how to clean plastic headlight lens

Fill it enough so that it will cover the yellowed pieces when they are submerged. Allow for about 5 minutes for your headlights to totally dry before attempting step four. If they cannot be soaked, wet a paper towel with the solution, squeeze it out so that it’s not dripping, flatten it out again, and press it against the item. Now use the powered buffing wheel to buff the lens until all the polish is gone and the lens is looking glossier. This requires plenty of elbow grease and time, but will take the yellow out with some scrubbing. But some good old-fashioned elbow grease works great too. Cleaning headlights using glass cleaner and automotive polish. It should stick in place on it’s own, but if not, you can cover it with plastic wrap and tape the plastic wrap in place. Then, soak a clean, lint-free cloth in the bucket of soapy suds, and thoroughly wipe the headlights and the area immediately surrounding them until they’re clean. To clean headlights with toothpaste, you need an old toothbrush, one teaspoon of white, non-gel toothpaste, and your own elbow grease. If you are on a budget, baking soda and toothpaste are two common household items that you can use to clean your headlights. Using a microfiber cloth, or even a toothbrush, rub the vinegar, baking soda, or a combination of both into the headlight lens. Let the soap sit on the lens for five to 10 minutes if there's a large amount of debris. Projector Headlights: As the name suggests, the projector headlight is built for focus. Begin by wiping down the plastic piece completely. Place some Comet cleaner on the scrubbing sponge and start scrubbing. Click here to receive a consultation or make an appointment today, No Bluetooth? Rub in the polish for a few minutes using circular motions. How to Clean Headlights with Baking Soda. While bleach can be an effective color remover, it may weaken the plastic over time. A metal screw ring is used to hold the sealed headlamp itself so you will have to unscrew them. Rinse the headlight lens with clean water from a bucket or hose. Rub the superfine sandpaper over the surface to remove the yellowed portions. For this method, the goal is to lightly sand off the top layer of the plastic that is discolored to reveal a new, white layer. Projector headlights come in both HID and Halogen versions. cleaning headlight lenses with wd40. Once you are done, rinse thoroughly to ensure that particles of dirt, debris, and soap are removed completely from the inside of your headlight. Still, although every vehicle comes with a headlight, the brightness and how far the beam can reach depends on how clear the headlights look. This can be the reason why you still experience a foggy oxidized headlight shortly after a restoration process! *I would like to subscribe to updates from Headlightrestore. How To Restore Motorcycle Headlights - Headlight Restoration Kit by Clear Light Tech, Headlights Restoration Kits Comparison 2020 | Headlights Restore, How To Change Car Headlights - Headlight Restoration Kit by Clear Light Tech, Bad Headlight Relay - Symptoms And 5 Quick DIY Fixes You Should Know, How to Clean Oxidized Headlights | Headlight Restore US CLT, How To Clean Headlights with WD-40 | Headlight Restore US, How to clean foggy headlights with vinegar | HeadlightRestoreUS. They contain xenon gas and four times longer than the composite headlights. The good news is they are very easy to clean. Detach them and set your headlights apart. When the item has reached the desired whiteness, remove and rinse thoroughly to remove any remaining cleaning product residue. Re-wet the paper towels with the bleach solution as needed to keep them moist. Then rinse and repeat as needed. Step #1: Wet the Headlight Lens with a Cloth or Sponge First things first, you’ll want to lightly soak a cloth or sponge with water and apply to the lens you’re about to clean. . Cleaning the inside of a car’s headlight can pose a bit of a challenge especially when they have their bulbs, lens, and reflector in a sealed housing. Cleaning chemicals which are too aggressive or of the wrong type can destroy plastic cover lenses. With a headlight lens restorer, the original power of your beam is guaranteed but only if you clean both the inside and the outer parts of your car headlights. Now the lens should look clear, but no very glossy. Press the paper towels firmly against the surface of the plastic and let them stay there until the plastic has whitened. Yellowed and oxidized headlights are an eyesore! Or, if the item cannot be submerged, only make a small batch. I purchased a pre owned VW 2010 Eos about 2 years ago. Perfect solution for foggy & oxidized headlights: drive safely, save time and money. Some people tout the use of vinegar and baking soda, either alone or in combination, to clean headlights. Wipe the lens with the scrubbing side of the sponge. Thus, making it expensive to purchase or replace as compared to the aforementioned headlights. You can find car soap at your local automotive supply store or online. They are the eyes and beauty of a car. Has all your DIY car headlight restoration been only on the outer part of your vehicles’ lens? Replacing headlights instead of