Repeat using the … Spray the warm water onto the headlight lens and 400-grit sandpaper. Work down from the top of the lens as you sand back and forth across he headlight. Households cleaners are often the easiest and best way to clean many objects. Using sandpaper to clean headlights might seem a bit counterintuitive, but it's the professional way to restore your cloudy car headlights to crystal clear. Use a circular motion with a small polishing pad. Attach a P-500 grit sanding disc to the backing pad. Apply automotive-grade masking tape. Next, rinse off the headlights with water, making sure all of the baking soda is gone so it doesn't leave a residue. Attach a P-500 grit sanding disc to the backing pad. Step 3 – Wet sanding with 800-2500 grit sandpaper. Clean yellowed plastic starts by lightly rubbing the surface with a soft cloth to remove any loose particles. Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit. First, clean the headlights with Windex or soap and water. Wiping Away Dust and Dirt Mix vinegar and water. Think of dull, yellow headlights as the weakest link in your exterior appearance. Distilled white vinegar. Repeat this process using the 600-grit sandpaper. (Toothpaste with baking soda works best.) If there are still areas that show oxidation, repeat step No. Box baking soda. Once you’ve sanded the whole headlight, wash it off with clean water; Go over the headlight again with wet 2000-grit sandpaper, using a circular motion; Once you’ve sanded the whole headlight, make sure all dirt has been removed. 500 grit sandpaper: http://amzn.to/2GD0rLM. Got another great method for shining up your ride’s headlights? The toothpaste trick. Enhance the appearance of your car. Go over the headlight several times, adding a little more toothpaste as needed. Rub the rubbing compound into the headlight lens in a circular motion. They’ll show a car’s true age quickly, and if you’re looking to sell or trade in your ride, they could cost you. keeping your car headlights clean and clear is the way to go. This will work better. Try starting with 400, 600 and 2000 grit sandpaper and remember that the lower the number, the more abrasive it will be. Top 8 Ways To Clean Foggy Headlights: With a toothpaste; With Sandpaper; UV Coat; Vinegar; Baking Soda; WD40; Coca-Cola; Dish Soap; It is very important to have clean headlights while driving, especially at night. Step 3: Start sanding the headlights. Water acts as a lubricant needed to polish out the scratches dry sanding produced. Repeat the sanding procedure until you can only see fine scratches on the lens. If the headlight is just dull or yellowed, start with the 1,500 grit and work up to the 2,500 grit. After sanding once take a wet sponge and clean the surface and continue sanding. Apply a small amount of toothpaste to a towel, then rub it onto the headlight lens. Best way to clean yellow headlights. Get Your Headlights Clean. First step is preparation. For the most oxidized and yellowed headlights, polishing and sanding wheels are available in some headlight restoration kits. You won’t have to replace the lens as often and you can safely drive in all kinds of weather conditions, as … Then wipe down the top layer of the plastic with very fine sandpaper. If the headlight is just dull or yellowed, start with the 1,500 grit and work up to the 2,500 grit. If you’d like to try doing it yourself, you can use these regular household products to save yourself some money. Stir the solution. That said, here are some of the significant benefits of cleaning a foggy headlight. Yellow headlights can be restored as long as they are made of plastic and not glass. There are multiple ways you can improve the look and clarity of your headlights. 800 grit sandpaper: http://amzn.to/2plunnl Pressure will build up and it could cause an explosion. The finer the sandpaper, the better as it will not scratch the surface. If you see it getting worse don’t get scared, it’ll get better I promise. Apply tape to the area around your headlights to protect the paint. Professional detailers use wet sanding methods with various sandpaper grits along with polishers to get the desired clarity from the lens. After wet sanding all the old clear coat and yellowed plastic from the headlights with 800-grit sandpaper, switch to your 1500-grit, then your 3000 grit, and repeat the same process of step four. Use the polishing compound on a soft cloth in a circular motion on your headlights, as described above. Take a measuring bowl and mix on part of baking soda with two parts of white vinegar. If you see it getting worse don’t get scared, it’ll get better I promise. Hold the sanding pads flat against the lens surface or at a slight angle. After you achieve an even haze on the headlights, you would use the headlight polish that comes with the kit to remove the haze, restoring the headlight to brand-new condition. Here’s how it’s done. Some owners prefer to soak the sandpaper over night, while others soak it for a few hours. Sand in one direction. Apply a small amount of headlight