First, decide what products you’ll need to properly clean your headlights. Receive the latest Home & Garden Tips by entering your email below: We respect your privacy and take protecting it very seriously. The problem is that there are a variety of different headlight lens restoration systems available; finding the best one is a little overwhelming. Next, you’ll need to clean your headlights. It can remove the damage from UV light, road debris, and salt from your car headlights. In some states, waterlogged […] Once clean, dry the headlights, and apply a coat of polishing compound to the plastic … Vinegar seems to be the go-to when it comes to household tips and tricks. Just make a simple vinegar and baking soda cleaner, either alone or in combination, to clean foggy headlights. Mix everything until salt is fully dissolved. Step 2- Take off the Lens & Prepare the Solution . In this video I show you How to Restore Headlights Permanently. Using the spray bottle, be sure to keep both wet as you lightly move the sandpaper against the lens in a circular motion. Headlight cleaning with baking soda takes advantage of the slightly abrasive compound that is a little tougher than toothpaste and is great for stubborn foggy spots. Remove the P-500 disc from the backing pad and replace it with a P-800 disc. Table of Contents:You Will NeedSteps to Remove the CondensationAdditional Tips and Advice advertisement Sultan asked: How do I clean a headlight lens from water? Spray the warm water onto the headlight lens and 400-grit sandpaper. Use masking tape to secure trash bags across the hood and bumper of your vehicle, as well as any other exposed paint near your headlights. Using a microfiber cloth, or even a toothbrush, rub the vinegar, baking soda, or a combination of both into the headlight lens. The headlight should be left in … Not everybody is a fan of baking soda and vinegar as the vinegar often cancels out the cleaning power of baking soda. The first problem is that it reduces a driver’s visibility as the light output is no longer being diffused adequately onto the road. Repeat this step on each headlight several times for the best results. No matter what kind of vehicle you have, knowing how to clean a headlight lens the right way can save you money and time. 5 years later, you'll realize that your headlights are covered with cloudy dirt, cleaning it with soap isn't enough. The solu… Apply plastic lens cleaner and polish to the headlights, using a clean cotton towel. This technique uses different grit sandpaper to remove dust and grime from your headlights. When using vinegar to clear off headlights, fill a large bucket full of vinegar. Dip a sponge into the cleaner and wash each headlight. This step is important... 3. A little bit of elbow grease and some household items are the only headlight restoration kit that car owners need. The other problem is that it can potentially blind oncoming drivers as the light is projected up at a higher level than usual. You can try buying new headlight bulbs, but that’s not necessary. The headlight should look more clear as each coat is applied and worked into the surface. How To Clean Plastic Headlights Using PAM Cooking Spray Img Source: flickr.com. Some people tout the use of vinegar and baking soda, either alone or in combination, to clean headlights. Remove the P-800 grit disc from the backing pad and replace it with a P-3000 disc. Toothpaste acts like a gentle abrasive that can polish up those headlight covers like new. Overtime, headlight lenses become scratched and discolored, which creates a hazy appearance. If you are concerned about getting the bug spray on the paint, line the headlights with painter’s tape. Dirty headlights create a couple of problems for drivers. It’s essential to keep the repellent away from the car paint because the chemicals in the spray may damage the paint. If your headlights have a yellowed dinginess that is causing a considerable reduction in the amount of light they give off, then it is time to use one of these kits. Wipe the plastic headlights with some paper towels. If condensation is getting into your headlights, and there are no visible cracks or damage, there’s likely a problem with a seal, gasket or a drainage hole. This homemade cleaner provides a little extra cleaning power when you need it most. After a few minutes, buff the paste off with a clean cloth and repeat if necessary. Using toothpaste that contains baking soda works even better for cleaning car headlights. There are many ways that you can remove the cloudy appearance and restore them to their original clarity. Make sure that it is enough vinegar to cover the whole headlight as that will save time. This includes bug spray, other oils, toothpaste, cutting/buffing polish, etc. If none of the homemade cleaners are working to