How to Clean Car Headlights: DIY Tips and Tricks
Posted on June 2, 2021
Have you ever experienced riding in a new car on a dark road at night and thought to yourself, ‘I can see so much more of the road right now than I can in my car...’? It’s a common scenario and when it happens the first instinct is to rush out and buy new headlamps.
After all, the last thing you need is hazy headlights when you’re in conditions that require full attention to the road. Instances like these make you wish you knew how to clean headlights that are cloudy.
But wait! Before you shell out on new lights, a quick clean could be just what the doctor ordered.
The best way to clean your headlights is, undoubtedly, to bring your vehicle into CarHub to let our dedicated car service team take care of the work for you but if you’re feeling ambitious, we’ve got a new entry into our series of car maintenance tips for you about how to clean your car headlights right.
Understanding Foggy Headlights: What You Need to Know
If your headlights seem dimmer than before or have a yellowish tint, you might be dealing with foggy headlights. This issue is common and can significantly reduce your nighttime visibility.
Foggy headlights usually result from the degradation of the plastic lens covering your headlights. Modern vehicles often use polycarbonate plastic lenses because they’re more durable and scratch-resistant than older glass lenses.
However, these plastic lenses can still be affected by the sun's UV rays over time. The UV exposure breaks down the outer layer of the plastic, leading to a cloudy or yellowish appearance. This fogginess causes your headlights to emit a weaker, less effective light.
The good news is that you can easily clean and restore your foggy headlights with the right techniques and products. Regular maintenance can help keep your headlights clear and bright.
Why Have Your Headlights Dimmed?
According to Sylvania Automotive, a major manufacturer of car headlamps, there are two main culprits in the brightness theft of your lights: road debris and UV rays from the sun. Both of these have a cumulative effect of damage on the protective coating on the outer layers of the headlamp.
To bring the headlamps back to their former glory, the sun and dirt-damaged coating needs to be replaced. If you’re not quite ready to give up on the old lamps though and you think that you can bring back some of their lustre on your own, a good cleaning is the next best thing to a replacement.
How Do You Clean Foggy Headlight Lenses?
Cleaning foggy headlights doesn’t have to be complicated. If your headlights are only slightly foggy, you can restore their clarity with a simple scrub.
Start by removing any dirt with window cleaner or soap and water. Then, apply an abrasive like baking soda or toothpaste to the wet headlight, and scrub in circular motions. For better results, mix toothpaste with baking soda.
As you scrub, you’ll notice the foggy layer coming off. Once you’re done, it’s crucial to apply a headlight sealant to protect your work. You can find this sealant at most hardware stores, and it helps keep your headlights clear for longer.
1. Baking Soda and Vinegar Solution
Create a powerful cleaning solution by mixing equal parts baking soda and vinegar. Apply the mixture to your headlights using a soft cloth or sponge, scrubbing gently. Rinse with water and dry thoroughly. This method helps remove dirt, grime, and oxidation effectively.
2. Using Toothpaste
Toothpaste isn’t just for teeth—it's great for headlights too. Apply a small amount to a soft cloth or sponge and rub it onto the headlights in circular motions. Rinse with water and repeat if necessary for a clearer finish.
3. Applying Car Wax
Car wax can help restore the shine and clarity of your headlights. Apply a thin layer of wax, let it dry, and then buff off any excess with a clean cloth. This step helps protect your headlights and keep them looking bright.
4. Bug and Tar Remover for Stubborn Residues
For stubborn bug splatters and tar, use a bug and tar remover. Spray it on the headlights, let it sit for a few minutes, and then wipe it off with a soft cloth or sponge. This specialized automobile headlight cleaner tackles tough residues effectively.
5. Rubbing Alcohol for a Fresh Finish
Rubbing alcohol is a simple and effective way to clean your headlights. Just moisten a cloth by rubbing alcohol and gently wipe down the headlights. Afterward, rinse with water to reveal a clear, refreshed surface.
6. Plastic Polish for Extra Clarity
Plastic polish can effectively clean and restore headlights. Apply a small amount to the headlights using a soft cloth or sponge. Let it sit for a few minutes, then buff off the excess with a clean cloth for a clear finish.
7. Using Dryer Sheets
You will be surprised that dryer sheets can help you regain the shine of the headlights almost as effectively. Soak a dryer sheet in water then, wipe the headlights using circular motions in a way that you are using a microfiber cloth.
