Due to the dirt and the grime accumulated over time, your car headlights may be looking and worn. Fortunately, there are many cost efficient and easy options for cleaning headlights. Read on to learn how to clean your headlights on a car.
Toothpaste Method
Using regular white toothpaste works wonders for your headlights. It’s actually preferable to use regular toothpaste, as whitening toothpastes contain other compounds that may damage your headlights. All you have to do is apply the toothpaste with a soft rag and then rub in small circles until the grime comes off. You’re essentially just using toothpaste as an abrasive and rubbing all the dirt and grime off with the rag. Afterwards, just rinse with water and your headlights should look much cleaner.
Sandpaper Method
You’ll need three different grit sandpapers for this task, probably around 400, 1200, and 1500, respectively. You’ll first want to clean the lenses with rubbing alcohol and then begin wet sanding with the 400 grit sandpaper. You may see the factory coating coming off and it would be best to sand the coating off completely. Then continue to sand out the scratches using the 1200 and the 1500 grit sandpaper, which will make it smooth. Afterward, you’ll want to take it to a local auto body shop to spray plastic adhesion promoter and automotive clear coat. This protective coating should last years, rather than the normal months after buffing the headlights.
Polishing Method
If the cause of fogginess is actually oxidization, it will mean that your headlights will need to be polished again. You’ll first want to wash the headlights to remove as much grime as possible and allow them to dry thoroughly. Then you’ll want to apply aluminum polishing compound with cloth moving in small circles. Repeat as much as necessary until the headlights become clear.
The above methods work for most cases, but in the case that your headlights still are extremely foggy or scratched, you may need to take it into a local mechanic or repair shop to have professional work done. If that’s the case, it’s highly recommended that you use TalkLocal to get into contact with a highly rated local auto repair professional. It’s fast, easy and free!