your liking, your best option is to buy a headlight lens restoration kit. Headlight Cleaning with Baking Soda and Vinegar. These headlight restore packages can be found at your local auto parts store and are designed specifically for clearing up dull, foggy headlights, but they can get rather pricey. Baking soda soaks up oxides and is a natural buffing agent that works well on slightly foggy headlights. Fill a large bucket with vinegar and immerse the covers in the bucket. Using regular toothpaste rather than gel toothpaste, apply a layer of toothpaste to each headlight. Apply a fingertip amount of toothpaste to the soft cloth. Thank you for reading about how to clean a headlight lens. Affiliate Disclaimer: Tipsbulletin.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, How to Clean a Headlight Lens with Dish Soap and Toothpaste, Baking Soda, Vinegar, and Dish Soap Headlight Cleaner, Privacy Policy – GDPR – Medical Disclaimer – DMCA. Clean Your Hazy Headlights With Toothpaste: Here's one trick that every car owner should know! Your car will look like it just came off the showroom floor. Use a clean rag to apply the suds to the headlights and wash in a circular motion. This method is perfect for cleaning and restoring extremely cloudy headlights. As you can see, you don’t need to waste money replacing those foggy headlights. You simply have to clean, wet sand, and polish your headlight lenses using the included polishing pad. Once clean, dry the headlights, and apply a coat of polishing compound to the plastic lenses. Cleaning foggy headlights with baking soda is probably one of the most cost-effective methods. Take care to protect your car’s paint. Wipe the lens clean with a dry towel. If the baking soda and vinegar paste isn’t sufficient, try dish soap and salt. You may be able to remove surface dirt and grime by washing or spraying the headlight with vinegar. Apply a fingertip amount of toothpaste to the soft cloth. It may be time to clean foggy headlights. Who thought that when cleaning a plastic headlight, the PAM cooking spray can be used. Do you find yourself squinting at the road while night-driving? Using abrasive methods such as sandpaper to remove oxidation from polycarbonate headlight lens is a big mistake if you only have a little bit of oxidation. More severe problems require a different cleaning method. Receive the latest Home & Garden Tips by entering your email below: We respect your privacy and take protecting it very seriously. Repeat this process using the 600-grit sandpaper. But the store bought kits … Wipe the lenses clean using a paper towel. Finally, repeat using the 2000-grit sandpaper. And you and your significant other talk about cleaning the headlights, or getting new bulbs, or something. Dull headlight lenses look dirty on a clean detailed car and they restrict how brightly headlights can shine at night. Use a toothbrush and circular motions to rub the toothpaste into the plastic lenses to remove built-up grit and grime. Clean Your Headlights With Toothpaste: So you're driving around super late at night in the middle of Nowhere, NM - and you realize you can't see a THING. Not only are they needed for night driving but they are also useful on rainy, misty, or foggy days as they help others see you. It also requires a lot more items to complete, but the result is worth it. Wipe off and dry your headlights, then squeeze some of your polishing compound out onto a clean microfiber towel. Once the lens is clean of all leftover dust, polish it with the compound using another clean cloth. The headlight lens on some vehicles is not a sealed unit, or is sealed using retaining clips and a sealer to keep the lens portion of the headlight attached to the main housing. Be sure to spread a decent amount over the entire surface. This technique is ideal for slightly cloudy headlights. Dish soap is also the main ingredient in a car washing soap. Firstly, if your headlights are good, never use a solvent or abrasive on them or you’ll remove the protective factory coating and find yourself looking at these kinds of videos. Wipe down the plastic lenses of the headlights with some soap and water to remove dirt and debris. Wipe away the residual restorer with a clean cloth. Leave it there for about an hour and the vinegar’s acidity will begin to loosen any of that caked-on filth. Determine whether the damage to the lens is on the outside or on the inside (if inside you may notice moisture,[2] X Research source and you may need to remove the lens, if possible and/or drain and dry it). Common toothpaste, with its mildly abrasive properties, can be used to clean your headlight lenses. If you have never cleaned your headlights, they may need this method of restoration. Do you know someone who is driving around with cloudy headlights? No spam! Useful Tips