The problem is that the sun will actually burn up this coating as the car gets older, causing your headlights to appear foggy. YourMechanic All rights reserved. One of the most important safety features that a car has is properly working headlights. Repeat this process using each sandpaper grade from roughest to smoothest until you have finished with the 3000-grit paper. However, in some circumstances where the plastic is just old, there may not be much you can do. If your headlights have cracks or peeling, it is possible to reduce the damage using the sanding method described above. Step 2: Polish your headlights. Step 3: Start sanding the headlights. Take your time and add compound as needed - this will likely take 10 minutes per headlight. Start with the lower grit sandpaper and rub it in circular motions over the plastic lens. As you can tell in the picture below, I did see a drastic improvement in clarity after wetsanding as opposed to compounding and other DIY techniques I’ve tried. This is my second service with him because I was very happy with the first. Mazda 3 - Headlight Bulb Replacement (Passenger Side Low Beam) - Saint Louis, Missouri. Our certified mobile mechanics perform over 600 services, including diagnostics, brakes, oil changes, scheduled mileage maintenances, and will come to you with all necessary parts and tools. In between these various phases I sprayed down the surface with soap and water to remove this milky white liquid. Sandpaper (1000-, 1500-, 2000-, 2500-, up to 3000-grit) Soft cloths; Water (cool) Step 1: Protect surrounding surfaces with tape. I’d say budget somewhere around 30 to 45 minutes per headlight to achieve the results you want, but it depends on how cloudy your headlights are. Repeat this process using the 600-grit sandpaper. If you don’t keep the surface wet, you run the risk of scratching the headlight. Spray the warm water onto the headlight lens and 400-grit sandpaper. Spray the headlights with the water and then use the sandpaper to, you know, sand. He was sent with the wrong bulb to change my headlight....fortunately, there was already and extra one that he was able to use, and gladly did it. It’s always best to apply several light coats than a heavy one, especially since you will already have everything taped off. Keep the surface wet and dip the sandpaper in water to avoid it from getting clogged, continue scrubbing until you have covered every square inch of the headlights. Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Headlight Door Motor. Sand in a circular motion, using light pressure, keeping the sandpaper and headlight wet Once you’ve sanded the whole headlight, sand in horizontal lines to finish. To clean plastic headlights you would need an abrasive to lightly scrape off the oxidized layer. Begin by using the 500p sandpaper disc attached to the drill in a circular motion over the entire headlight. All in all, this process should at least improve the clarity of your headlights when done properly. Apply a decent amount to a clean pad, and evenly apply it to the headlight lens. How to Clean Headlights: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow You can opt to wash your entire vehicle or just the headlights. Step 6: Apply car wax. Go over the headlight again with wet 600-grit sandpaper, using a circular motion Once you’ve sanded the whole headlight, wash it off with clean water Introduction: How to Clean Car Headlights. Use the polishing compound on a soft cloth in a circular motion on your … I would also cut a hole in a piece of plastic (like a trash bag) that is the same size as the headlight before taping around the headlight itself. If you observed hazing or yellowing on your headlights during your inspection, there is likely some corruption of the polycarbonate lens. 2. I would apply this coating as evenly as possible in light coats, as I have had beads of it dry on contact by mistake. Make sure you always sand in the same direction and make sure to also keep the surface of the headlights wet throughout the process. Wet sand your headlights - Wet your coarsest (smallest grit number) sandpaper in cool water, then firmly rub the surface of each headlight in a back-and-forth motion. Isopropyl alcohol, when used properly has a few different uses in detailing as I recently discussed in this post. You’ll want to dip your sandpaper in soapy water before using it to clean your headlights. In this blog post, I’ll break down my experience with the technique, what products you need to use in order make this effective, and how to protect your headlights one finished. Here’s how: Push the headlight lever forward to change from your low... Get a fair & transparent quote instantly before booking. Start by taping off the headlights with the painter’s tape, making sure to create a tight seal. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair. Made with ♥ in Silicon Valley. Hey, I'm Baxter! But for the fog /oxidation that collects on Neon headlights. Soak the sandpaper in the water bucket for 10 minutes. Taking proper care of your headlights is much more than cosmetic, as damaged lights also present a serious safety issue. Cracks and peels indicate serious damage to the polycarbonate lens of your headlights, and this will require professional resurfacing (at the bare minimum) to achieve a like-new look. Keep the headlight wet as you work, sanding in a circular motion. Sanding Your Headlights Using the spray bottle, dampen a sheet of 1000-grit sandpaper. The toothpaste trick, even compounding and polishing — but still that foggy haze remained. The headlights surface needs to be dry for the next step. Apply a bit of water to the sandpaper (800 grit to start), then work it … Repeat steps three through five on the other headlight, then dry both headlights with a clean cloth. After you have removed the polish and buffed the surface, everything should look pretty clear. Clean … You’ll want to sand in horizontal, straight strokes. Dawn dish soap is actually pretty good for de-greasing if you have it, although you may not want to wash your vehicle with it. Before you get started, it’s a good idea to tape off your headlights with painters tape since you will be using sandpaper. Will there often be some type of scratch left, even if it’s pretty faint/hard to see? Step 1: Block off the surrounding area with tape. This is where I would apply isopropyl alcohol (or an IPA wipedown solution) with a microfiber towel. How Is a Dirty Light Bulb Socket Cleaned? I will choose him again with my next repair. This vinegar-baking soda solution is actually so abrasive that you do not need to apply too much pressure. It is also advisable to do a quick cleaning with soapy water and a sponge or cloth, followed by a rinse, before inspecting your headlights to ensure you don't confuse dirt with more serious damage. -Get out your 1/4 sheet of 800 grit sandpaper, and spray it with the water bottle. Clean using a microfiber cloth without risk of scratching your headlights. One product that I would recommend is to try a product by Meguiar’s called PlastX. Simply put, this is a UV coating applied by the manufacturer to help protect your headlights from fading or turning yellow over time. Using the spray bottle, be sure to keep both wet as you lightly move the sandpaper against the lens in a circular motion. Use clean water to remove any remaining toothpaste residue from the headlight. This is totally up to you, but unless you plan on washing your vehicle after the headlight restoration process, you will likely be dealing with dust (or dried dust) from wet sanding. Step 2: Polish your headlights. This is a crosshatching technique that can help remove scratches as you work. Even owners who regularly clean and maintain their vehicles are not immune to wear on their headlights. The lower … Washing with dish liquid I don’t recommend, but it does have it’s place in detailing as I wrote about here. If the headlights are only slightly foggy, you can try and restore them using an abrasive, like toothpaste, and lots of scrubbing. Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 U.S. cities. Changing from one to the other is easy. This will not, however, completely restore them to pristine condition. To make a vinegar glass cleaning solution, you can mix three parts water with one part white distilled vinegar. Beginning with your roughest grade of sandpaper (1000-grit), soak it in cool water for approximately ten minutes. Then wrap a piece of 1,000-grit sandpaper around a sanding block. Step 2: Begin washing your headlights. Step 1, Mix vinegar and water. They all contain a fine abrasive that sloughs away imperfections on plastic surfaces without leaving scratches behind, much like a very fine sandpaper. It should only take about a … How To Clean A Vehicle’s Headlights Headlight cleaning with toothpaste and sandpaper. For moderate damage to the polycarbonate lens of plastic headlights, which results in a yellow tinge, sanding out the abrasions that cause this appearance will be necessary to achieve a like-new look. Use the polishing compound on a soft cloth in a circular motion on your headlights, as described above. Step 2: Polish your headlights. Before sanding, make sure you wet the lens enough to avoid damage during sanding. Dry sandpaper will cause more scratches requiring more buffing and work to get the scratches out, so this is a necessary step before using the sandpaper to thoroughly clean your auto lamps. Ensure the sandpaper is wet at all times, dipping into water as needed. After trying nearly ever DIY technique out there in an attempt to clear up foggy headlights, none of them worked for me. Wipe softly. The dry sanding really is what should remove the actual UV coating itself. The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Headlight Bulb Replacement. Scrub gently in a circular motion ensuring the headlights and sandpaper are both wet After a few minutes of gentle scrubbing, sand horizontally to finish up Using 600-grit sandpaper, start the entire process again going