Originally Posted by
Marc@AutoLavish
LOL. Actually I'm glad he chimed in, because that's a very good response. Compound will usually be released much easier through soaking. There are pad specific cleaners, but a normal dish soap should work ok too. Wax on the other hand isn't exactly water soluble which makes it a pain to clean. This isn't usually too much of a problem as wax applicators are often small and cheap so can be easily be replaced if they looked especially caked up.
In any case, always wash your pads, applicators, and towels in the warmest water possible to aid in the breakdown of the polishes and such. Some people have heard rumors that this is bad for microfiber, but with a melting point of around 400 degrees, you won't have to worry about water ruining your towels ;)