The problem of headlight lens opacification affects thousands of vehicles, be it cars or trucks, of all brands and all countries. Before proceeding with their complete replacement, it is possible to try to restore their transparency using special products that can be purchased in any auto parts store. You can save a lot of money by restoring the brightness of your headlights quickly and easily and without special technical specializations or professional tools. If you buy a non-abrasive car headlight antioxidant, you can get this job done in less than a minute.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Glass Cleaner
Step 1. Determine if the lenses have opacified internally or on their outer side (if it is on the inside it could be due to condensation:
in this case you will have to disassemble the lens, eliminate any residual water and dry it completely).
Step 2. If the problem is on the outside of the lighthouse, first try cleaning the glass with a special product, or use the same one you use to clean the windows at home
You can also use a water-based degreasing solution.
Step 3. Use a car body polish, it is a mildly abrasive cream and may work for you
Step 4. Follow the instructions on the package
Make sure not to apply it in direct sunlight or on plastic parts, it will leave a white residue that is very difficult to remove.
Step 5. If you have an angle grinder with a polishing disc, you can use it to polish your headlight lenses
You will save time and get a better result. To make this treatment last longer, protect the lens of the headlights by applying a layer of car wax or a silicone-based waterproofer.
Method 2 of 3: Reset Kit
Step 1. Get a car headlight repair kit
You can buy these kits online or at an auto parts store; one of the most renowned brands seems to be 3M ™. Included in the package you will find tape, sandpaper, headlight polish and instructions; online you can also find a video that illustrates how to use it all.
Step 2. Use duct tape to protect the body parts around the headlight
Protect the bodywork and plastic parts surrounding your car's headlights by using masking tape, such as painters use. Do not use scotch tape or electrical tape: they could peel off the body paint.
Step 3. Clean the headlight lenses
- You can use sandpaper, but be aware that it may leave scratches on the glass that would require additional work to remove. Use the sandpaper after wetting it with soap and water.
- Spray the lenses with a special cleaning product or simply with soap and water; eventually you can also use a degreasing product. Wash the headlights with a clean cloth.
Step 4. Remove the oxidized layer
- Use a polishing cream for plastic, apply it to the entire surface of the headlight while it is still wet.
- Take a sponge and the sandpaper used in the previous step, normally 600 grit paper is used.
- Fold the sandpaper in three parts to be able to wrap it around the sponge.
- Soak the sponge and sandpaper in soapy water.
- Clean the entire surface of the headlight, with a vertical or horizontal motion, from one side of the lens to the other. Remember to periodically wet the sponge and paper in soapy water. Avoid touching the car body with sandpaper to avoid damaging it.
Step 5. Always keep the sandpaper wet
- Continue to clean the surface of the headlights, using increasingly fine sandpaper. Switch to 1200 grit, then 2000 and finally finish the process using a 2500 grit to remove any scratches left by the coarse sandpaper used in the beginning.
- When you have finished using the sandpaper, apply the plastic polishing cream to the headlights. This time let the polish dry slightly and then remove it using a clean cloth.
- Wash the headlight lenses again with a suitable product, or with plain soap and water. In this way you will eliminate all residues of the used products.
Step 6. Apply a protective layer of car wax to the headlights
If you are not satisfied with the result at this point, you can repeat steps 1 through 5 until you get the desired result.
- Seal the headlight using silicone to prevent moisture from getting inside and forming condensation.
- Use a clean cloth, fold it to fit in the palm of your hand, and sprinkle it with a small amount of car wax. Wait a few seconds for the wax to moisten the cloth.
- Apply it to the headlight lenses in a continuous movement from left to right. Start at the top and work your way down to treat the entire surface of the headlights.
Step 7. Check the final result
The cleaning process is complete: your headlights will be as good as new and you will be able to drive even at night in total safety.
Method 3 of 3: Toothpaste
Step 1. Try using any type of toothpaste, including gel
Use rubber gloves to protect your hands. Almost all toothpastes contain an abrasive component, especially whitening ones, and some contain abrasive granules and some contain soda.
Step 2. Wash the headlights carefully to remove sand, dust and dirt that collects from other vehicles along the road
Step 3. Avoid using toothpaste, or other abrasive products, on bodywork, plastic or chrome parts
Be careful and consider using masking tape to cover the surfaces surrounding the headlights
Step 4. Rub or blot the headlights with toothpaste, using a clean, damp cloth or towel
Clean them with circular movements, scrub the entire surface of the headlights, without forgetting the edges.
Step 5. Add more toothpaste as needed
Use a sufficient amount of toothpaste and apply the right pressure to clean; don't be too delicate. As you proceed with the cleaning you will notice that the headlights will become more and more transparent.
Step 6. As the cleansing process starts to work, gradually increase the amount of water and toothpaste
Each headlight will need a cleaning lasting between 3-5 minutes.
Step 7. Once the headlights look clean, stop and wash them with water to remove any toothpaste residue
When finished, dry them with absorbent paper or a clean cloth.
Step 8. Use car wax or another suitable product to polish the headlight lenses
Advice
- When you start polishing the car headlights you will see a whitish liquid dripping; it is the substance that made the surface of your headlights dull. Keep cleaning to make the surface smoother and until the liquid becomes clearer.
- The first sanding step is to remove the oxidized plastic layer that covers the lenses of your headlights, the other steps are to eliminate the scratches caused by the use of a coarse sandpaper (remember the sequence 600> 1200> 2000> 2500).
- If the surface of the headlights simply appears discolored and dull, without scratches, you can try treating it with a solvent such as mothballs, using a very fine 2500-grit sandpaper. Opacity is very strong, start with a 400 or 600 grit sandpaper. Remember, the higher the grit, the less abrasive the paper is.
- Always wear suitable clothing for these jobs: protective goggles, rubber gloves and old clothes.
- For the last step, let the sandpaper soften in soapy water for at least 5 minutes.
- Always check that the headlights show no traces of internal humidity or cracks. If you see condensation forming inside the headlight, it means that there is a problem with the gasket that protects it from atmospheric agents. Cleaning the outer surface, in this case, will not improve its efficiency. You will have to disassemble the headlight, clean and dry the inside and, after reassembling it, seal it properly with silicone or special products. In the case of plastic headlights you can remove excess moisture by drilling a hole in the base of the lens, letting the moisture escape and then sealing with silicone.
- Open the hood of the car to have full access to the entire headlight structure and to be able to clean it effectively.
- Any purchased or homemade products should not cause damage to the car paint. Once you have finished using them, however, rinse them immediately and do not let them dry, especially if they are in contact with the car body, to avoid permanent damage.
- When performing a wet sanding make sure to keep both the paper and the sponge always wet; is the secret to having an excellent result.
- It is best to perform this work in a shady place and not in direct contact with sunlight.
- Before polishing the headlights, make sure you have cleaned them thoroughly to remove any contaminants such as: insects, tar, dust etc.