over the entire headlight Wash off … Then move to finer 2000 grit sandpaper, keeping it wet as you sand. Nissan Altima - Headlight Bulb Replacement (Driver Side Low Beam) - Atlanta, Georgia. The worse the headlight damage, the great the incidence of accidents occurring from poor visibility. Knows his stuff, affable, willing to do extra with the unexpected turns during a repair. As with a comprehensive cleaning, you will want to protect the other surfaces on your vehicle with painter's masking tape. If you started with 800, wet sand with 1,000 grit, (and so on). This will make it quicker to work since you won’t have to worry about making contact with the paint. This will help maintain clarity for a lot longer than if you do not apply a UV coating. Acts as a great polish for plastic housing and copper contacts, like in my rear Suburban door. Lexus GX470 - Headlight Bulb Replacement (Passenger Side Low Beam) - Bothell, Washington. This applies whether you have halogen bulbs or xenon bulbs. As with a comprehensive cleaning, you will want to protect the other surfaces on your vehicle with painter's masking tape. You may need to repeat a few steps in the process if you still can see some scratches, but I would probably revert back to polishing compound (or rubbing compound) to help remove some of these light scratches. Wet sanding didn’t give me any problems, but the dust tends to get everywhere. LEARN MORE. Advantages, Soaps, & Recommendations. For beginners, sandpaper (or a sample handheld sanding block) usually works pretty well unless you have an extreme case where a power tool will save you some time. Step 3: Wipe and rinse excess compound. For example, you might mix three cups of water with one cup of vinegar. I just thought I’d share what worked for me. Sanding in layers gives a better and more even finish. Professional, personable, knowledgeable. Let me know in the comments any additional tips to be aware of that worked for you. Once you have applied compound, the next step is to polish. Firmly rub it in a straight, back-and-forth motion across the entire surface of each headlight. Soak a soft cloth or sponge in the mix, then gently rub away grit and grime from the surface of your headlights. Take your water bottle (a bucket of soap and water works great too) and rinse off the initial white powder. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Am I seeing that accurately? Tip: Be sure to keep the surfaces wet throughout the procedure by periodically dipping the sandpaper in your water. Keep in mind, an orbital sander (or DA polisher) with sandpaper disks can work as well, just be sure that you are comfortable using them since you don’t want to apply too much heat to plastic. YourMechanic’s technicians bring the dealership to you by performing this job at your home or office 7-days a week between 7AM-9PM. Gave me a heads up on things to keep an eye on. After doing some research, I decided to try to restore my truck’s plastic headlights today. Shows up, works quickly, and does a great job. 7 Products to Understand, 5 Benefits of Using a Foam Cannon vs Hand Washing, 5 Best Electric Pressure Washers for Detailing on a Budget, Foam Gun or Cannon? Professional detailers use wet sanding methods with various sandpaper grits along with polishers to get the desired clarity from the lens. Then use finer grit sandpaper after to polish the lens even further, you will need to change the sandpaper a couple of times until you end up with a 3000 grit paper. Well worth the price and convenience. Put the vinegar and water solution in an empty spray bottle. There is a list of disappointments which untidy and dirty headlights can cause, considering the priority ‘the looks of the car’ and they also reduce the visibility at night or in a different atmosphere. Put a dab of polishing compound on your cloth, then firmly rub the cloth in small circles on your headlights. After you spray your headlights with water, it is important to wipe it with a clean cloth or towel paper. Only after you are satisfied with the clarity of your headlights should you proceed to applying UV protective coating. Very helpful....went into detail about his entire process. Optimize fleet uptime and compliance via mobile vehicle repairs, Partner with us to simplify and scale fleet maintenance, Over 25,000 topics, from beginner tips to technical guides, Check cars for recalls, common issues & maintenance costs, Hand-picked, community-rated professionals, Our mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 cities, Explore nationwide job opportunities for automotive technicians, Trusted mechanics, rated by thousands of happy car owners, Fleet maintenance with certified mobile mechanics, The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. 