Pinnacle XMT Polishing Pad Cleaner - Doesn't Work On Sealant?

[NIS240SHU]

Hey guys,

I just got done outside for the day doing some correction steps and sealing.

- 3M Perfect It II Rubbing Compound - I've been using this on my old '99 Civic that has been heavily neglected/abused. Did a test spot on my hood and was amazed at the gloss that returned.

- WG Total Swirl Remover 3.0 - Worked awesome on my wife's new car. There were a few odd scratches on the passenger side door that easily came out. It finishes nicely too!

- DG 501/601 4:1 Mix - This is what I've been using as a "cleaner" to chemically remove anything the clay bar hasn't caught.

- DG 105/601 4:1 Mix - This smells great and leaves a nice shine. Though I can't really tell the difference from this and 501/601.

Anyway, here's my issue. I started cleaning some of the pads I used yesterday/today and I'm having an issue with the white pad I used for the DG 501/601 Mix. I sprayed Pinnacle XMT Polishing Pad Cleaner liberally on the pad and waited a couple of minutes. I then used an old toothbrush to agitate and ran the pad under clean cold water.

The XMT cleaner only got some of the the sealant out, but did an awesome job cleaning the pads used for the 3M compound and the Wolfgang TSR.

Is this typical of pad cleaners? I can still scrape the mixture out of the pad with my thumbnail. Should I soak the pad with more pad cleaner, soak it in APC maybe or get a different pad cleaner?

Thanks guys!

Helder

[cleanmycorolla]

IME Sealants are nearly impossible to remove from pads.

[jackychai]

actually u can clean sealant from pad. i did not believe that before too.

i got a gallon of backfire microfiber pad cleaner or something like that. and it actually works!!

ime it is a little pricy but u can keep ur microfiber towel and some application pad clean and work like new(but may not look like new). it is a good products to go.

[GTPpilot]

I usually pretreat pads with the XMT, but usually soak them in a bucket with strong concentration of Dawn dishwashing liquid. If it will strip sealant off a car, should work on the pads. Works for me.

[primo spaghetti]

throw them in some APC...or Richy has suggested some varsol in a pie plate..

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

3M Adhesive remover will take care of it.

[rwright]

throw them in some APC...or Richy has suggested some varsol in a pie plate..

Varsol will work as will soaking them in mineral spirits followed by a Dawn wash.

[Bigbull2984]

Dawn power resolve (or whatever its called). ITs the only thing that will get BFWD out.

[swanicyouth]

Lately I have been using a 3 step approach and it works much better.

1. Pre-treat with Blackfire Spray Pad Cleaner. This is truly awesome stuff and not just relabeled APC. You just missed it on BOGO. Let product soak in pads and work it in with fingers and brush pad surface.

2. Hose pads off ( water dripping from a faucet doesn't have enough pressure to cut it).

3.. Soak in a solution of Snappy Pad Cleaner citrus pad cleanser for a day. Then rinse well.

** This works great for polishes and waxes. I have yet to try it with a sealant though. I gave up on Dawn, APC, etc... Because I'm obsessed with getting all the cleaner out of the pad and its almost impossible to get bubbly dish washing soap completely out of pads 100%. The above cleaners rinse clean fairly easily. I would worry about soaking pads in alcohol or mineral spirits, as I would worry it would degrade the glue holding the Velcro on the pad over time. Maybe it doesn't though.

[c5errr]

i always use the red ccs hand applicator for waxing
and when i clean it i spray APC 10:1 and let it for few seconds then rinse and agitate - that doesnt remove all the wax but it does remove some

but my applicator got so socked up with wax that when i rinse it it had beading ! - beading on the pad