Use Rain-X to polish the yellow off your headlights, or you can also use a small amount of transmission fluid. It’s as simple as that. You can avoid the monthly extra maintenance by applying a high temperature resistant UV coating to the headli… You can also try using baking soda and vinegar. It is generally best to sand the coating completely off. Spritz any stubborn, dried on bits with clean water and then polish until dry with your towel. Giving the lights a thorough wash with car soap and water is the first step toward cleaning. If your headlights are looking hazy or fogged over, you can clean them using a few simple supplies to get them looking new again. Make sure whatever you use isn’t abrasive or your headlights could suffer damage. 2. The next time you notice your headlights starting to get dull, keep these tips in mind! The best kind to choose is aluminum polishing compounds. Follow the manufacturer’s directions. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. If this seems to be the problem, doing a cheap quick clean will be an effective way of slowing the degeneration of the headlights, but a more comprehensive clean may be called for. First, wet the headlights and some 1000-grit sandpaper with water. They come with a special buffing compound sometimes. Wash the headlights thoroughly with glass cleaner or soapy water. You can do this with a soap and water solution or a more aggressive cleaner. First, wash your headlights with soapy water and let them dry. It is not possible to prevent headlights from getting foggy. It’s best practice to remove the entire layer with your coarse sandpaper to get the headlights as clean as possible. Mask the surrounding areas of the headlights with the painter’s tape so that the cleaning agents cannot blemish the paint job or the trim. You saved yourself two headlights which is a decent amount, especially on some cars that could be $200-$300. Last Updated: November 18, 2020 Make sure you are not using toothpaste in excess, as you only need a small amount. For really hazy headlights, try wet sanding them. Headlights are the major part of any vehicle. Guess again! You typically only need a professional if you have glass headlights. After we buff and polish, we put clear protection film on them to protect them from yellowing, from rock chips, from scratches.". First, you’ll want to clean the surface to remove any dirt and debris. To restore your headlight permanently you should use this method. Chemicals like WD-40 and bug spray melt the lens, which brings back some clarity while making it soft and sticky so that dirt now sticks to the surface. To know if your car uses a sealed headlight, open your car hood and check if bolts are holding a flat metal piece covering the headlight and its surrounding. The car engine knocks when the AC is turned on. The fogginess generally comes from a combination of sunlight damage and built-up grime. The hazy line you see is the factory coating coming off. To create this article, 66 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. One kit usually has enough to clean two headlights. To clean your headlights, here are the steps which you need to follow in order to sparkling headlights: Step 1- Gather the correct materials You will need: car wax, masking tape, plastic or vinyl (optional for people with sensitive skin), soft cloth, tooth paste (any kind), water for cleaning the headlights by means of a toothpaste procedure. If your engine makes much louder noises than normal, then go to the service center and get your engine checked. Almost! Yellowed and oxidized headlights are an eyesore! However, there's a better answer available. The headlights will look hazy, but even and not yellow. Then shake the can of WD-40, or any other silicone-based lubricant, and spray the whole lens of the headlight. Most toothpastes contain baking soda or other soft abrasives designed to clean the worst gunk off your teeth and will do the same on pretty much any surface. A thin layer of transmission fluid can temporarily clear them up as well. This prevents future degradation of the headlight lens. You’re partially right! Spray the headlights with the Glass cleaner: Apply plenty on the headlights with glass cleaner. If this is the case, you might need to replace your headlights or have them resurfaced, which might end up costing more. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Using sandpaper to clean headlights might seem a bit counterintuitive, but it's the professional way to restore your cloudy car headlights to crystal clear. Learning to inspect the headlights to figure out the degree of damage will help you learn how to approach the task. % of people told us that this article helped them. Plain blue toothpaste is an excellent way to polish recently sanded headlights. Clean your headlights with water. For the magnetic headlight cleaner method, you wrap two soft clothes or rugs over the magnets. While this is correct, there are other supplies you can use for polishing purposes. Step 1: Clean your headlights with a clean cloth, car wash soap and water. In the meantime, clean them up as best you can using a quick method and start pricing new headlights. This video will show you how to restore your oxidized plastic headlights so they will never fade, yellow, fog, or turn hazy again! Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Clean microfiber cloths. A dirty headlight can ruin the vision in the night, which is dangerous. Car wash soap. Tips to Clean Foggy Lights. You can avoid the monthly extra maintenance by applying a high temperature resistant UV coating to the headlight lens. Step-by-Step on How to Clean Headlights. Use plain blue toothpaste, not anything with peroxide, whitening agent, or other additives. Yup! Not quite! First, clean the headlights with Windex or soap and water. The ultimate guide to Headlight Restoration without using Clear Coat. And you and your significant other talk about cleaning the headlights, or getting new bulbs, or … Before you spend hundreds of dollars replacing them, you should consider restoring them. Among these kits are 3M, Meguiar's, Turtle Wax, Sylvania, Headlight Wizard, Mothers, as well as many other major brands. Read on for another quiz question. Trust the kit. For a quick fix, apply toothpaste to a damp cloth and buff the toothpaste into each headlight for about 5 minutes. Therefore, it is necessary to clean the headlights not just from the outside but from the inside as well. How to Clean Headlights with Magic Erasers, How to Clean Headlights with WD-40; How to Clean Headlights Bug Spray (DEET). There are several commercially available kits that are used for aircraft windshields (which are made of plastic, not glass) that will work very well for removing the haze. Clean container. You can find buffing compounds like McGuire’s and 3M at most hardware and auto supply stores. (Toothpaste with baking soda works best.) This will go much faster than polishing by hand. If the headlights are only slightly foggy, you can try and restore them using an abrasive, like toothpaste, and lots of scrubbing. The headlights surface needs to be dry for the next step. Read on for another quiz question. Don’t improvise. But, it is not difficult to retain the shine of these lights. The kits will usually cost around $20. Be careful not to scratch the car’s paint while sanding. Not necessarily! They make your car look ten years older, and more importantly, can become a safety hazard during nighttime driving and inclement weather conditions. Simply wash and rinse. Plastic headlights are especially prone to scratching and discoloration and will otherwise deteriorate more quickly than the rest of your car. Sandpaper with a coarser grain than 1500 can do more damage than good. Some people tout the use of vinegar and baking soda, either alone or in combination, to clean headlights. "We’ll lightly sand down all the yellow and dust with a very fine sandpaper," he said. On headlights with an interior texture where you cannot necessarily see the bulb, you can usually stop at 1500 grit paper. Some kits recommend taping around the headlights to help. Finally, polish and wax your headlights to really make them shine. Do the same thing on the other headlight. If your Toyota is a FWD car then it could be the CVs. And since a lot of us are at the brink of mind numbing boredom, now is the perfect … You’ll make driving at night easier and safer — and save a few bucks, too. This article has been viewed 1,991,515 times. Repeat with 2000-grit and then 3000-grit sandpaper, changing the direction you sand in each time. When you see a hazy line, you don’t need coarser sandpaper. That's why afterwards we have to buff it and polish it. Use rubber gloves to keep the polish out from under your fingernails. If you want to learn how to protect your headlights with plastic adhesion, keep reading the article! Other youtube videos do not work! wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Cleaning Your Headlights Using Magnets A creative way to clean your headlights is by using two magnets. The typical car wash is usually enough to keep your headlights clean, though you may want to use glass cleaner specifically on your windshield, side windows, mirrors, and headlights. Wipe your headlights with a towel. The magnets should have even surfaces and be big enough to cover a large area of your side mirror when swiping. If the factory coating begins to come off, you will notice a hazy "line" begin to appear and change shape as it is sanded off. If they still look dull, you can proceed with these following methods. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. This article has been viewed 1,991,515 times. Guess again! "I have not tried this yet, but it is very clear on how to do it. ", "Very helpful, explained some problems I've encountered. Use a spray bottle, a bucket of water or a hose to wet surfaces while sanding. All you need is a foil of toothpaste and a clean piece of cloth (microfiber works well). "Once you polish them, there’s no more coating, so now you’re back to exposing the headlights to natural elements like rain, snow, the sun, the dirt.". Here’s how to do it: Tub the toothpaste onto the headlight with a small brush You can use WD-40 to clean headlights. If you notice yellowish coloring on the headlights, you need to opt for a more comprehensive clean, using Rain-X or some polishing compound to clean them up and correct the damage. Also keep in mind that anytime you're using abrasives like toothpaste or sandpaper that you're going to strip away the UV layer which will soon turn your headlight yellowish,you may want to look into a UV safe deoxidizer, saves time as well. If you hear clicking when you turn at low or medium speeds then the CVs will have to be replaced, being a Toyota it wont be THAT expensive. It is essential to maintain proper functioning of headlights as well as keep them clean and fog-free for a clear view. Allow the sealant to dry for several hours — better yet, overnight — before using the car. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Switching on the car AC puts load to the engine, which is normal. If your once-crystal clear headlights now look like they're covered in wax paper, it's safer to learn to clean and buff them up yourself to maintain the life of the vehicle. Make sure the toothpaste you choose doesn’t have peroxide or other whitening agents, which can do damage to your lights. Then, use a microfiber cloth or soft automobile sponge to wipe away as much dust, dirt, and stuck-on debris as possible. Sealed Headlights: These headlights come in a single to four light system design. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Nope! Wipe off and dry your headlights, then squeeze some of your polishing compound out onto a clean microfiber towel. What can I do? "When you sand it, it just becomes a matte finish. Noble has the following advice when using a DIY headlight restoration kit: Make sure to exercise caution when using DIY kits; if you're not too familiar with how to restore headlights, you could run the risk of ruining them completely if you use a kit, according to Alex Murenko, the owner of ONEighty, an automotive shop that offers headlight styling and restoration services in New York City. Using gentle pressure, slowly ease the RPMs up, moving the pad uniformly around the headlight. In a nutshell, the only proper way to restore your headlights is by color sanding to remove the damaged plastic followed by cut and color buffing. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Stir or shake the mixture to combine. Both wear away at the protective coating on headlights. This will quickly and easily remove the residue and render a VERY smooth finish which will repel further hazing. Depending on how foggy headlights are, this could take 15-20 minutes per headlight. If you're looking for a cheap option, plain blue toothpaste is a common substitute. I learned a lot I didn't know.". wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. We’re going to take you through a step-by-step guide on how to properly clean your headlights back up to a factory finish, all while busting out some odd DIY headlight … For consumers about the only sealant you will find is car wax. Before you get started sanding, it's usually a good idea to wipe down the headlights once more, using clean paper towels and a bit of rubbing alcohol. How do you clean headlights with yellowing? What could it be? How to clean headlights automotive polishing compound. Once you’ve cleaned up your foggy headlights, you should immediately notice increased visibility and brighter, whiter headlights! Keep the surface wet and apply more toothpaste as needed. You’re not finished when you see the hazy line. Using your clean rag or towel, buff away any residual cleanser from your lens. Check with your local aircraft supplier. https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a10346/how-to-make-your-headlights-shine-like-new-16649941/, https://www.familyhandyman.com/automotive/car-maintenance/restore-and-polish-auto-headlights/, https://www.theartofcleanliness.com/automotive/how-to-clean-headlights-restore-them/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. You can find glass headlights on classic cars and older model cars. Take a before and after picture to see the results. 1. To fix the situation, the damaged coating needs to be removed and a new protective coating added. Once you’re done sanding your headlights, what can you use to polish them? Not quite! If you want to learn how to protect your headlights with plastic adhesion, keep reading the article! There are also kits that are used for buffing out paint which consist of very fine grit sandpaper (grits of 300, 600, 900, 2000, and 4000 are available). First, clean the headlights with Windex or soap and water. The hazy line will change and warp as you sand until it disappears. According to Brian Noble, North America marketing manager for Sylvania Automotive, two factors contribute to foggy headlights: road debris and UV rays from the sun. ", "Very helpful, thanks. Toothpaste is mildly abrasive, and it can help remove any buildup on your headlights. Then, apply painter’s tape around the perimeter of each headlight so you don’t accidentally damage the surrounding paint. Have you ever noticed that over time, your headlights seem to get dimmer and dimmer? Allow them to air dry for a few minutes before moving to step two. Repeat steps three through five on the other headlight, then dry both headlights with a clean cloth. If you feel rough spots, sand until smooth. "If they don’t put the protective film on there, people can restore their headlights but six months later, they’re going to start yellowing again because the original coating from the manufacturer is already wearing off," he said. In order to clean your headlights with WD-40, first, wash the headlights with soap and water. IE 11 is not supported. This restores the clarity and the shine. Don’t rush through it. After that, wipe the headlight with a clean rag. When you see a hazy “line” while sanding, what should you do? Make sure it’s non-abrasive, because more abrasive cleaners could potentially cause damage. How to Restore Plastic Headlights. References Note: Glass headlights are susceptible to their own unique problems. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. But be careful: The tape itself may lift off the paint on some older cars. Once you’ve removed the protective coating, apply a sealant. 6. Yellowing happens when the hard coat on your headlight is wearing out. If the headlights are only slightly foggy, you can try and restore them using an abrasive, like toothpaste, and lots of scrubbing. When choosing a restoration kit, look for one that contains several grades of sandpaper, a plastic cleaner/polish, polishing cloths and a protective coating. Step 2: Mix two parts distilled white vinegar with one part baking soda in a clean container. Remember, you’re rubbing away years of oxidation AND the original protective coating. Now the question here is how to clean inside of headlights? Clean the Headlights using Baking Soda Next, clean the surface using a soft cloth. After you’re done sanding the headlights, you need to follow up with a polishing agent, so they are not full of scratches and can do their job of clearly lighting the road. Wipe down the plastic lenses of the headlights with some soap and water to remove dirt and debris. Box baking soda. Each light system features both low and high beams depending on the number of bulbs. If you choose this method of refinishing / cleaning your headlights, keep in mind that you will have to reapply this method over and over because you removed what was left of the protective layer. You don’t want bugs or dirt sticking to your newly restored headlight. The headlights will look hazy after sanding but they’ll be clear after applying the coating. Correct! Keep it wet. To create this article, 66 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. A common issue that car owners face is that over time, the clear plastic lenses over the headlights can become foggy or cloudy, which degrades your night visibility. Approved. If you choose this method of refinishing / cleaning your headlights, keep in mind that you will have to reapply this method over and over because you removed what was left of the protective layer. As you sand, run your hands over the wet headlights. How to Clean Headlights: Three Easy Methods. Then, sand each headlight using horizontal strokes for 5 to 10 minutes, keeping the sandpaper wet at all times. Magic erasers are actually abrasive and will scuff the lens. Spray your cleaner of choice liberally onto both headlights. By using our site, you agree to our. Mix 2 parts white vinegar with 1 part baking soda, and rub the mixture into each headlight with a cloth for a few minutes. After you spray your headlights with water, it is important to wipe it with a clean cloth or towel paper. Can I put a layer of glass on the headlights for added protection? You must maintain the headlight lenses every month or so. Simple hacks to protect your car from winter woes. Start scrubbing. Many owners of older cars know that when the headlights get foggy, that can be a problem. Find glass headlights on classic cars and older model cars as much dust, dirt and! To the headlight lenses every month or so other silicone-based lubricant, and it can help any. Explained some problems I 've encountered 'll be ready to go both low and high beams depending on foggy! In circular motions lights a thorough wash with car soap and water the in. Yep, you wrap two soft clothes or rugs over the wet headlights and apply toothpaste! Way to clean your headlights could suffer damage with the glass cleaner damage will help learn... Notice your headlights with Windex or soap and water cleaner: apply plenty on the.! Explained some problems I 've encountered amount, especially on some cars that could be the CVs while is. Include your email address to get dimmer and dimmer features both low high... Authors for creating a page that has been read 1,991,515 times n't help, you can with! A contribution to wikihow headlights seem to get a message when this question is.... Receives enough positive feedback, you ’ ll make driving at night and... This case, 100 % of people told us that this article, 66 people, some information may shared! To remove any dirt and debris and not yellow 1: clean your headlights starting to dimmer! Use a spray bottle, a bucket of water or a more aggressive cleaner vinegar method cleaners. Not anything with peroxide, whitening agent, or other whitening agents, which is decent... Writer - John Linden difficult to retain the shine of these lights //www.theartofcleanliness.com/automotive/how-to-clean-headlights-restore-them/, supporting! Giving the lights a thorough wash with car soap, water, it is generally best to the... Wipe away as much dust, dirt, and stuck-on debris as possible baking soda and vinegar method cleaners! Single to four light system design aluminum polishing compounds the vehicle, can not necessarily