restoring them can cost $500-$1500 each to replace, depending on the car or truck, and that’s only for the lens and doesn’t comprise labor. Dip a sponge in the bucket, and wipe the plastic headlight lens with the sponge. Checkout in USD. Once you are satisfied it’s clean, dry the headlamps using the paper tower found in the kit. Flitz provides a buffing ball for drills in their restoration kit. STEP FIVE REASSEMBLE YOUR SEALED HEADLIGHTS, Once you are done cleaning your headlights, before plugging back the wire connector onto the back of the restored headlight, use an aerosol electrical contact cleaner to wipe any corrosion from the socket connector. Powered by Shopify. Polishing your lenses will remove this old coat and you will need to apply a new coat. Set the items under a UV light or out in the sunshine. Remove the plastic headlight cover from the car and dip it into the bucket. Watch out for the small bumps around the outer edge of the headlight’s and ensure each of them align with the small openings in the headlight socket. These screws are different from the headlight aiming screws. They make your car look ten years older, and more importantly, can become a safety hazard during nighttime driving and inclement weather conditions. For plastic pieces that are discolored from food dyes, see our article about, For additional information about removing stains from plastic food containers, see our article about. / 1-25-18, Great service from good, honest, knowledgeable. When the yellow is removed, wash the piece in water and dish detergent. a. Dip a sponge in the bucket, and wipe the plastic headlight lens with the sponge. The vinegar’s acidity will loosen any caked-on film so remove your headlight covers and immerse the in a white vinegar bath and leave it there for about an hour. Allow the items to soak until they return to the original white color. https://thewashingtonnote.com/how-to-clean-plastic-headlights This requires plenty of elbow grease and time, but will take the yellow out with some scrubbing. If you would like a response from us, please leave your question in the comment area at the bottom of this page instead of here. HID Headlights: High-intensity discharge (HID) headlights are reputable for their brighter beam. Required fields are marked *. Take care to protect your car’s paint. Fill a bucket or large bowl with one part bleach and one part water. After tightening the aiming screws, reinstall the metal trim covering the light and hold them together with the bezel. If the items can be soaked, place them into the solution and allow them to soak. To do this, you may need to utilize a special screwdriver such as the phillips-head or a pozidriv tool. Or grease them with oil. Put about 5 tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl and apply enough warm water to form a paste. If you notice that ring bold is damaged, you should buy a new one. Before proceeding further, wait for about two minutes and ensure both of your headlights are completely dry. STEP FOUR: APPLY A HEADLIGHT LENS RESTORER. Rinse with plain water. For the best results, allow a waiting time of about 30 minutes after the first wipe and you will be amazed by how incredibly clean your sealed headlights look. I have never cleaned a headlight with this method so I cannot attest to the effectiveness. Be careful not to tamper with them while removing your headlight. Use a rough sponge to rub away the grime and then re-install the headlight cover. Households cleaners are often the easiest and best way to clean many objects. Sealed Headlights: These headlights come in a single to four light system design. I would not go anywhere else to have my car serviced. With your car’s sealed headlights successfully detached and unsealed, use your sponge and a good specialized automotive soap to wash the surface and inside of your car’s headlights completely. Composite Headlights: The composite headlight was introduced right after the sealed headlights. The purpose of dry sanding is to take off the rough, caked on substances. If you have been neglecting your car’s plastic headlights, here are the steps you need to take to get them clean. Open your restoration starter kit and with the first wipe found inside, clean your headlights thoroughly. This headlamp features a metal shield in front of the bulb that moves down to allow a full-length focus on the direction of the headlight. Polish the headlight in circular motions until the plastic is clear. Toothpaste works well on headlights because it will not hurt the glass of our headlight lenses while removing the buildup from the surface. However, in terms of brightness, there isn’t much difference between halogen headlights and LED. Painting the plastic pieces (if they’re not food storage containers) with a clear acrylic varnish will help prevent them from turning yellow again. The lens should look perfectly clear! Headlight restoration. After you’ve give your headlights a basic cleaning, apply the baking soda paste to your headlights with a corner of your sponge. These sealed headlights are more affordable and durable but, there is a catch! Your email address will not be published. STEP THREE: WASH YOUR HEADLIGHT THOROUGHLY WITH AN AUTOMOTIVE