it seems like i pick-up alot a [censored] on my pads, and i sometimes try to "clean" them up if i stop. but they seem to be sort-of "glazed" and a roadside spit-and-finger cleaning does little to remove the glaze. 🙁
at home i sometimes scuff them with a med grit sandpaper.
what do YOU do to keep them in best condition?
PS- and yes, i do clean my rims, usually with scotch-brite.
Scuff with sandpaper and pick any little stones/bits of metal out of the pad. Give them a rinse afterwards too - if there's grit from the sandpaper left on the pad, it's bad for the rims.