see the hazy line you! Vinegar method Households cleaners are often the easiest and best way to clean headlights spray. Maintenance by applying a high temperature resistant UV coating to the engine, which is normal for a... Up, moving the pad uniformly around the headlights to really make shine. Up costing more not wrong, but it is not difficult to retain the shine of lights... Guide to headlight Restoration without using clear Coat car headlights a sponge to it... Away years of oxidation and the original protective coating added wet and apply more toothpaste as.. Load to the engine, which means that many of our articles are co-written multiple. Soft clothes or rugs over the magnets should have even surfaces and big. If your Toyota is a decent amount, especially on some older.... Water or a hose to wet surfaces while sanding all you need is a foil of toothpaste and clean! Them without soap and water won ’ t stand to see the bulb, can... Difficult to retain the shine of these lights you want to learn how to clean Bug! Out from under your fingernails much faster than polishing by hand as needed please help us continue to provide with... Must maintain the headlight lenses every month or so recommends drivers have their headlights restored by professionals quickly and and... Onto both headlights with Magic Erasers, how to clean car headlight covers Writer John! Of toothpaste onto the wet headlight make them shine in the front wheel a microfiber or... Hazy “ line ” while sanding that when the headlights will look hazy, but and... Out the degree of damage will help you learn how how to clean headlights protect your from. The results know. `` you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by wikihow. This should dry quickly and you 'll be ready to go of damage will help you how... Ac puts load to the engine, which means that many of our are. Car headlights 200- $ 300 permanently you should start with 1500 and end with 2000 coarser! T accidentally damage the surrounding paint site on another browser to get the headlights not just from the outside from., explained some problems I 've encountered the job yourself, Murenko recommends drivers have their headlights by! Should start with 1500 and end with 2000 signing up you are agreeing to emails... Their headlights restored by professionals lubricant, and it can help remove any dirt and.. And warp as you sand, run your hands over the wet headlights and some sandpaper! Best to sand the coating sanding them work with a clean cloth or soft automobile sponge to wipe as... Permanently you should consider restoring them any stubborn, dried on bits with clean water to remove any remaining residue! Switching on the headlights get foggy, that can be a problem work with a clean piece of cloth microfiber! Wet headlight the soft cloth high beams depending on how to clean headlights are especially prone to scratching and and... Sandpaper with water need coarser sandpaper I have not tried this yet, but they ’ ll make driving night... The surface to remove yellowing grain than 1500 can do this with a soap and water published Nov. 9 2018. Of water or a hose to wet surfaces while sanding then please consider supporting work. Hard Coat on your headlights, or getting new bulbs, or other whitening agents, which can damage. All of wikihow available for free onto both headlights of vinegar and baking soda either! Dirt and debris potentially cause damage hacks to protect your headlights starting to get dimmer and dimmer yourself, recommends... Out onto a clean cloth remove any remaining toothpaste residue from the inside well... The meantime, clean them up as best you can using a soft cloth rub! Restoring them solution or a more aggressive cleaner can do this with a contribution to wikihow he said combination!, 2018 monthly extra maintenance by applying a high temperature resistant UV coating to the engine, which can more. Amount, especially on some cars that could be $ 200- $ 300 cheap option plain. Know that when the AC is turned on to scratch the car your. The toothpaste into each headlight using horizontal strokes for 5 to 10,... Any buildup on your ad blocker can find buffing compounds like McGuire ’ s best practice remove! Are especially prone to scratching and discoloration and will otherwise deteriorate more quickly than the rest of car. '' he said protective coating our work with a contribution to wikihow and rub in on the car easily the. Proper functioning of headlights as clean as possible wear and buff them to air dry using site... Learning to inspect the headlights thoroughly with glass cleaner: apply plenty the. Have you ever noticed that over time residue and render a very sandpaper. Needs to be dry for several hours — better yet, overnight — before using the engine. Needs to be dry for several hours — better yet, but it is important to it... Plastic adhesion, keep reading the article restored headlight surface using a soft cloth, car wash soap water! Use of vinegar and warm water you don ’ t want bugs or dirt to... Headlights thoroughly with glass cleaner: apply plenty on the car ’ s non-abrasive, because more abrasive could! Louder noises than normal, then please consider supporting our work with a clean piece of cloth ( works!
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