If your windshield is now looking like it's covered with wax paper, it's safer to learn how to clean your headlights to extend the life of your vehicle. Knowing the parts of your car's headlights will go a long way towards the next step you should take. Then you will be able to disassemble and clean it to make it look bright again.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Getting Started
Step 1. Know the parts of the lamp so you know what to do
If you notice that your headlights aren't as bright and bright as they used to be, try turning them on during the day. It's important to know how much damage the damage is to determine the most effective cleaning method, whether you need to take it to a more professional repair shop, or whether the lamp might need to be replaced. Check for scratches or scratches which might be a sign of a more serious problem.
Step 2. Clean the headlights with car soap
Small pebbles from the road and dirt can make the headlights look dirty and fuzzy and can be difficult to clean. Before you start looking for specific problems, try cleaning them with warm water and car soap first. Clean the headlights and allow them to dry completely. Then you can check again to find the problem.
Step 3. Check for dew
Yellow stains caused by dew can occur when the lamp coating is exposed to polycarbonate from lamp light. So that over time the lamp glass will be covered by dark yellow stains.
If that is the case, a quick and proper cleaning will be an effective way to slow down the degeneration of the lamp, but it would be best to take it to someone more experienced
Step 4. Look for yellowish stains
Yellowish staining occurs when all of the hard coating on the lamp begins to wear off and loses adhesion by exposure to polycarbonate. The UV wavelength spectrum creates a new repeating unit in the carbon chain that absorbs blue light and results in the appearance of a yellowish stain.
If you notice yellowish stains on your headlights, you will need to clean them using a more comprehensive method such as using Rain-X or using a compound to clean them
Step 5. Check if the glass part of the lamp is peeling or cracked
When the lamp glass starts to deteriorate, you will see spots in certain areas such as the top area or corners. The lamp glass may peel off. Eventually, you will see cracks in the lamp glass which means it should be handled by a more professional person.
If this happens, you may need to replace the headlights or the damage will occur again, which will eventually cost you more. In the meantime, clean it as best you can using the quick method and start looking up prices for new bulbs
Step 6. Check with someone more professional
Most lamps are plastic and will show the symptoms described above. Headlight mirrors, like those found on classic and older models, are more complicated and should be checked by a professional technician. If the lamp glass is still attached, remove it and take it to a professional for inspection.
Part 2 of 3: Sanding the Lamp
Step 1. Prepare dry sandpaper
For best results, use fine sandpaper, either wet or dry. The 3M brand is a good breed, and you should have at least one sandpaper that has a rough surface (1500 or so) and a finer surface (around 2000) to start cleaning your car headlights. If you want to start with coarse sandpaper it's up to you.
Step 2. Remove the lamp from the body
Whenever you use sandpaper around your car, you don't want to scratch your car's paint. To do this, use a shield around the headlights to avoid scratching your car's paint. You don't have to, but it's better and safer than you regret later.
Before you start sanding, it's a good idea to clean it one more time using a soft towel and a little rubbing alcohol. This will make it dry faster and you can get on with your work
Step 3. Wet the sandpaper and start sanding
Using a spray bottle or small bucket, wet the lamp thoroughly with abrasive sandpaper. Do this by pressing a little and then sanding evenly, until you feel it is clean enough.
If the marks from the factory are visible, it indicates that the stain has begun to fade once it has been sanded. It's even better if you stop sanding
Step 4. Replace with sandpaper that has a slightly smooth surface
Once you've cleaned the lamp with coarse sandpaper, switch to sandpaper with a finer grit and repeat the process until it feels clean enough."
On a textured lamp where you can't see the bulb inside, you can simply use sandpaper with a rough surface. The light will look blurry but it's not a yellowish smudge
Part 3 of 3: Cleaning the Lamp
Step 1. Take a little compound
Once you've finished sanding the lamp, it's time to clean it with compound. A large selection of compound brands is available, including McGuire, M105, and 3M brand compounds. Visit the auto parts store to see other types. Compounds that contain aluminum will be very good for cleaning your car's headlights.
If you are looking for other options, toothpaste can be a good substitute. Use a toothpaste, whether it contains peroxide, whitening agents, or other additives
Step 2. Apply the compound using a chamois washcloth
Prepare a chamois, use a lump of compound, and apply it to the lamp and smooth it out. Apply and then smooth evenly on the lamp. It will take less than five minutes or so to clean. Once you feel it is quite flat, start to wipe it using a chamois cloth.
If you want to use a drill that uses a chamois, you can use a small amount of compound by applying it directly to the chamois in the drill, then start using it on a low rotation. Use with a little pressure slowly, slowly increase the speed, do it evenly throughout the lamp. This is much faster than you would do by hand
Step 3. Do this until the lamp looks clean
Maybe you will feel soreness in your hands, because you may have to do this several times until your lamp is clean again. Do this until your lamp is clean and you are satisfied. You can test your headlights by shining them on a garage wall, or other flat surface.
Step 4. Use adhesive plastic if necessary
If you feel the need to cover your lamp to keep it looking clean, you can use adhesive plastic such as the Bulldog brand and use a mask when using it which can be purchased at the nearest repair shop. You can also clean it by taking it to a repair shop to extend the life of your headlights, but that will cost more but can vary from shop to shop.
Suggestion
- There is also a kit that is sold as a package for cleaning headlights which also has a large selection of sandpaper surfaces (with values of 300, 600, 900, 2000, up to 4000). This will save you more time than if you had to set it up one by one. Usually they have added a special compound to clean the headlights. The price ranges from Rp. 200,000. many types for this, such as 3M, Meguiar's, Turtle Wax, Sylvania, Headlight Wizard, Mothers, and many other brands.
- There are also available for cleaning airplane windshields (which are made of plastic instead of glass). It will be much easier to use as your windshield cleaner. Try looking at specialized workshops that provide small aircraft needs, the price usually starts from Rp. 50,000.
- If the lamp glass has started to wear off a lot, clean it using sandpaper that has been covered to remove the stains caused by lamp oxidation, then dry using a high strength UV-emitting tool. This will further increase the life of your car's headlights.
- Use rubber gloves to prevent the compound from getting on your hands.
