We recommend using 400-grit sandpaper if your headlights are very foggy and then progressing to 600-grit sandpaper for a finer polish. If your headlights just need a light touch-up, you can skip the 400-grit and stick with the 600-grit sandpaper. If you own a buffer or polisher, feel free to use it or you can sand your headlights by hand.
Full Answer
How to Polish plastic car headlights?
Here's how to polish plastic car headlights the cheap way and remove the haze to make your headlights transparent again. Use a little bit of toothpaste and some car wax and 10 minutes of scrubbing, and your headlights will look new again.
Can toothpaste be used to clean headlights?
Headlight restoration is easy when toothpaste is your headlight cleaner. Restoring and dehazing hazy plastic car headlights with toothpaste is cheaper than using Fast Brite, and it works great. Polish your hazy cloudy plastic car headlights with toothpaste to make your car safer and your headlights brighter.
How do you clean the inside of a headlight?
If you are using Windex, simply spray down the headlight and wipe it clean. If you are using soap and water, dip your microfiber cloth in a prefilled bucket of soap and water and scrub down each headlight. Also, wash down the area surrounding the headlights, as this will make the next step easier.
How to fix hazy cloudy plastic headlights?
Restoring and dehazing hazy plastic car headlights with toothpaste is cheaper than using Fast Brite, and it works great. Polish your hazy cloudy plastic car headlights with toothpaste to make your car safer and your headlights brighter.
Can plastic headlights be polished?
Introduction. Plastic lenses can become dull, scratched and yellow over time. Polishing them will clear the haze. Restore your car headlight lenses in 45 minutes for less than $15, rather than spending $100s to replace them.
How can I make my plastic headlights shine?
1:1310:34How To Restore Headlights PERMANENTLY ( Better Than a ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCar polish and metal polish which a liquid abrasives. And some sand papers which are dry abrasives.MoreCar polish and metal polish which a liquid abrasives. And some sand papers which are dry abrasives.
How do you restore faded plastic headlights?
4:017:58How to Restore Faded Headlights for less than $20 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOpen up the rubbing compound. And apply it first to the pad rub. It into all the pores to make sureMoreOpen up the rubbing compound. And apply it first to the pad rub. It into all the pores to make sure that the pad will polish properly once we put it on the headlight.
How do professionals restore headlights?
3:577:41This Is PROFESSIONAL AND PERMANENT HEADLIGHT ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI would say at least 5 minutes of sanding per grit level step. 3 the sanding is done but as you canMoreI would say at least 5 minutes of sanding per grit level step. 3 the sanding is done but as you can see even after the 3,000 grit sandpaper the headlights are still a bit foggy.
Does WD-40 clean headlight lenses?
Apply a generous amount of WD-40 Multi-Use Product onto a clean cloth. Then, using the cloth, wipe the surface of the headlight meticulously, making sure you cover the entire surface of the headlight.
What is the best headlight restorer?
5 Best Headlight Restoration KitsOverall Best Kit: Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit.Best Drill-Oriented Kit: Mothers NuLens Headlight Renewal Kit.3M Headlight Lens Restoration System.Cerakote Ceramic Headlight Restoration Kit.Chemical Guys Headlight Restorer.
How do you make faded headlights look new?
If the headlights are only slightly foggy, you can try and restore them using an abrasive, like toothpaste, and lots of scrubbing. First, clean the headlights with Windex or soap and water. Then, using a soft cloth, rub a fingertip amount of toothpaste onto the wet headlight. (Toothpaste with baking soda works best.)
How do you buff dull headlights?
4:025:59DIY: Polishing Foggy Headlights - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow compound is starting to dry on the headlight itself. So this is where the water comes in simplyMoreNow compound is starting to dry on the headlight itself. So this is where the water comes in simply spray a light mist on there. And then continue polishing. As you can see how nice.
How do you polish dull headlights?