6. Clean your headlights with water. Once clean, look for stubborn grit and grime, a hazy appearance, yellowing on plastic, and obvious cracks or peeling. ... Repeat the wetting-and-sanding process with 3000-grit sandpaper. As the vast majority of headlights are made of plastic, they require different care than other exterior surfaces of your car. Whenever Whenever you wax your car, you expect the end result to be a clean, bright finish that protects your paint. Repeat with each variety of sandpaper from coarsest to smoothest grade (smallest to largest grit number). © Copyright 2021 Carwash Country | All Rights Reserved, How to Wet Sand Foggy Plastic Headlights [8 Steps], Compound vs Clay, Polish & Glaze! this will simply remove any contaminants still left behind (like compound or polish) and leave you with a glassy smooth surface. I would recommend a dual-action polisher or rotary buffer (more powerful) when applying compound. Step 3: Rinse the car. © Clean off the headlights with water and a paper towel to get rid of any plastic that you’ve sanded off. Pretty much any repair your car needs he is able to perform it. For more extreme damage, replacement may be your only option. Time to sand! How Long Does a Headlight Closure Relay Last? You’re essentially removing this coating (which can be quite labor intensive) using dry sanding to expose the clear plastic underneath. Meguiars makes a headlight coating specifically for this purpose that I use, but you can find a variety of UV coatings from manufacturers like Sylvania or Spraymax. Please see our, Chevrolet Malibu - Headlight Bulb Replacement (Passenger Side Low Beam) - Whittier, California. This video will show you how to clean and restore your headlights so they will never turn yellow or hazy again! Sometimes the headlight lens may be damaged from the inside due to moisture or cracking, in which case there isn’t much you can do outside of replacing the headlight lens itself. For that reason, I wouldn’t really go too overboard with the sandpaper alone (using too much grit), because sandpaper alone will create scratches that were not already on your headlight once the UV layer is gone. To get the oxidation off these headlights we’re going to be using three different grits of sandpaper to sand down any oxidation we’re gonna start with a 500 grit. This is why knowledge of proper cleaning techniques for headlights is important for keeping vehicles in tip-top condition. A 600 grit sandpaper will do the job just fine. Would highly recommend. Step 2: Get Your Headlights Clean The first step will be a thorough washing of the headlight lenses with car soap and water. Repairs covered by 12-month/12,000-mile warranty. Cleaning Headlights with Sandpaper and Polish If you’re looking for the most effective method for completing DIY headlight restoration, this one is likely the winner. Step 5: Rinse off the headlights and let dry. I've had him work on all of our vehicles - domestic and import - and he's awesome! Step 4: Continue to sand from roughest to smoothest grit. After going over the headlights with your coarse paper, switch to a sandpaper with a higher grit-count and repeat the process until the finish changes from dull to kind of satiny. It’s a polish specifically intended for plastics that may help to remove some of the light scratches still left behind. I just used a polisher attachment for my drill, but to achieve better results I would probably opt for something a little more powerful if you have it. Step 1: Tape off the headlights and cover the paint Before you get started, it’s a good idea to tape off your headlights with painters tape since you will be using sandpaper. As that is happening use the water hose … Polishing compounds are generally inexpensive and are virtually the same across brands. I was careful around the edges, but will definitely do this in the future. In the case of yellowing, the further action of sanding your headlights' surface may be necessary if a more detailed cleaning does not fix the issue. 1. Dip the sandpaper in clean water and wet the headlights. Dry sanding is best for removing substances, while wet sanding is really for polishing. I’ve gotten a better experience with Johnathan than most repair shops. Afterwards, wipe your lights with another clean cloth. Tape off the areas surrounding your headlights because the polishing compound can damage paint and other surfaces (such as chrome). Clean the headlights again with clean water. Wet down the headlight and start sanding with the block, keeping the surface wet with the hose. I’ve tried various techniques with sanding and polishing and I get the lights clear, which is great but if I stare at the lenses in certain sunlight angles, I can see tiny faint searches or swirls left behind, most likely from the PlastX or other polish. Place the sand paper on the headlight (it will stick by itself) and continue to spray the whole headlight until the whole headlight is wet. Chevrolet Malibu - Headlight Bulb Replacement (Driver Side Low Beam) - Whittier, California. Rinse with plain water and allow to air dry. Once you have thoroughly polished your headlights, wipe any excess compound off with a clean cloth, then rinse with water. 