I immediately throw them in a bucket with dawn, APC, or pad cleaner and water after use (key is immediately after use). I massage the pad to get the cleaning agents soaked thru and let it sit for a bit 20 min or so. I then hand rinse and throw in the washing machine with a "free" detergent.
I'll soak them in the washer sometimes and even run them through a light cycle, but that is about it. Washers are hard on pads. After they've soaked for a while I'll individual brush them and massage them out by hand and then let it go through a light cycle to rinse. I never put pads in the dryer.
Put pads in a bucket of Detailer's pad rejuvenator for like 30 minutes. Clean pads with a a brush to get all of the polish residue out of the pads. Then rinse each pad by hand in clean running water. Then spin in washer to get then near dry. Sit on drying rack until dry.
I use dawn dish soap and a soft bristled toothbrush to clean my pads. I only detail my personal vehicles and the random car for a friend or relative, so I'm able to clean my pads immediately. I find that doing this makes for a quick and painless cleanup.
Although I consider the price of a pad washer a rip-off, it is one of the best tools in my arsenal and not could not live without it. It really cleans your pads thoroughly. And because you can have it right by your side while working on your project, you don't need to keep a large inventory of foam pads on hand. If you can afford it, I would recommend one. If not, there are some good alternatives to try on this thread.
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