It’s hard to clean a vehicle if your tools and equipment are dirty! Keep your gear in top shape with regular cleaning and it’ll last a lot longer.
Tool Wash Process
Many tools will be able to be cleaned and ready for use again with a simple cleaning process. This applies to most plastic tools, such as brushes, buckets, dirt locks / grit guards, applicators, and sponges. It may also apply to other tools and tool materials – read the manual or contact the manufacturer.
- Rinse first in clean water.
- Soak for up to an hour in water with all-purpose cleaner or white vinegar. For non-plastic brushes, soak up to 30 minutes to avoid damaging the bristles.
- Apply an all-purpose cleaner (APC) and scrub or agitate. Soak again if needed for tougher grime.
- If the tool is saturated with stubborn, greasy, oily, or otherwise difficult to remove residue consider:
- A re-wash in APC or dish soap.
- Soak in a mixture or APC and water or dish soap and water, followed by a re-wash.
- Rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear.
- Dry and put away.
Using warmer water can help remove dirt, sealants, and stubborn residue, but be mindful of whether the tool can handle the temperature – contact the manufacturer when needed.
Tool Specific Recommendations
Clay Mitts and Clay Towels
These mitts are more sensitive than normal towels and require special care to get the surface clean.
- Mix up a bucket with water and a splash of all-purpose cleaner or dish soap.
- Wash and rub the mitt by hand, being careful to remove and debris and not let the clay side of the mitt touch the bucket.
- Rinse fully with clean water.
- Lay out to dry in the sun or on a workbench. Don’t let the clay side touch anything or it’ll stick.
Brushes
Use the recommended tool wash process. Instead of APC or dish soap, it is possible to use a vinegar based household cleaner which may make the brush fluffier.
Please note that some parts can be moisture sensitive, so don’t leave brushes to soak unless they can handle it – consult the manufacturer if needed.
Scrub Ninja
These can be washed like microfibers, but washing by hand using the recommended tool wash process is much more gentle on the seams.
Use either microfiber detergent or APC.
Wax Applicators
- Wash with APC and hot water until the sealant is removed. Some pad cleaners also work well for this.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Dry and put away.
Polishing Pads
Special thanks for Yam for this section on polishing pads
There are a couple of methods. Solvent/prep and rinse (my go to), snappy clean + system 4000, dawn dish soap and compressed air.
Snappy + System 4000 works great for the most part. I’ve had a lot of cases in the past where this combo could not get residue out of the pad or required multiple cycles to get clean. Prep spray solved this issue.
- Using a fairly strong panel prep, spray 2-3 times on your pad.
- Massage it thoroughly.
- Either use a pump sprayer with water or system 4000 works great in this combo. Start on a low speed and run the polisher into a bucket or system 4000. End on max speed.
This is by far my favourite method and I’m surprised more people don’t do it. There is the risk of pad delamination, but just use a high quality pad and prep spray. I personally use Rupes Reveal Strong. I haven’t experimented much with other prep sprays, but I know Labocosmetica’s prep works. Sometimes contaminants can get stuck in the cells of the foam pad even after this process. I’d try blasting these out with compressed air.
System 4000 can work in combination with prep sprays. Use the system 4000 as per usual, but just spray prep and massage before hand. This makes system 4000 work way quicker. I tried this on a wool rotary pad yesterday and the fibers seemed to hold up fine. Not sure if it could damage the pad long term.
Compressed air works pretty well on non foam pads. I’ve found that it chews up foam pads eventually. It also launches really delicious abrasives into the air for inhalation. Wear your PPE.
Dawn dish soap gets the job done, but it causes way more headache than it’s worth when you need to clean your pad frequently or need to clean a bunch of pads. Your pads will be foaming for-hecking-ever.
All in all, all you need is water and the right prep spray. System 4000 is just a luxury.
Contributors
- King Bob, Yam