1:403:40Headlight Restoration using Toothpaste - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe older the more yellow and the more hazy your headlights the longer you're gonna have to brush.MoreThe older the more yellow and the more hazy your headlights the longer you're gonna have to brush. And you might even have to do two applications to toothpaste.
What is the best headlight restorer?
5 Best Headlight Restoration KitsOverall Best Kit: Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit.Best Drill-Oriented Kit: Mothers NuLens Headlight Renewal Kit.3M Headlight Lens Restoration System.Cerakote Ceramic Headlight Restoration Kit.Chemical Guys Headlight Restorer.
Does Magic Eraser clean headlights?
While using a Magic Eraser on a vehicle's paint has become somewhat of a cautionary tale, it's completely safe to clean cloudy headlights. A bonus? The cleaning tool even gets rid of the gross yellow coloring that develops over time. Buff each one with a wet Magic Eraser, then wipe with a paper towel as they dry.
Does rubbing alcohol clean headlights?
Once finished, wipe off the headlight with rubbing alcohol (this helps the headlight dry). Everything should look pretty clear at this point, but as a finishing touch, polish the plastic with toothpaste (like above) or a specialized headlight polish.
How do you polish plastic headlight lenses?
To polish plastic headlight lenses, you will need a polishing cloth. To remove stains and scratches, you can use rubbing alcohol or mineral spirits...
How do you clean cloudy plastic headlights?
Use a solution of warm water and soap to clean cloudy plastic headlights. The soap helps remove dirt, while the warm water melts the plastic and he...
How do you rejuvenate plastic headlights?
Plastic headlights don't need to be rejuvenated. They’re simply made of transparent materials and don't affect the safety of the car when they're n...
How can I polish my headlights at home?
Headlights are among the most important accessories on your car, and hence require polishing from time to time. The best way to do this is to use a...
Does Vaseline restore plastic?
Vaseline is one of the most common ways to clean and restore damaged plastic items, but it might not always work. If the damage is severe, you migh...
If the dirt won’t come off using a rag and soap, isn’t it already a lost cause?
Not at all. Years of weather and ambient dirt and dust collect on your headlights. To cut through these levels of contaminants, you’ll need the hel...
Does a headlight restoration kit require the help of a second person to do the job?
No. Although you are able to share the duties of restoring your headlights, these kits are intended to be used by an individual, with the whole pro...
Is it possible to clean every headlight so it looks new?
No. Although these headlight restoration kits can at times restore headlights to their original brilliance, with age comes irreparable damage to so...
Are the chemicals used in headlight restoration kits environmentally safe?
Yes. Although you will want to follow the instructions to ensure that you dispose of these compounds in a safe manner. They are designed for regula...
Can’t a professional get my headlights cleaner than I would be able to get them with a kit?
Not necessarily. Oftentimes, a professional who charges to clean your headlights will be using the same type of kit that you can simply purchase yo...
Key considerations
While some headlight restoration kits come with handheld pads used to clean the surface of your headlights, others come with buffing and sanding wheels that attach to a power drill.
Features
For the most oxidized and yellowed headlights, polishing and sanding wheels are available in some headlight restoration kits. These wheels quickly and easily remove years of oxidation, dust, dirt, and grime from your headlights for a like-new shine.
Headlight restoration kit prices
Inexpensive: The most affordable range of headlight restoration kits fall between $5 and $20. These kits mostly offer handheld designs that will be effective at removing a moderate amount of oxidation and grime.
Tips
Inspect your headlights thoroughly before choosing which kit to purchase. If your headlight has permanent damage, you wouldn’t want to waste money trying to buff it with a kit that can’t do the job.
How to clean headlights with toothpaste?
To use this method, get an abrasive toothpaste and use a clean cotton towel to apply the toothpaste to the headlight lens. Do not put too much, but just a fingertip amount and rub all around the headlights. But before doing this, you must also have wet the headlights and done preliminary cleaning with automotive soap and water.
How to make your headlights less yellow?
Depending on how foggy or yellowed your headlights look, you can add a little amount of baking soda to your vinegar solution to make it more potent. Furthermore, you can turn your vinegar solution into a wax protectant to reduce future fogginess from developing on your headlight lens.
