Polish/Wax Applicator Pad care

**MattW** · 21st September 2008, 08:07

What's the best way to look after the foam polish/wax applicator pads?

I seem to be getting through these quite quicky, and they seem to re perishing/falling to bits after a few uses. I don't clean them at the minute, as I don't know what to use on them, I just put them away in a plastic zip bag.

**ed taylor** · 21st September 2008, 08:21

I leave mine to soak in strong soapy warm water then squeeze out and rinse all the soap out, then let dry in the airing cupboard, then I put them back in a "zipped" plastic bag. Seems to work ok for me. My "wax pads" and the ones I use on my PC are still ok after many uses/washs,s

**snapsnap** · 21st September 2008, 08:48

I bung mine in the washer, 30deg with liquid detergent and run an extra rinse cycle. They come up great!

I think the key is not to let the pads/MF go dry and wax/polish or whatever get baked on - i.e. wash em straight away after use.

**MattW** · 21st September 2008, 09:01

nice one, thanks for the info. Shall be giving them a clean this afternoon then

**dh.dti** · 21st September 2008, 09:29

Originally Posted by snapsnap

I bung mine in the washer, 30deg with liquid detergent and run an extra rinse cycle. They come up great!

I think the key is not to let the pads/MF go dry and wax/polish or whatever get baked on - i.e. wash em straight away after use.

Mine went in the washer the other day...

**MattW** · 21st September 2008, 11:49

Just given them all a wash now, and they are on the windowsill at work drying

**BigP** · 21st September 2008, 17:16

Just throw them in the washing machine, but don't use fabric softener and leave to dry naturally. I tend to wash all my cloths, pads, mitt etc after every use and they are still in great nick.

**MattW** · 21st September 2008, 17:23

Originally Posted by BigP

Just throw them in the washing machine, but don't use fabric softener and leave to dry naturally. I tend to wash all my cloths, pads, mitt etc after every use and they are still in great nick.

Last time I ran a foam pad through the washing machine, it fell to bits, and stuck to my buffing cloth.
Cleaning them in the sink with warm soapy water seems to have done the trick this time round

**BigP** · 21st September 2008, 18:11

Originally Posted by MattW

Last time I ran a foam pad through the washing machine, it fell to bits, and stuck to my buffing cloth.
Cleaning them in the sink with warm soapy water seems to have done the trick this time round

Ooops, BigP please try to read posts carefully.

Sorry Matt, I don't have any foam ones, just the different grade microfibre ones. But if I get a foam one, I will be sure not to put it in the washing machine.

**Jamie** · 21st September 2008, 18:27

If you leave them wet, or with product on them, in a plastic bag, they will 'sweat' and perish. I just leave mine to dry out, and always use the same pad with the same product. I never wash them as they don't get dirty, they just have dry product on them so I give them a spray with speed detailer to wet them before I use them again.