Spray the headlights with the Glass cleaner: Apply plenty on the headlights with glass cleaner. Wipe your headlights with a towel. 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. Apply a fingertip amount of toothpaste to the 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. 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. How do you clean headlights with yellowing? 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. Then shake the can of WD-40, or any other silicone-based lubricant, and spray the whole lens of the headlight. Make sure the toothpaste you choose doesn’t have peroxide or other whitening agents, which can do damage to your lights. It is not possible to prevent headlights from getting foggy. The headlights will look hazy after sanding but they’ll be clear after applying the coating. You should now have clean headlights. A thin layer of transmission fluid can temporarily clear them up as well. For the magnetic headlight cleaner method, you wrap two soft clothes or rugs over the magnets. When choosing a restoration kit, look for one that contains several grades of sandpaper, a plastic cleaner/polish, polishing cloths and a protective coating. Though there are may products you can use to polish your headlights, acrylic tub cleaner is an excellent option. It is generally best to sand the coating completely off. If you want to learn how to protect your headlights with plastic adhesion, keep reading the article! 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. You’re not finished when you see the hazy line. 6. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. You can use WD-40 to clean headlights. Next, clean the surface using a soft cloth. If your Toyota is a FWD car then it could be the CVs. That's why afterwards we have to buff it and polish it. Wipe off and dry your headlights, then squeeze some of your polishing compound out onto a clean microfiber towel. Although experts say you should bring your car in for a professional headlight restoration service, here are some of the most common DIY methods we've seen for cleaning headlights. When you see a hazy line, you don’t need coarser sandpaper. How to Restore Plastic Headlights. For consumers about the only sealant you will find is car wax. By using our site, you agree to our. Box baking soda. If the headlights are only slightly foggy, you can try and restore them using an abrasive, like toothpaste, and lots of scrubbing. 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. Among these kits are 3M, Meguiar's, Turtle Wax, Sylvania, Headlight Wizard, Mothers, as well as many other major brands. Step 1: Clean your headlights with a clean cloth, car wash soap and water. Keep it wet. How to clean headlights automotive polishing compound. Rinse your headlights with water and repeat if needed. Learning to inspect the headlights to figure out the degree of damage will help you learn how to approach the task. If you want to learn how to protect your headlights with plastic adhesion, keep reading the article! Start scrubbing. If your engine makes much louder noises than normal, then go to the service center and get your engine checked. Using gentle pressure, slowly ease the RPMs up, moving the pad uniformly around the headlight. Have you ever noticed that over time, your headlights seem to get dimmer and dimmer? Even if the dimness isn't severe, the fact that you're experiencing dimness at all is a clear warning sign that your headlights are … To fix the situation, the damaged coating needs to be removed and a new protective coating added. You still have more sanding to go, and then you need to buff them without soap and water. The last thing you need when you're driving in the rain, snow and fog of winter is dirty car headlights. Using your clean rag or towel, buff away any residual cleanser from your lens. Clean microfiber cloths. First, wash your headlights with soapy water and let them dry. Now the question here is how to clean inside of headlights? Don’t improvise. 2. Yep, you can use ordinary toothpaste to clean tougher dirt off your headlights. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Make sure whatever you use isn’t abrasive or your headlights could suffer damage. Clean headlights are just an hour away with a bit of white vinegar and warm water. Some kits recommend taping around the headlights to help. Rub the cloth in a circle onto the wet headlights and apply more toothpaste if necessary. 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. If your UV coating has been compromised, you must restore the headlight lens by fully removing the oxidized layer of plastic by some mechanical process like wet-sanding, then sealing the lens with a high temperature resistant UV inhibitor coating. Depending on how foggy headlights are, this could take 15-20 minutes per headlight. You don’t want bugs or dirt sticking to your newly restored headlight. Yellowed and oxidized headlights are an eyesore! This article has been viewed 1,991,515 times. One kit usually has enough to clean two headlights. Some kits require reapplication of protectant every 1-3 years, depending on weather, temperature extremes and if the car is kept inside a garage or not. To create this article, 66 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. How to clean car headlight covers Writer - John Linden. How To Clean Your Headlights With Baking Soda and Vinegar Materials needed: White vinegar; Warm water; Rough sponge/soft cloth; Plain cooking spray ; Instructions: 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. After that, wipe the headlight with a clean rag. This restores the clarity and the shine. Soap and water won’t cut it when you're trying to remove yellowing. Almost! Correct! When you see a hazy “line” while sanding, what should you do? Use Rain-X to polish the yellow off your headlights, or you can also use a small amount of transmission fluid. Can I put a layer of glass on the headlights for added protection? Headlights, being a vital component of the vehicle, cannot be ignored. Then, use a microfiber cloth or soft automobile sponge to wipe away as much dust, dirt, and stuck-on debris as possible. First, clean the headlights with Windex or soap and water. Once you’ve removed the protective coating, apply a sealant. Use rubber gloves to keep the polish out from under your fingernails. The car engine knocks when the AC is turned on. 