polish to the polishing pad, then rub it evenly across the lens without turning on the drill. Try Sanding Using sandpaper to scrub away yellow crust is one of the best-known methods for keeping headlight covers clear. What you’ll need: Clean microfiber cloths. Use a towel to soak up some of your new sodium acetate solution. Wipe off with a clean rag. To make a vinegar glass cleaning solution, you … Wet the towel several times and continue rubbing the lens until all of the fading is removed. If you own a buffer or polisher, feel free to use it or you can sand your headlights by hand. To clean headlights with vinegar, start by mixing two parts white vinegar and 1 part baking soda. He has prepared business plans, proposals and grant requests. Small, circular motions work best. Soak the sheets of sandpaper in water, then start with the grit that suits your situation. You might notice some clear spots that are undone. You need a few different grades of sandpaper if you decide to make your own headlight cleaning kit. Have a clean cloth around, so that you can wipe off the residue.Then, you have to move to the 1400 grit sandpaper to start smoothing out the headlight. Soak the sheets of sandpaper in water, then start with the grit that suits your situation. So sometime your headlights might still look a little yellow or foggy, even when you clean off the noticeable debris from headlight. This is where it gets fun. Wash … Other useful cleaning products Box baking soda. On some models, a leaking lens seal can be repaired, while on others you have to replace the entire headlight assembly. His career started has head writer and Web designer for VFW post 1224 in Hamburg, Michigan. Continue sanding until you see a white substance building up on the lens. These wheels quickly and easily remove years of oxidation, dust, dirt, and grime from your headlights for a like-new shine. Dry sanding is best for removing substances, while wet sanding is really for polishing. Moore is a state of Michigan-certified mechanic and is pursuing an Associate of Arts in automotive technology from Lansing Community College. So relying on denatured alcohol may be of help in restoring yellow car headlights. Failure to tape of the area around the headlight may result in damage to your vehicle's finish, if you accidentally move the sanding disk off of the headlight. Restoring your headlights is one of the easiest ways to improve the look of your car in a big way. So sometime your headlights might still look a little yellow or foggy, even when you clean off the noticeable debris from headlight. If you still see a slight haze on the lens, add another dab of polish to the polishing pad, and polish the lens again. Basically, to restore your yellow headlight lens you need to remove that old oxidised layer of yellow plastic from the lens using sand paper and compound. This doesn’t mean that you should grab some sandpaper from your toolshed and rub away. This product requires a 4-step process to restore your headlights: cleaning, sanding, polishing, and applying the shine and UV restorer. Here’s how to clean foggy headlights using this method. 1. Sand in a circular motion and keep spraying water with another hand. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media. Remove the P-500 disc from the backing pad and replace it with a P-800 disc. Toothpaste: Turns out toothpaste is a bit of a cure-all. Robert Moore started writing professionally in 2002. We cannot have a good cleaning, although these are inexpensive alternatives, and sandpapers can potentially cause scrapes. You can use a store-purchased headlight restore kit, make your own kit or use some common household products for an quick restore. It can take clear away your toddler’s crayon … Then rinse and repeat as needed. This simple DIY project will help you to make your headlights clean in a permanent way. The best way to do this is to pre-soak the sandpaper in wet, soapy water before sanding down the headlights. Some people tout the use of vinegar and baking soda, either alone or in combination, to clean headlights. Wipe away any residual toothpaste on the lens. We tend to remember everything from checking the oil to cleaning a car windshield, yet whoever thinks about inspecting a headlight lens?No matter what kind of vehicle you have, knowing how to clean a headlight lens the right way can save you money and time. Remove the tape from the area surrounding the headlight lens. If your headlights have a cloudy appearance originating from the inside of the lens, it is caused by moisture leaking past the seal of the headlight lens. Although the results are temporary, they’re … Sanding should be done very carefully to avoid any physical damage to the headlight … Tape around the headlights so that you don’t accidentally scratch the body paint. After that, … Remove the P-3000 grit disc and replace it with a headlight-polishing pad. What to use for cleaning headlights? 