Cleaning wool pads

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Does anyone have any suggestions for cleaning wool pads that are used on a rotary buffer? These pads are not the "bonnet" style, but are semi-rigid and attach to the buffer with velcro. I'm not sure that throwing them in the washer is the right way to go. Thanks.

Dana
 
I have the same type of pads. I wouldn't put them in the washer. It probably isn't good for the pads, and won't get them very clean.

I use a pad cleaner called "Snappy Clean". It's a citrus-based granular powder specifically for cleaning pads; it works very well. Here's how I clean my pads as I use them, as suggested by a boat-detailing site that describes 'proper boat care'.

For this process, you need 3 pads.

  • Put 1/2 packet of Snappy Clean in a bucket. Fill with about 2 gallons of water.
  • When your first pad gets dirty, put on a clean pad and toss the dirty one in the bucket. Massage and fluff the dirty pad a bit to loosen the dirt.
  • Buff with the 2nd pad. When it gets dirty, toss it in the bucket. Don't put the 3rd pad on yet.
  • By this time the Snappy Clean will have done a great job cleaning the 1st pad. Agitate it a bit in the bucket, take it out, and rinse well with a hose
  • Next, put now-clean but WET 1st pad on your rotary buffer. Turn it on high to spin out the water. (Aim away from face and groin - the pads hold a LOT of water!
  • Lay the now mostly-dry 1st pad in the sun to dry. (Don't use a wet pad to buff - it will turn out crummy, as I have found.)
  • Now put on the clean 3rd pad. By the time this pad is dirty, the 1st pad should be dry and the 2nd pad clean.
  • Keep repeating the process as needed.

I used this process to buff my boat last weekend. Worked like a champ, and always had a clean pad ready.
 
Dawn dish soap in a bucket of warm water does the trick. Let them soak for 15 to 30 minutes then run your fingers through them to work the polish/compund/wax out of them and then rinse well. After rinsing, squeeze the water out by hand, put it back on the buffer on max speed and fling the rest of the water out then set them out to dry completely.

I've also heard that Dawn Power Disolver sprayed on the pads prior to soaking works even better. I think I'm going to pick some up.

Hope this helps.
 
I pt my pads in the washing machine all the time. They come out clean and perfect. I use Simple Green for the soap.

Works great, no hassle.
 
I've used the Snappy Clean also, and it works well. However, I ran out of Snappy Clean last weekend and used ZEP Industrial Purple (Home Depot) instead and it worked better than Snappy Clean.

Fill bucket with two or three gallons of water and put in about 6oz. of Zep. Place dirty pads into solution and rotate like B Arrington suggests.

Bob
 
If washing machine works, then that's great!

Down side, IMO, is that you have to wait to get home to clean the pads. Use the on-site cleaning method - using whatever cleaner - keeps you in clean pads for the whole project.
 
Check Here...http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=94037
Use the tongue depressor,...or I use a paint stir stick...
 
quote:
Originally posted by carver 2557

Check Here...http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=94037
Use the tongue depressor,...or I use a paint stir stick...

Click to expand...


Wayne,

Spurring the is important to fluff up the surface of the pad. But once the pad becomes dirty it should be cleaned in order to maintain effectiveness.
 
Washing machine here too. I use fabric softener as well - seems to help the wool. I did notice however an extra rinse helps. There seems to be some extra lint when you go to re-use the pad if you don't rinse it good.
 
One of the reasons to use a wool pad is because the fibers "cut" the surface being polished. I'd would have thought that the fabric softener would reduce the wool's ability to cut.
 
Wool pad works just fine after the wash, it's the excess lint to deal with.
 
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