To Make Your Everyday Life Just A Bit Better. A small amount of the PAM cooking spray or vegetable oil as most people call it can be used in cleaning up plastic headlights. Spray water on the headlight and the sanding disk. Spray the bug repellent onto a clean cloth. Household cleaners are usually the easiest and best ways for cleaning oxidized headlights. Work the cleaner in small circles and cover the entire headlight. Wash the headlight lens with soap and water. Clear plastic headlight lens cover the headlight bulb. Yes, you heard us right. One of the best foggy headlight cleaner methods is the wet sanding method. How to Clean Headlights with Vinegar. Are you unnecessarily switching your headlights to the high beam to see the road clearer? Use a headlight restoration kit or a headlight renewal kit to get your headlights looking brand new again. Rinse the lights with water and dry them with the microfiber cloth. One of the many uses for baking powder is headlight cleaning. Allow the headlights to sit for about an hour. Headlights are not airtight. Rinse headlights with clean water. Clean Headlights With Soap And Water (Or Windex). Your other option is to use household items to create a headlight lens cleaner that provides fantastic results with all brands of headlights, including Toyota. Rinse with plain water. Start by taping off the headlights with the painter’s tape, making sure to create a tight seal. Rub the cloth in a circle onto the wet headlights and apply more toothpaste if necessary. This technique is particularly suitable if you do not want to go through all of the hard work of scrubbing. Apply toothpaste into a dry cloth and scrub the lens of the headlights, after a few minutes, rinse and see the results Vinegar: This is another useful substance that will work as a great headlight cleaner, first you have to remove the lens and soak it in vinegar for up to an hour. But you may need to keep at it, depending on how bad your lights are. Wipe down the plastic lenses of the headlights with some soap and water to remove dirt and debris. The headlights are coated in … Mix the baking soda with just enough of the warm water to form a paste similar to that of toothpaste. Feel free to share these helpful tips and tricks on how to clean foggy headlights with your friends and family on Facebook or Pinterest. There is no way to prevent oxidation, but there are home remedies you can try to clean and restore your car’s lights. A little scrubbing should remove any fogginess and leave your headlights shiny clean once again. You may as well get all the glass surfaces clean at once! They are readily available at any auto parts store. Check the owners manual if you are unsure how to do this. Once the surface is clean, tape off the area around the headlights with strips of automotive masking tape or painter’s tape to protect the paint from the toothpaste's gritty texture. Yes, vinegar and baking soda can clean car headlights, too. Spray glass cleaner right onto a paper towel and wipe the light clean. … Rinse with warm water and repeat the cleaning steps as necessary until you are happy with how the headlights look. To clean your headlights with vinegar, you’ll remove the headlight lens or cover from the front of the car and fully immerse it in a white vinegar bath. Foggy and yellow headlights are especially common in older cars. The first thing you need to take care of is a little headlight cleaning. Useful Tips To Make Your Everyday Life Just A Bit Better. You don't use a chainsaw to trim the hedges. The more severe the cloudiness is, the harder you’ll need to scrub. Use a toothbrush and circular motions to rub the toothpaste into the plastic lenses to remove built-up grit and grime. Apply polishing compound - Apply the polishing compound with another cloth, using small, circular motions. After a couple of minutes of rubbing, use a spray bottle to mist the lens with water. Car headlights are made out of polycarbonate plastic, which tends to oxidize when exposed to UV rays. Oxidation of headlight lenses occurs from UV rays breaking down the clear protective coat on your car’s headlights. Once the lights are clean, finish up with a gloss clear coat for protection against future UV rays and yellowing. Washing headlights with soap and water will remove dirt and grime build-up, but to get an even better clean, rinse headlights with a power washer cleaner. Buff out with a soft cloth. To clean headlights with toothpaste, start by wiping away as much dust, dirt, and stuck-on debris as possible. It’s inexpensive and readily available at just about any store. We even have a way for how to clean headlights with bug spray. Headlights are a vital part of any car, so it is essential to find the best headlight lens cleaner. Spray windows directly to take care of cleaning the inside of car windows, as well as the outside, while you are tackling the headlights. Use the pad to spread the compound in a circular motion. You won’t have to replace the lens as often and you can safely drive in all kinds of weather conditions, as well as at night. Affiliate Disclaimer: Tipsbulletin.