1. Continue sanding until all yellow coloring and large defects are removed. Continue wet-sanding as needed until the entire lens is smooth and free of oxidation. To clean plastic headlights you would need an abrasive to lightly scrape off the oxidized layer. This is the ultimate headlight restoration method and anybody can do it with a three-step process of sandpaper and polish, and that’s it and this is the results you get. You are quite fortunate if there is a can of WD-40 sitting in your car garage as it can also be used in wiping clean foggy plastic headlights. Dull, yellowed headlights can are a bit like those few stray grays in an otherwise beautiful brunette head of hair. Sanding in layers gives a better and more even finish. Set the drill to turn forward -- clockwise -- and start sanding the headlight lens. How to Clean Headlights with Vinegar. Using common household products isn't as effective as sanding the lens, but it is effective in restoring some clarity quickly and efficiently. If you intend to do this on several cars, make your own kit to save money. WD40 is a known remedy for yellowed headlights. You might notice some clear spots that are undone. It might be surgically clean with shiny wheels and have … Coke, toothpaste, silicone lube, bleach, craft beer and all sorts of products maybe help with cleaning your headlights for a cheap and labour intensive solution. Using a microfiber cloth, or even a toothbrush, rub the vinegar, baking soda, or a combination of both into the headlight lens. With sandpaper, the higher the number, the finer the grit. 2 until the headlight surface has a uniform surface. You should see that the lens is now smooth and a lot clearer than it was when you started. We have exellent solutions by using elbow grease or using your drill to do the work for you to get the job done right, first time and quickly. Post it on the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook Fan Page. Restoring your headlights to fresh-from-the-factory clear is also one of the easiest ways to make your aging ride look like new. Clean off the headlights with water and a paper towel to get rid of any plastic that you’ve sanded off. and continue adding vinegar until the chemical reaction has reduced the mixture to liquid form. To get the headlights really clear, you'll need to continue sanding until the yellow or orange hue is gone. Then you need to polish the surface to a glass like finish, then seal it with UV protection to prolong it happening again. Distilled white vinegar. 2. Although in time, the plastic with dull out again. Remove the P-800 grit disc from the backing pad and replace it with a P-3000 disc. And since a lot of us are at the brink of mind numbing boredom, now is the perfect time to take on this freakishly satisfying project. Please note that the … Buy a kit from your local hardware store -- it comes with the backing pad, several different grit sandpapers and polish. Find the rougher patches of the headlight and patiently scrub them until there is little resistance. You’ll want to … Spray the headlight with water, then wipe away any dirt and grime with a towel. Here are Three Ways to Shine ?em Up. This creates a chemical reaction that causes the vinegar to foam up, so pour the vinegar slowly to prevent overflow. In order to protect all your hard work, the final item usually found … Wipe the lens clean with a towel. The oxidation of your headlight lenses makes your car look a bit unsightly from the front -- and it poses a safety hazard. Step 2: Get Your Headlights Clean. Clean the headlights and the area around them with car wash soap and water. Good. Once the lens is evenly coated, polish the lens in the same fashion as you previously sanded it. If your headlights just need a light touch-up, you can skip the 400-grit and stick with the 600-grit sandpaper. Starting with a low grit sand papaer and stepping up to higher grit grades to a smooth finish. The homemade solution works best on oxidized or very cloudy headlights. Wipe away any residual compound from the headlight assembly or surrounding body. Step 1: Clean your headlights with a clean cloth, car wash soap and water. What you’ll need: Clean microfiber cloths. As with a comprehensive cleaning, you will want to protect the other surfaces on your vehicle with painter's masking tape. It serves as a cleaning agent, sanding aid, and as a solvent. Dip the sandpaper in clean water and wet the headlights. This is one you’re probably already familiar with, and for good reason: it’s one … UV rays from the sun and road debris are the two significant factors that lead to foggy headlights. Cover the entire surface of the headlight evenly as you scrub to prevent a spotty finish. Shake a can of WD40 or any silicone based lubricant and spray it onto the whole headlight lens. You might need to repeat this as many times as your requirement to remove all dirt. Dry everything with a clean cloth. Start with 600-grit sandpaper, but 400-grit would be ideal if the lights are too dirty. Tape off the paint surrounding your car’s headlights to protect it from scratches. 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