax, but find i cant get the colour out of the pads

[@MrMkariniot]

After I do this can I put it in washing machine .?

[@jw191]

Another great vid! Any tips for a delaminating pad (backing velcro from pad)? Can it be re-glued or just bin it?

[@ForensicDetailing]

no adhesive Ive seen can hold it one it starts to peel.. but keep your old pads will do a video on why at some point soon..

[@D992]

Thanks John for this. Is it ok if polishing over a few days to put the pads in an air tight bag ready for use the next day? Cheers 🍻

[@ForensicDetailing]

you want to avoid letting the polish dry in the pad mate it clumps togther and forms little bullets.. so just like put the pad in some clean water in a bucket or something after you switch pads.. and at the end of the day then just quickly clean out the pads

[@D992]

Thank you John. 👍🏼😎

[@subrotoxing8214]

Wow... golden advice ^^

[@BrianW1612]

Not much different to myself Jon. If I don't have time to wash them there and then I soak them in water and put them all in a zip seal bag with that filled with some water also. Stops the polish/compound/wax drying then when it comes to cleaning them I use fairy liquid, a toothbrush and rinse out in the sink. Any MF pads just get washed in the machine like cloths usually.

[@adamfreeman1219]

No matter what I do I ALWAYS end up with dusting when they're re used :(

[@ianroblin2933]

Hi Jon, Great vid as always bit as I'm new to polishing I haven't got all the kit yet. Instead of apc, would fairy liquid do the trick?

[@ForensicDetailing]

yes mate

[@ianroblin2933]

@@ForensicDetailing thanks bud. 👍

[@bigjock85]

will these methods work on old dried out pads and applicators? ive always just left my pads but will start to look after them abit more now. or is it better to just get new pads and maintain from new

[@ForensicDetailing]

hello mate.. so say you have some dried out applicators with lots of old wax in.. If they are just cheap ones maybe bin them or relegate them. you could try giving them a nice soak in warm water and APC and try and work out some of the wax or product in them.. Pads with lots of product in them.. Im more inclined to try and save these because pads are expensive.. so look at the condition of the old pad and it its worth saving give them a really good clean and try and flush out some of the product thats dried in there.

[@asusreviews]

Sink with hot water and dish soap. Then I spray it with the jet setting on the sink.

[@peterfrancis651]

As a newbie how long do you expect pads to last.

[@Matkinson91]

until they start to deteriorate or rip, keep an eye on the laminate backing film, when that starts to separate from the foam pad either repurpose it (cut it up into a small pad for hand application) or bin it rather than risking it flying off your buffer

[@peterfrancis651]

Michael Atkinson Thanks for the tips.

[@ForensicDetailing]

so hard to answer this.. you can ruin them after the first use if the pad starts sticking and you dont address the underlying issue and keep working them.. the more the pad sticks to the surface you are correcting the more of the energy from the machine gets transferred into the pad... like michael says typically the out edges which spin the fastest tend to start to break up.. either that or the velco fitment piece will start to come away.. but if you have the pad spinning freely and you dont generally apply too much pressure.. and you dont overwork the pad (change pads a few times during the process of machining a pad).. you can get the pads to beyond say 7-10 cars. The pad quality is important. my set of lake country hybrid power pads (6 cutting 3 polishing 3 finishing) must have done over 10 cars now and they are still in very good condition.. but some of my hex logic orange cutting pads have started to crumble around the edges after around 4 cars... so depends how you use and look after them what machine they are on etc.. cleaning them properly after use..

[@peterfrancis651]

Forensic Detailing Channel cheers for the advice. Picking up loads of tips from your videos.

[@Matkinson91]

Forensic Detailing Channel 100% agree about ruining pads the first time you use them, my first time using a buffer, a chunk of the pad went one way and the rest of it flew off somewhere else, luckily I wasn't applying too much pressure to cause any damage - always centre your pad and hold it flat to paint before turning it on, not only to prevent compound/polish sling but from your pad flying off too!

[@MyVetteLife]

What else can I use such as a general house hold cleaner besides APC? At the moment I dont have anything to clean my pad with. can I just use plain water?

[@ForensicDetailing]

pads mainly need flushy.. the abrasives are typically carried in forms of glycerol, mineral oils and water. detergents help a little bit to break this stuff down but if you dont let it dry the flush action is the key.. you can use a hose and blast the pads out and brush witha tooth brush.

[@shamilbasayev99]

Can i use apc bit hamber

[@ForensicDetailing]

yes m8

[@shamilbasayev99]

@@ForensicDetailing its a honour to be replied by you..

[@ForensicDetailing]

@@shamilbasayev99 the honor is mine my friend thank you for watching

[@shamilbasayev99]

@@ForensicDetailing much love from indonesia

[@AlabamaTree]

School boy error. Wish I’d seen this on Saturday when I did my first ever machine polish. I’ve now got dried polish in the pad that won’t come out. £14 wasted 🙄 on what’s ended up a single use pad. Live n learn ey?

[@ForensicDetailing]

not wasted mate. spin it out on the machine and bang it with you palm to knock the dust out. then load it with APC and hot water and massage it loads.

[@AlabamaTree]

@@ForensicDetailing thanks for the help, I’ll get it sorted 🤞🏽our van is starting to look amazing thanks to you ❤️

[@zir786]

put them back on the machine and give it a whirl. water will spray out

[@hakman239]

Don’t need to soak them I found

[@stephen.viggars3702]

Who else skips the intro music 👀

[@danlc95]

Stephen. Viggars - Nope!

[@flyingv7747]

guitar player here so I enjoy the intro.

[@inxs13]

Stephen. Viggars every time

[@Baerchenization]

You joker... there is no such thing as water pressure in Britain :) ;)

[@ForensicDetailing]

:) so true.. they got like one guy cranking the handle of a bicycle pump somewhere in milton keens...