What happens when your headlights get foggy?
When your headlights get foggy or oxidized, they begin to have this yellowish color that makes your car look old and unattractive. Once you notice this change, then it’s time for a car headlight restoration. The importance of using a headlight lens restorer to defog oxidation cannot be overemphasized.
Why do my headlights get cloudy?
What this means is that they tend to react quickly to Sun and UV rays. As soon as your headlights begin to get foggy or look cloudy, or hazy, know that the oxidation process has already begun. This is normal and shouldn’t cause any freight because car headlight restoration is easier than you think.
How to get fog out of headlights?
Using toothpaste: Toothpaste can come in handy in restoring your headlights and getting rid of the fog that has settled on it. However, it is to be noted that you can only do this when your headlight is only slightly foggy and not when it is seriously yellowish and colored.
How to get rid of grime on headlights?
With your vinegar solution contained in a spray bottle, gently apply the solution on your Headlight lens. Make sure you spray the entire area of your Headlight cover and allow it to soak for about 5 mins. Leaving the solution to stay for some minutes before washing, allows it to melt every grim.
How to restore headlights with vinegar?
To make a vinegar solution for your headlight restoration, mix at least three cups of water with a cup of distilled vinegar. Put the water and vinegar solution in an empty spray bottle for easy application. Be sure that you don’t allow the volume of the vinegar to be more than the water volume.
How to restore yellow headlights?
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. As a final step you should apply a sealant.
What is the polishing step?
Basically the process involves making finer and finer scratches. The polishing step will take out the really, really fine scratches left by the last sanding step. I don’t endorse the use of their polish because it has the potential for doing harm. But that’s what you have to work with so what are you going to do.
How to avoid plastic from abrasive disc?
You will be doing what seems to be irreversible damage but you need to have trust in the process. Use plenty of water to avoid plastic from building up on the abrasive disc. This is the proper way to work with plastic. Basically the process involves making finer and finer scratches.
Can you paint on plastic headlights?
They cause crazing and contain chemicals that cause cancer. Don’t use paint!!! Even if you use paint that is safe to use on plastic they are not designed to withstand the expansion and contraction of plastic headlights.
Can brasso be used on headlights?
If used over and over it will leech through the lens and form oil droplets on the inside of your headlights. Don’t use Brasso! It causes crazing and contains chemicals that cause cancer. Don’t use metal polish! It causes crazing and contains chemicals that cause cancer.
Can you use bug spray on plastic?
Don’t use bug spray! This melts plastic and leaves a tacky surface
Can polishing compound cause cancer?
Don’t use polishing compound! It causes crazing and contains chemicals that cause cancer
How to clear plastic headlights?
Surround your headlights with painter’s tape to prepare them for sanding. If your plastic headlight lenses are hazy or yellowish, you can make them clear again by sanding them. Surrounding the headlights with painter’s tape before you start will help prevent you from accidentally sanding paint off the areas surrounding the headlights.
How to polish headlights with a microfiber towel?
1. Rub some polishing compound onto your headlights with a microfiber towel. Apply a dab of polishing compound to a clean microfiber towel. Then, use circular motions to rub the polish onto the entire surface of your headlight. Use enough compound to coat the entire surface of your headlights with a thin, even layer.
How to sand headlights?
Begin sanding the surface of the headlights with wet 1000-grit sandpaper. Use a spray bottle to get the surface of the headlight and the sandpaper wet with water. Then, start to sand the surface of the headlight in horizontal strokes.
How to keep headlights from hazing?
Spray on a coat of UV sealant to prevent your headlights from hazing over. Position the nozzle of the spray container 4–5 inches (10–13 cm) from the surface of the headlight. Then, spray a light coat of UV sealant over every part of the headlight.
How to protect headlights from UV?
Cover the area surrounding the headlights with paper or plastic. Before you spray UV sealant on your headlights, you’ll want to protect the surrounding area. You can cut up paper grocery bags and tape them down on your car’s surface with painter’s tape.
