You definitively need a pad cleaner. Or get a spur.
indeed... or most body shops or detailing shops, they never clean them. :run:
Get the System 2000
http://www.thedetailingshop.com/en/polishers_and_pads/c377957450/p17085405.html
plus snappy clean
http://www.thedetailingshop.com/en/polishers_and_pads/c377957450/p16890130.html
plus the spur:
http://www.thedetailingshop.com/en/polishers_and_pads/c377957450/p17085410.html