Over time, your car's headlights will cloud up due to oxidation. This can cause the car's headlights to dim, which can be dangerous while driving. Luckily, the brightness of the headlights can be restored on its own with the right cleanser!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Glass Cleaning Liquid
Step 1. Determine whether the dullness of the headlights lies on the inside or outside of the lens
If the dullness comes from within, you will notice water on the lens and if possible it is best to remove the lens and/or drain and dry it as well. Before trying the steps below, if possible try a product called "Headlight Deoxidizer" which can save you time and is non-abrasive. Some of these steps may not be necessary, depending on the degree of damage or oxidation in the headlight lens. Sometimes a dull headlight will need more attention, and sometimes it's damaged so badly that it's best to replace it with a new one.
Step 2. Try cleaning the lens using a glass cleaning product such as Windex if the damage is outside the lens
You can also use diluted degreaser to clean the headlight lenses.
Step 3. Proceed with using car polish or plastic
Step 4. Follow the instructions on the car polish package and do not expose the product to the sun
Make sure you don't get the polish on the black plastic as this will whiten the film which is difficult to clean.
Step 5. Use a rotary buffer to speed up and simplify the process and get the best results
To make the results last longer, seal with car wax or silicone sealant.
Method 2 of 3: Using Masking Tape
Step 1. Get a lens repair kit
You can purchase easy-to-use tools such as lens repair kits from 3M at your local auto or repair shop. These kits usually include tape, sandpaper, lens polish, and instructions for use, and there's an online video demonstrating how to use them.
Step 2. Cover around the headlights
Protect car paint with masking tape. Do not use duct tape as it will damage or lift the paint off the surface of the car.
Step 3. Clean the lens of the vehicle's headlights
- You can use sandpaper, but be aware that it can scratch the lens. If the lens has severe/severe discoloration with visible scratches/defects, you will need a coarser sandpaper, such as 600 grit. If the headlight lens has mild discoloration with no obvious streaks, start with 2,500 grit. Whatever grit you're using, it's best to first wet the sandpaper in a bucket or bowl of soapy water.
- Dampen a washcloth with a commercial plastic lens cleaning product or degreaser. Make sure you spray the product onto the washcloth instead of the product directly into the headlights; This step is done to prevent cleaning products from getting on the vehicle paint. Clean the lens with a rag or microfiber.
Step 4. Get rid of oxidation
- Dip one finger in a plastic polish or compound designed for plastics. While the lens is still wet, apply the compound evenly over the entire headlight.
- Take a sponge or sanding pad and prepare the predefined sandpaper, which is usually 600 grit sandpaper.
- Fold the sanding paper in 3 around the sponge or sanding pad.
- Dip the sponge and sandpaper in the soapy water.
- Sand it sideways, with even pressure, and keep the sponge and sandpaper wet periodically in soapy water (avoid touching paint and other surrounding surfaces).
Step 5. Scrub while keeping the lens surface wet
- Continue the sanding process using 1,200 grit sandpaper, then further grind with 2,000 grit and finally 2,500 grit to remove any remaining scratches from the previous grit.
- Apply plastic polish/compound after sanding with 2500 grit paper. This time, let it set, then buff/wipe with a microfiber cloth.
- Clean the lens with a plastic lens cleaning product or soap and water to remove any polish residue.
Step 6. Apply wax (protectant) to the headlights when the lens is clear
If you are not satisfied with the result, repeat Steps 1 – 5 until the lens is clear again.
- Seal the lens with wax or silicone sealant.
- Fold the microfiber cloth four times and wring it out, then pour a coin-sized amount of wax or polish onto the cloth and let it soak for a few seconds.
- Apply wax or polish to the headlight lens in one swipe from left to right, decreasing until you have wiped the entire lens.
Step 7. Check the cleanliness of the headlights
Remove the masking tape. The headlight repair has been completed and should now be bright enough to light up the road when you drive at night.
Method 3 of 3: Using Toothpaste
Step 1. Try any toothpaste, including the gel type
Almost all toothpastes, especially those that whiten teeth, have abrasive ingredients such as silica, other fine grains, or soda. Make sure you wear rubber gloves.
Step 2. Clean the headlight lens to get rid of any grit and grease
Step 3. Make sure that your headlight cleaning or polishing products are not exposed to paint, chrome, plastic, or rubber
Be careful and consider applying masking tape and plastic sheets to the surface you want to protect
Step 4. Rub a small amount (not a lump) of toothpaste with a damp soft cloth in a circular motion over the dull areas of the lens
Make sure you also wipe the edges of the lens if it looks blurry or scratched.
Step 5. Add toothpaste as needed
Use toothpaste and apply enough pressure to scrub the scratches so you don't rub too lightly. The plastic lens will look clearer when rubbed.
Step 6. Increase the amount of water on the toothpaste and cloth when the lens looks better
For each headlight, you need to spend 3, 4, or 5 minutes.
Step 7. See if the lens can't get any clearer
Stop scrubbing, wash and rinse with clean water, then dry with a paper towel or dry cloth.
Step 8. Wax or polish to seal, protect, and polish the plastic
Tips
- If the discoloration or cloudiness of the lens still doesn't go away even after cleaning, it means that the lens of the car's headlights really needs to be replaced.
- Headlight restoration should be done in the shade instead of in direct sunlight.
- Raise the hood so you have full access to the top of the headlight lens that you want to clean/restore.
- All commercial or household products should be safe for car paint, as long as they are thoroughly rinsed and wiped. Do not allow the product to dry on the vehicle paint!
- Also make sure you clean the headlights of your vehicle well to get rid of insects, tar, contaminants, etc. before proceeding with wet sandpaper.
- Once the sanding has started, you will see cloudy drips when scrubbing. This is the dirt that wants to get rid of. Continue sanding until the surface feels very smooth and the drops become clearer.
- During sanding, always keep the pad and sandpaper wet. Water plays a very important role in "wet" sanding.
- If the contaminant is severe enough, start with a coarse grit, such as 400. In most cases, lenses with severe/severe discoloration and visible scratches/defects require sandpaper with a coarser grit, such as 600. The higher the grit number, the finer roughness: Hardest 600=>1,200=>2,000=>2,500 Smoothest
- Wear protective equipment such as gloves, goggles, used clothing, etc., and comply with all product safety procedures.
- If the headlight lens has a light discoloration without any scratches, you can try using a solvent such as naphthalene which is quite strong for the headlights, and start with 2,500 grit sandpaper.