Why are my headlights yellow?
Learn more... Over time, plastic headlights can become hazy and yellowish as UV rays gradually weaken the protective film that coats them. Luckily, making them look like new again is a fairly easy process.
How to make your headlights clear again?
Use enough compound to coat the entire surface of your headlights with a thin, even layer. Applying polishing compound in this way will help make your headlights clear again. Repeat the polishing process if parts of your headlight aren’t as clear and smooth as you’d like.
What is the best wax for headlights?
If you don’t have time to read about our recommendations, our top pick for the best wax for headlights is the CERAKOTE Ceramic Headlight ...
How to make headlights clearer?
Wash the headlights, then apply an even spray of Blue Magic. Allow to dry completely, then buff with a clean, dry microfiber cloth. That’s all you need to do to have beautifully shiny, clear headlight covers.
What is the best headlight restoration kit?
If you are sick of looking at those yellow, hazy headlights and you want to both restore and protect them, then Cerakote Ceramic Headlight Restoration Kit is the clear (literally) winner.
What is included in a headlight kit?
Everything is included in this kit; applicators, wipes, sponges, you name it. No power tools are required, everything can easily be done by hand. This is a ceramic sealant that protects your headlights from the UV rays of the sun that caused most of the damage in the first place.
How long does it take to get a clear headlight cover?
Getting crystal clear headlight covers only takes about 30 minutes for both lights. Fast, easy to apply, restores, and protects the headlight in one kit? Sign us up!
Why are my headlight covers yellow?
Washing these plastic covers is not enough. It’s mostly the damaging rays of the sun that turn your plastic headlight covers yellow or cloudy.
How long does a headlight spray last?
This comes in an easy to use spray that is supposed to last up to one year. You need to tape off the headlights to prevent damage to the paint, spray on one coat, and allow it to dry, apply a second coat, and you are finished!
What is the material used to make headlights?
The main material used to make headlights is called polycarbonate. One of the drawbacks of this porous material is that when it is exposed to heat, from the headlight’s bulb or the sun, the heat causes oxidation which leads to cloudiness. Headlights come with a protective barrier, but once this wears off, the headlights will start to get hazy. This is why it is important to apply a UV sealant to help minimize this oxidation on your newly restored headlights.
How long does it take to polish headlights?
This process should take about 5-10 minutes. 5. Apply Polish. After you finish sanding the headlights, wipe them clean, and make sure they are dry. Using a clean microfiber cloth, rub the polish onto the headlight in a circular motion for about five minutes.
How to clean a windex headlight?
If you are using Windex, simply spray down the headlight and wipe it clean. If you are using soap and water , dip your microfiber cloth in a prefilled bucket of soap and water and scrub down each headlight. Also, wash down the area surrounding the headlights, as this will make the next step easier. 3.
How to clean fog light headlights?
You can mix five tablespoons of baking soda with warm water to form a paste to clean your headlights. Or scrub the headlights with toothpaste. In both cases, make sure you clean the headlight with soap and water prior to scrubbing them. These DIY solutions tend to work best on moderately foggy headlights.
How to restore old headlights?
Sanding your headlights is an important step to restore their old shine. We recommend using 400-grit sandpaper if your headlights are very foggy and then progressing to 600-grit sandpaper for a finer polish. If your headlights just need a light touch-up, you can skip the 400-grit and stick with the 600-grit sandpaper.
What to use to clean fogging headlights?
If your headlights are only slightly foggy, toothpaste could do the trick! Or you can stick with more common cleaning materials like Windex or soap and water. For this guide, we will focus on the more traditional cleaners so you will need either Windex or soap and water.
How to sand headlights?
Dip the sandpaper in clean water and wet the headlights. You’ll want to sand in horizontal, straight strokes. Make sure you always sand in the same direction and make sure to also keep the surface of the headlights wet throughout the process. If you don’t keep the surface wet, you run the risk of scratching the headlight.