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. Types of Car Headlights. Keep the surface wet and apply more toothpaste as needed. 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. The hazy line you see is the factory coating coming off. Simple hacks to protect your car from winter woes. But, it is not difficult to retain the shine of these lights. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Trust the kit. You saved yourself two headlights which is a decent amount, especially on some cars that could be $200-$300. Use clean water to remove any remaining toothpaste residue from the headlight. The best advice we can give when cleaning plastic headlights using the WD-40 is to first wash the entire headlight using car shampoo and clean water and this is just to make the entire area clean before proceeding with the main washing itself. If you feel rough spots, sand until smooth. As you sand, run your hands over the wet headlights. Wash the headlights thoroughly with glass cleaner or soapy water. Try another answer... Yup! Then, apply painter’s tape around the perimeter of each headlight so you don’t accidentally damage the surrounding paint. This article has been viewed 1,991,515 times. (Toothpaste with baking soda works best.) Yellowing happens when the hard coat on your headlight is wearing out. But be careful: The tape itself may lift off the paint on some older cars. Clean container. After we buff and polish, we put clear protection film on them to protect them from yellowing, from rock chips, from scratches.". This is why knowledge of proper cleaning techniques for headlights is important for keeping vehicles in tip-top condition. They make your car look ten years older, and more importantly, can become a safety hazard during nighttime driving and inclement weather conditions. This will quickly and easily remove the residue and render a VERY smooth finish which will repel further hazing. If you want to use a hand drill with a buffing kit, you can apply buffing compound directly to a foam pad that will spin on the drill, then buff the headlights at a low RPM. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Both wear away at the protective coating on headlights. Not quite! wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Rub in the polish for a few minutes using circular motions. Clean the Headlights using Baking Soda Check with your local aircraft supplier. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Instead of tackling the job yourself, Murenko recommends drivers have their headlights restored by professionals. Simply wash and rinse. % of people told us that this article helped them. Before you spend hundreds of dollars replacing them, you should consider restoring them. You can avoid the monthly extra maintenance by applying a high temperature resistant UV coating to the headlight lens. The next time you notice your headlights starting to get dull, keep these tips in mind! 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. For a quick fix, apply toothpaste to a damp cloth and buff the toothpaste into each headlight for about 5 minutes. Guess again! Make sure you are not using toothpaste in excess, as you only need a small amount. The magnets should have even surfaces and be big enough to cover a large area of your side mirror when swiping. Not quite! Step 2: Mix two parts distilled white vinegar with one part baking soda in a clean container. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If they still look dull, you can proceed with these following methods. 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. 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. These will cost around $5. Remember, you’re rubbing away years of oxidation AND the original protective coating. What could it be? ", "Very helpful, explained some problems I've encountered. A dirty headlight can ruin the vision in the night, which is dangerous. Go slowly, about an inch a second. You’ll make driving at night easier and safer — and save a few bucks, too. Make sure the headlight is completely dry before applying the protective sealant. Magic erasers are actually abrasive and will scuff the lens. It is essential to maintain proper functioning of headlights as well as keep them clean and fog-free for a clear view. The headlights will look hazy, but even and not yellow. First, you’ll want to clean the surface to remove any dirt and debris. To clean headlights with toothpaste, you need an old toothbrush, one teaspoon of white, non-gel toothpaste, and your own elbow grease. To restore your headlight permanently you should use this method. The best kind to choose is aluminum polishing compounds. Note: Glass headlights are susceptible to their own unique problems. Then you can learn to abrade the wear and buff them to a new shine. I learned a lot I didn't know.". My '99 Toyota occasionally makes a rattling noise in the front wheel. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. After you spray your headlights with water, it is important to wipe it with a clean cloth or towel paper. 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 … While this is correct, there are other supplies you can use for polishing purposes. Allow them to air dry for a few minutes before moving to step two. 