It accentuates the ability to remove grime and sand from the surface that is involved. Once scrubbing, you need to wash it with clean water to eliminate any grime residues from the headlight.
8. WD-40 for Headlight Restoration
WD-40 is a versatile cleaner that effectively removes dirt, grime, and oxidation from headlights. Spray WD-40 on the headlights and let it sit for a few minutes. Scrub with a soft cloth or sponge, then rinse with water for a brighter look.
9. Sandpaper for Severe Fogging
For severely clouded or yellowed headlights, sandpaper can help remove oxidation. Gently sand the headlights with fine-grit sandpaper, then clean them with one of the above solutions to finish the job.
10. Lemon Juice for a Natural Clean
Lemon juice is a natural cleaner that can effectively remove dirt from headlights. Squeeze fresh lemon juice onto a clean cloth and rub it into the headlight lenses. Wipe away any remaining residue with a damp cloth.
11. Aluminum Foil for Scratching Away Grime
Aluminum foil should be trimmed into small pieces, then through circular motions, it can be gently rubbed on the headlight lenses. This way, the foil bears a slightly abrasive surface that will be able to scrub the surface and remove dirt and grimes off it, but it will not scratch the surface. After that, clean the surface of the heads with warm water and wipe the remaining foam with a clean cloth for a glass-like shine.
12. Steel Wool for Tough Cleaning
Use fine steel wool for plastic headlight lenses to avoid damage. Rub the steel wool onto the headlights in small circular motions. Buff with a microfiber cloth for extra protection against future dirt build-up.
13. Car Wash Soap for Gentle Cleaning
Mix one part car wash soap with two parts waters in a spray bottle. Spray it directly onto your plastic headlights and wipe it off with a microfiber cloth or paper towel to remove dirt and grime without causing damage.
14. Window Cleaner for a Sparkling Finish
In making your foggy headlights clear again, window cleaner or glass cleaner will do well for the project. Begin by applying a generous amount of the cleaner directly to the headlight surface to remove dirt and crud.
A safe option would be an ammonia free window cleaner because the product works as well but without the strong smell. Once the headlight lenses are cleaned and dry car polish can be used to enhance clarity as well as offer additional protection.
How to Use a Headlight Cleaning Kit
If you don’t trust the old 'toothpaste solution', restoration kits are available for purchase that takes away a lot of the guesswork in the cleaning process.
If a restoration kit is not used properly, however, they can do more harm than good, so you must read the instructions on your cleaning kit to make sure that you clean your lights correctly and don’t run into more headaches down the road.
1. Choosing the Right Headlight Restoration Kit
The best way to clean car headlights is to first make sure that you choose a restoration kit that has the right materials included to do the job right. You’ll need multiple grades of sandpaper and a plastic cleaner with polishing cloths and a protective film within the kit.
If you choose correctly, your kit will have enough materials within it to clean two headlights.
2. Get Scrubbin’
There could be YEARS of built-up dirt, grime, and oxidation on your car’s headlights, so as you scrub, make sure to feel around on the surface of the light to see if you can find any rough spots and scrub them off using your sandpaper and polishing cloth.
Sometimes, the cleaning will require vigorous scrubbing. The best bet to ensure that you don’t accidentally scrape away a portion of your vehicle’s paint is to apply painter's tape around the perimeter of the light, so that if you slip off of the path of the light you don’t do undue damage to your vehicle.
3. Get Sealin’
Once the polish is complete, make sure that the light is completely dry before applying your sealant. You’re also going to want to wait for at least a few hours, but preferably overnight, to drive your car to allow the sealant to dry completely.
If you drive with wet sealant, you risk having debris and insects stick to the light, which would take away from the whole purpose of cleaning them in the first place.
How often should you complete this process? The general wisdom is that every one to three years your headlamps could use a new cleaning if they’re going to stay as bright and lustrous as they can be.
Let CarHub Do the Work
Not everyone has the time or energy to clean their headlights themselves. If you'd rather leave it to the pros, simply search for "car headlight restoration near me" or visit CarHub’s service center.
Let us handle the dirty work and give your headlights the professional treatment they deserve. Let the CarHub team turn those foggy lights into blaring, bright gems! Contact us now.