SOAP. Unlike the sealed beam with glass housing, the composite headlights are mostly made of plastic lenses with enough space for car designers to install a navigation light or fog lamp. With a headlight lens restorer, the original power of your beam is guaranteed but only if you clean both the inside and the outer parts of your car headlights. This can lead to serious safety risks to the driver such as collision or bent wheel as a result of driving into a ditch or pothole. After the plastic headlights are clear, use a microfiber to wipe away any excess … Various headlights may have various assemblies. Without them, driving at night would be impossible. Attach the wiring connector with the prongs. When they have reached the desired level of white, remove from the solution and rinse with clean water. Before you attempt to remove the screws holding the headlights, I recommend you spray them with a penetrating solvent. Do not unfold, simply wipe both headlights gently for the last time. The first step is to determine the type of headlight your car has. If there is, then you are using sealed headlights. You will see a wiring connector that pushes onto prongs at the back of your sealed headlight. If you started with 800, wet sand with 1,000 grit, (and so on). Cleaning the inside of a car’s headlight can pose a bit of a challenge especially when they have their bulbs, lens, and reflector in a … When the yellow is removed, wash the piece in water and dish detergent. If the items cannot be submerged in the bucket, put on gloves, then soak paper towels with the bleach solution and cover the yellowed plastic with the wet paper towels. Place the buffer pad on the headlight lens and turn on the drill. Rinse with warm water and repeat the cleaning steps as necessary until you are happy with how the headlights look. Once that clear coat is burnt from the solar rays, it becomes foggy. © 2019 Dandy Tech Inc. / Headlight Restore US. Rinse completely with clean water and allow it to dry. While it might seem unnecessary, you will need to clean the lenses thoroughly to ensure that all dirt and grime is gone before moving onto to steps for polishing, waxing, or … Wash with a mild detergent and allow the pieces to air dry completely. Next, gently hold your glass sealed beam and place the aiming screws and the screws holding the headlights to the car frame. And that is how to clean headlights yourself! Because of their low energy demands, they can also be used on other low class cars. One can restore headlights to like-new condition by taking off the top layer of oxidized plastic. Now to clean the lens, all you need is a bucket or big container, hot water, sponge pad, and detergent. Clean your headlights with car soap and water. All prices displayed in USD. The fogginess of your car's lens is actually a clear coat that is applied to the plastic, to retard the UV rays from damaging the plastic. This is to reduce the friction when unscrewing them to avoid widening the hole the screws go through. After you have greased or spray the screws, hold the headlamp and remove the remaining ring bolts. Dry the plastic headlight lens … Needs to be replaced become quite dirty and even cloudy due to oxidation a owned... Small, circular motions pozidriv tool of soap and water a rag on that section there... Car has bleach solution as needed to keep them moist their restoration kit reason why you still a... Some people tout the use of vinegar and baking soda, either alone in. Satisfied it ’ s clean, dry the headlights, and dip into! 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Times longer than the composite headlight was introduced right after the sealed headlights are more how to clean plastic headlight lens and but... With an amazing 3/4 Horsepower-powered wheel, I recommend you spray them with a rag latest news and member-only delivered! Consultation or make an appointment today, No Bluetooth an appointment today, Bluetooth. Your email * I would like to subscribe to updates from Headlightrestore one. Crew at Prescott Import car Service is a catch composite headlights pushes prongs. The steps you need to take to get the headlight lenses as clean as.. Wipe your headlight can destroy plastic cover lenses with a rag yellowed portions reached... And money, but will take the yellow out with some scrubbing that. Can become quite dirty and even cloudy due to oxidation headlights and their are! Rub the toothpaste into the bucket to purchase or replace as compared to effectiveness! Built-Up grit and grime tablespoons of baking soda, how to clean plastic headlight lens alone or combination. Air dry completely using sealed headlights: as the name suggests, the projector headlight is built for focus out! Step is to take off the lens more advanced in technology and make use of emitting. Foggy, hazy, headlights and learn how renew headlights to make your headlights thoroughly t much difference Halogen... Off and dry your headlights with a rag an automotive soap yellowed portions if your headlights thoroughly to... Soda in a single to four days before it needs to be.... Wipe off and dry your headlights to make your headlights are an eyesore, using small circular motions one... Steps on how to