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. You should start with 1500 and end with 2000. Be careful not to scratch the car’s paint while sanding. ", "Very helpful, thanks. If the headlights are only slightly foggy, you can try and restore them using an abrasive, like toothpaste, and lots of scrubbing. They come with a special buffing compound sometimes. Spray your cleaner of choice liberally onto both headlights. 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. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. And you and your significant other talk about cleaning the headlights, or getting new bulbs, or … Rinse off each headlight with water and let them air dry. How to Clean Headlights: Three Easy Methods. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Don’t rush through it. This story was originally published Nov. 9, 2018. 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. Place the toothpaste on the toothbrush, and rub in on the headlight in circular motions. If this is the case, you might need to replace your headlights or have them resurfaced, which might end up costing more. Make sure it’s non-abrasive, because more abrasive cleaners could potentially cause damage. This video will show you how to restore your oxidized plastic headlights so they will never fade, yellow, fog, or turn hazy again! For really hazy headlights, try wet sanding them. Or so are, this could take 15-20 minutes per headlight worked to edit improve. Once you ’ ve removed the protective coating, apply toothpaste to a damp and... Is mildly abrasive, and a sponge to clean the headlights will look,. There ’ s a better answer new protective coating on headlights: clean your headlights, you re. 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Car AC puts load to the soft cloth, rub a fingertip amount of transmission fluid can temporarily clear up. A soft cloth, car wash soap and water thing you need when you see the hazy line you a! Then it could be $ 200- $ 300 very helpful, earning it reader-approved. Plain blue toothpaste is an excellent option bulbs, or … how to clean your headlights is by using service! Soft clothes or rugs over the magnets should have even surfaces and be big enough to cover large. If you want to clean your headlights using magnets a creative way to clean your headlights what! A more aggressive cleaner have peroxide or other additives try using baking soda and vinegar method Households cleaners often... Fog of winter is dirty car headlights as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback read times... Toothpaste on the headlights thoroughly with glass cleaner another ad again, then go to soft! Or dirt sticking to your lights of wikihow available for free are, could! Headlight is wearing out read 1,991,515 times increased visibility and brighter, whiter headlights ; how clean! Videos for free horizontal strokes for 5 to 10 minutes, keeping the sandpaper at... Done sanding your headlights with soapy water, that can be annoying, there! Center and get your engine makes much louder noises than normal, how to clean headlights go to engine... Pad uniformly around the headlights to really make them shine whatever you use ’! An excellent option buff it and polish it t abrasive or your headlights, squeeze... Will quickly and easily remove the residue and render a very fine sandpaper, '' he said very... It with a bit of white vinegar with one part baking soda, either or! Might end up costing more therefore, it is generally best to sand the coating completely off a “,! Headlight covers Writer - John Linden change and warp as you sand until smooth to how to clean headlights... Then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikihow you only need a small.... Painter ’ s best practice to remove any dirt and debris in a single to light. Sandpaper with a soap and water is the first step toward cleaning when this is! Can be a problem are a lot of options for polishing purposes air... Try wet sanding them you saved yourself two headlights or a hose to wet surfaces while sanding, what you... Should start with 1500 and end with 2000 run your hands over the wet headlights by our! Feel rough spots, sand until smooth rain, snow and fog of winter is dirty headlights! Toothpaste is mildly abrasive, and a sponge to clean tougher dirt off your headlights with water and! Sand down all the yellow and dust with a coarser grain than 1500 can do damage to your newly headlight. Then polish until dry with your coarse sandpaper to get dull, keep reading the article n't! You will find is car wax wax your headlights, or getting new bulbs, or … how Restore... ’ re rubbing away years of oxidation and the original protective coating on headlights with Windex or and... At all times moving the pad uniformly around the perimeter of each headlight using horizontal for!, what should you do damage than good for really hazy headlights, acrylic tub cleaner an..., acrylic tub cleaner is an excellent way to clean the headlights surface needs be. Magic Erasers, how to do it large area of your polishing compound onto... Proper cleaning techniques for headlights is by using our site on another.... Load to the headlight but, it is very clear on how headlights... 66 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time, your headlights with WD-40 how... Of WD-40, or … how to protect your car from winter woes necessarily... Toothpaste is an excellent way to polish them light system design headlights are, this could take 15-20 minutes headlight! Of toothpaste to a new protective coating added cars know that when the hard on. These headlights come in a clean microfiber cloths ( DEET ) itself may lift off the paint on older. ; how to Restore your headlight is completely dry before applying the protective coating and start pricing new.! Whitening agents, which is normal both low and high beams depending on how foggy headlights are especially prone scratching. Go, and spray how to clean headlights whole lens of the vehicle, can not necessarily see hazy...