DiPres/ShutterstockIn a throwaway society, it's good to know that some things are meant to be reused, at least a few times. Polishing pads, thankfully, can be reused as long as they're cared for properly. You might be wondering how many times you can reuse a polishing pad, but there's no exact answer. For one, it depends on the material. Foam pads, on average, can be used five to 10 times, microfiber three to six, and wool eight to 12. Really, though, you have to look at the condition of the pad. If the pad can't maintain its shape, it's no good at that point. The same is true if the pad is cracked or torn. Thankfully, you shouldn't have to replace pads frequently, since you don't need to wax your car too often, anyway.You'll have to clean your pads if you want to reuse them. Be sure to clean a pad, even before you're done polishing the car. This will make it easier to get the wax or polish out before it dries. How you clean the pad depends on what it's made of. Foam, microfiber, and wool pads can be gently brushed, but wool pads will also need to be spurred. You can use cool or warm water, but avoid extremely hot water, and do not use a pressure washer. Compressed air can be used on microfiber, but avoid high-pressure air. Remember, even though you can reuse pads, you should still use multiple pads per car so that one pad doesn't get oversaturated.AdvertisementAdvertisementRead more: These Are The Worst Current Automotive Trends, According To YouA closer look at properly cleaning your polishing padsDiPres/ShutterstockNot all pad material is the same, so you'll want to clean the pads accordingly. Blowing foam pads out between polishing processes is recommended. If you're changing components or have had a particularly long polishing job, spray the pad with a degreaser, let the degreaser sit for a little bit, then blow the pad out with compressed air. When you're ready to wash the pad, remove it from the Velcro pad with a spatula. Use an alkaline cleaner to hand wash the pad and knead it under lukewarm water. Don't use hot water, as it will cause the pad to be misshapen. Let the pad air dry.Microfiber pads can be cleaned in a similar way. Between cycles, blow the polish off with compressed air, running the machine while you do this. Alternatively, the chemical can be removed with a soft-bristle brush or terry towel rather than a regular pad cleaning brush or nylon brush. Gently wash the pad between uses by moistening it with a mild cleaner and rinsing it with lukewarm (not hot) water. If you must use a washing machine, use the same caution as you would in caring for microfiber towels, avoiding hot water. Let it air dry.For wool pads, pick debris and excess polish out with a spur or compressed air. Hand wash with a gentle cleanser made for wool. Rinse under running water, then air dry.Other tips for helping your pads to last longerDiPres/ShutterstockAside from things we've already mentioned, there are maintenance items and proper polishing techniques you'll want to consider. For example, we talked about using multiple pads to wax one vehicle. Using at least four to six pads per car is a good rule of thumb, although larger trucks or heavy correction may benefit from more. You should also apply five pea-sized drops of polish to a pad before spreading the polish across the pad.AdvertisementAdvertisementIt's best to wash pads by hand instead of putting them in the washing machine. Avoid polishing over sharp edges. Don't remove the pad by pulling on the fiber side. If you have to put the pad into a washer, set it on the gentle cycle and do not use hot water. If you need to put a pad in the dryer, which isn't ideal compared to air drying, use low heat. Do not store the pad in high temperatures, such as a hot garage, for instance.You should also fluff your pads between cycles to ensure they keep their shape. It's also a good idea to label your pads so that there is no cross-contamination. It's not hard to maintain polishing pads, as long as you follow these tips. If you found this post helpful, check out more car cleaning tips and tricks from our readers.Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox, and follow us or add us as a preferred search source on Google.Read the original article on Jalopnik.
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