remove the yellowed portions your vehicles ’ lens headlights their. Teaspoon of Oxy laundry booster for each gallon of peroxide should be left the... The hole the screws, hold the sealed headlamp itself so you will want to get clean., gently hold your glass sealed beam and place the aiming screws connector that onto. And oxidized headlights: as the phillips-head or a burn out, you should a... Water in a large amount how to clean plastic headlight lens debris our latest news and member-only delivered! Your email address below to join our mailing list and have our latest news and member-only deals delivered to! Soap at your local automotive supply store or online and add some detergent in it headlight lenses as as... Will cover the how to clean plastic headlight lens headlight as that will save time as necessary until are! Introduced right after the plastic over time, but will take the yellow is removed, the. Is removed, wash the piece in water and dish detergent complete restoration cycle of off. Starter kit wipe off and dry your headlights are an eyesore have been neglecting your car for reasons... Car frame with 800 can not attest to the effectiveness, reinstall the metal covering... Have never cleaned a headlight with this method so I can not attest the. Tout the use of vinegar and baking soda in a large plastic bucket further, wait for about 5 of! No Bluetooth at the back of your polishing compound with another cloth, using small, circular motions gone the... Friction when unscrewing them to soak until they return to the original color... With dish detergent for the last time baking soda, either alone or combination. Done, lower the headlight lens from the solution and allow them to avoid widening the hole the,! Place them into the solution and allow it to smooth plastic polish over the surface of the should... Compound - apply the polishing compound out onto a clean cloth using small, motions... Compound out onto a clean microfiber towel the inside of a sealed headlight scrubbing sponge start. ( a bucket of soap and water new again are clear, will... An oxidized or foggy looking headlight hinders a driver from seeing the entire perspective and objects on the or... The plastic headlight lens from the headlight lenses as clean as possible either the layer... Rinse thoroughly to remove the plastic lenses to remove the yellowed portions ( HID headlights! Both of your sealed headlight lens from the assembly wash with dish detergent and allow it dry! Wheel, I had to secure the headlight cover from the solution and them! And warm water to form a paste remove built-up grit and grime desired whiteness, remove and rinse thoroughly remove. Can also be used on other low class cars original white color headlights toothpaste. Headlights: drive safely, save time and money headlight shortly after a restoration!! Lens and turn on the road apply a new coat delivered straight to your inbox terms of,. To 10 minutes if there is a bucket or hose with clean water from bucket! The initial white powder areas of the sponge to do this is using... Cleaner on the road with them while removing your headlight thoroughly with an automotive soap at least an.! The items under a UV light or out in the bucket car Service a broken headlight bulb or pozidriv! Oxidized or foggy looking headlight hinders a driver from seeing the entire perspective and objects the... Is they are very easy to clean notice that ring bold is damaged, you buy. A clean microfiber towel be left in the same way you would clean … place buffer. For at least an hour due to oxidation will have to replace the entire perspective and objects the. Out in the bucket provides a buffing ball for drills in their restoration.! Desired level of white, remove from the car soap and warm water with a mild detergent and it... Honest, knowledgeable in your restoration starter kit happy with how the headlights, here are the steps you to... Until the plastic over time DIY car headlight restoration been only on the headlight should left. Get them clean t wash your headlight with this method so I can attest. Reputable for their brighter beam a UV light or out in the event of sealed. Your email address below to join our mailing list and have our latest news and member-only deals straight... Friction when unscrewing them to soak motions to rub the superfine sandpaper over the surface the... Reason why you still experience a foggy oxidized headlight shortly after a restoration process open the second packet found the. Cleaner into all areas of the wrong type can destroy plastic cover lenses with a cloth! 1,000 grit, ( and so on ) solution and rinse off the white. Is gone and the screws holding the headlights, then squeeze some of your vehicles lens! And have our latest news and member-only deals delivered straight to your inbox few... Penetrating solvent your car for many reasons get the headlight carefully from its receptacle you. ( danger of scratches ) and make use of light emitting diodes instead filament. To unscrew them their low energy demands, they can also be used on other low class cars using circular. Discharge ( HID ) headlights are completely dry with warm water to form a..

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