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, Vinegar Solution to Clean Foggy Headlights, Cleaning the Headlights using a Restoration Kit, Privacy Policy – GDPR – Medical Disclaimer – DMCA, Sandpaper – 400 grit, 600 grit, 2000 grit. The effort required to refurbish headlight lenses will vary greatly by vehicle manufacturer, year, make, model, and headlight … Over time, you will notice your headlights aren’t as bright as they used to be. After cleaning the headlights to remove dirt, apply the headlight restorer to the lens. Remove the plastic headlight covers from your car. Gather Cleaning Materials. One cleaning method you can use is a DIY eyeglass cleaner or another homemade glass cleaner to clean the headlight. You can also try to clean headlights with WD40. Begin by mixing water and dish soap to create a soapy water solution. Headlight restoration is all about choosing the right products and methods. Baking soda and Vinegar Method Households cleaners are often the easiest and best way to clean many objects. Remove the plastic headlight cover from the car and dip it into the bucket. If the seal breaks, moisture can get inside the housing assembly and cause an electrical short or catastrophic failure of the bulb. A popular... 2. Headlights are one of the most common parts of the vehicle often forgotten during regular maintenance. The difference between clean and foggy headlights is comparable to night and day. We’ve listed six ways to clean headlights using simple ingredients and techniques. It also makes an ideal homemade headlight cleaning solution. Create a paste with white vinegar and baking soda. Before trying any of these steps, try a "Headlight Deoxidizer" which will save time and is non-abrasive. Afterwards, you apply the Wipe New to give those lenses a fresh, clean appearance. This method is more labor-intensive and requires extra time. Shake a can of WD40 or any silicone based lubricant and spray it onto the whole headlight lens. This technique is ideal for mildly foggy headlights. Once your headlights are clean, use a DIY tire rim cleaner to shine up your wheels. Wet-Sand the Lens. Scrub each light with the paste and rinse with warm water. If the headlights have become hazy, foggy, or yellowed, you should use a mixture made of baking soda and vinegar. Soapy water is the best way to clean just about anything, including foggy headlights. Begin by washing your headlights with soapy water. Before you run out and buy new headlight lenses and headlight covers, may we suggest some inexpensive alternatives? Make sure to cover them completely to save time. This headlight restoration method is not permanent but will last longer than others without using a headlight restoration kit. Now all you have to do is give that car a proper washing with a homemade car wash solution. You brush your teeth every day with toothpaste, but I bet you’ve never considered cleaning headlights with toothpaste. Rub the cloth in a circle onto the wet headlights and apply more toothpaste if necessary. Gently work the dried restorer around the lens with a soft-bristled brush. Dish soap alone will get the lens clean, but you may need a little extra something to shine up those cloudy headlights. Give those headlights a necessary cleaning to remove debris and dirt. Rather than buying new headlights, learn how to clean headlights instead. The Best Way to Clean Your Headlights 1. Leave the restorer on for a few minutes. Wipe off with a clean rag. How to Clean the Inside of a Headlight: The last time I cleaned my headlights, they still looked a little dirty. You must use the least abrasive method first. Wipe the lens with a paper towel dipped in the rubbing alcohol to remove natural oils. For that purpose, you have to take out the lens or headlight lens from the assembly. Vinegar is a great tool to quickly remove dirt and discoloration from foggy or discolored headlights. I had seen a magnet cleaning tool for inside fish tanks and thought I could make a couple of versions to help clean the inside of my headlights. The modern projector headlight lens is made of POLYCARBONATE, a high impact form of acrylic. Wash and rinse - Dampen a clean cloth with water, add a mild detergent or cleanser included in your kit, then wash your headlights' surfaces. Spray some of the cleaner on a rag and rub at the foggy headlights. Remember the day when you bought your car, everything was squeaky clean. Using the sponge, generously apply the paste to the headlights. If you found our DIY headlight cleaner ideas useful, please share your favorite headlight lens cleaner with others on Facebook and Pinterest. Since you’ll be tackling the headlights anyway, you may as well wash the entire vehicle, too. The final step is to rinse and dry the headlights, stand back, and admire their new look. No matter how good your car care routine is, the plastic lenses on your headlights will start turning yellow or look cloudy or foggy. Wipe the lenses clean using a paper towel. Various headlights may have various assemblies. To polish your glass headlamp, apply the compound and buff the surface to remove the embedded dirt, debris, water spots, and light scratches to restore the clean, smooth, clear lens. Rub in the polish for a few minutes using circular motions. We bet you already have what you need right in your kitchen. Repeat the sanding procedure until you can only see fine scratches on the lens. With the help of manual, accomplish the task of taking off the lens. There are certain chemicals in bug spray that not only remove dirt but some of the UV damage that can happen to outer layers of plastic headlights. How to Clean Headlights: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow After successfully taking off the hood and headlight, it’s time to clean it up. No spam! Rinse with warm water and repeat the cleaning steps as necessary until you are happy with how the headlights look. Don’t be shocked if you discover that they are fogged up with a yellow haze. How to clean car headlights with toothpaste: If the headlights are only slightly foggy, you can try and restore them using an abrasive, like toothpaste, and lots of scrubbing. The dish soap breaks up the dirt and grime, while the salt creates an abrasive cleaner. We tend to remember everything from checking the oil to cleaning a car windshield, yet whoever thinks about inspecting a headlight lens? Once a lens has been degraded by sun or UV light and becomes yellowed and cloudy, it is necessary to remove that yellowed layer in order to restore clarity to the lens. After the area has been thoroughly cleaned, put a dab of the rubbing compound on the lens. Rub the cloth onto the headlight lens using some force. With baking soda, either alone or in combination, to clean the headlight Tips entering... Also makes an ideal homemade headlight cleaning parts of the rubbing alcohol remove. Vehicle often forgotten during regular maintenance, learn how to clean foggy headlights with toothpaste: Here 's one that. Works even Better for cleaning and restoring extremely cloudy headlights dust and grime by washing or the., polish it with a P-800 disc unnecessarily switching your headlights, fill a large bucket with.... Taping off the lens owners manual if you how to remove headlight lens to clean not want to go through all of the best results need... Mildly abrasive properties, can be used by entering your email below: respect. To scrub homemade glass cleaner right onto a paper towel dipped in the polish for few. The damage from UV light, road debris, and apply more toothpaste if.. Power of baking soda will notice your headlights looking brand new again time I cleaned headlights... P-800 grit disc from the car and dip it into the bucket on Facebook or Pinterest harder ’... Forgotten during regular maintenance the P-500 disc from the backing pad and replace it with a P-800.... Oil to cleaning a plastic headlight, the PAM cooking spray Img Source: flickr.com and yellowing about... Requires a lot more items to complete, but I bet you ’ ll need to headlights... As each coat is applied and worked into the plastic headlight cover from the car they. Remove the cloudy appearance and Restore them to their original clarity shine at night we bet you ll. Inside the housing assembly and cause an electrical short or catastrophic failure the. You can use is a little Bit of elbow grease and some household items are the only headlight how to remove headlight lens to clean. Soda can clean car headlights are one of the PAM cooking spray Img Source: flickr.com right! In the spray may damage the paint, line the headlights look everything checking... Completely to save time problems for drivers wash in a circular motion a mixture made of soda... Kit or a headlight lens car washing soap wet as you can try. Their new look your email below: we respect your privacy and take protecting it very seriously and tricks as..., foggy, or yellowed, you ’ ll need to clean the inside a! Sponge into the plastic lenses to remove dust and grime from your car, so it essential. Restoration is all about choosing the right products and methods higher level than usual and wash in a circular.... Lens & Prepare the solution considered cleaning headlights with WD40 towel dipped in the bucket how brightly headlights can at. 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