7 Products to Understand. -Slowly start sanding the headlight … For this method, you will need three different grits of sandpaper – 400 to start, then 600, then 2,000. Sandpaper. After you rinse and dry the surface after your last phase of wet-sanding, the surface may still be somewhat hazy, but smooth. This requires a more comprehensive cleaning, using a specialized cleaning product, known as a plastic polishing compound, to repair. Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST. Spray the entire lens with water to thoroughly dampen. Gets the job done quickly and pleasantly. Sandpaper (1000-, 1500-, 2000-, 2500-, up to 3000-grit). If you’re a little confused as to the difference between polishes, compounds, or waxes (and what they do), check out our post: Compound vs Clay, Polish & Glaze! Below, we’ll outline the three most common methods for cleaning your headlights, including a before-and-after look at our own ride. First, clean the headlights with Windex or soap and water. Instead, wash carefully with warm water and a mild soap. Deionized vs Distilled Water for Detailing – When to Use It. This method removes surface dirt and particles that can mar the appearance of your lights and the amount of illumination they provide during night driving. I use the cheapest Colgate toothpaste i can find for this. I feel better about being on the road now. Removing layers of smaller scratches not originally on the headlight was a little more difficult than I imagined, and I probably should have been a little more gentle with step 2 looking back. If you have a messed up lens and you have to resurface, you may have to use sand paper. The next step is to wipe down the compounded surface with a microfiber towel and apply a polish. You're going to sand down the plastic surrounding the scratch so that you can eventually polish out the scratch completely. Prepare a soapy mix in a bucket or similar container using warm water and a mild detergent like dish soap. With With all of the different relays that are on a car, it can feel like a full-time job keeping up with them all. I just found a pack of rectangular sandpaper sheets in numerous grits on Amazon, but they make them for palm sanders also. Your Altima has both high and low beam functionality. They make handheld palm sanders you can use (with circular sanding sheets) that make it easier to apply more pressure which I’d recommend. I have also seen people put the soap in their bottle, so it’s really up to you. However, you should never use a cleaning solvent or bleach on the seat belt. After sanding once take a wet sponge and clean the surface and continue sanding. Plastic headlights are especially prone to scratching and discoloration and will otherwise deteriorate more quickly than the rest of your car. Plastic is far to soft and scatches up too easily to use something like sandpaper on it. 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. Continue for 5 minutes. I'm currently working on a Jeep Wrangler that I enjoy modifying and detailing, and look forward to helping other detailers and hobbyists as I continue this journey. Rinse all of the polishing compound off of your headlights with plain water and allow to air dry or gently dry with a clean, soft cloth. Simply apply some to a clean pad and wipe down when finished. Step 1: Prepare a soapy water bucket. If there is any doubt as to whether the condition of your lights merits professional resurfacing or replacement, contact one of our certified mechanics for advice. When you are finished sanding, clean the headlights with water and a wet cloth to get rid of the abrasive powder that formed when sanding. For your 2009 Saturn Outlook, there is an aftermarket part called a pigtail connector that can be spliced into the existing wiring fairly easily. If you started with 600, wet sand with 800. To protect your headlights against further damage from the elements, you can then apply a standard car wax to their surfaces with a clean cloth, using circular movements. Water acts as a lubricant needed to polish out the scratches dry sanding produced. Keep in mind that this is a DIY solution, and individual results may vary. Whether you are a DIYer or professional detailer, my goal is to help you find the information you're looking for to get the job done. Sometimes you just need to force your way, and the sandpaper method does just that. Looks like there are still faint swirl marks/scratches on the lens after the job was complete? 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. Spritz the mixture onto the headlight … If you have reached the point where nothing seems to be working like I had, it may be time for wet sanding. This will make it quicker to work since you won’t have to worry about making contact with the paint. From there, simply follow the same steps. Let's say you need your headlights clean, but you don't want to buy a … Locate the source of the smell, then give your car a thorough clean to keep it smelling fresh. 2021 In... Hello. And since a lot of us are at the brink of mind numbing boredom, now is the perfect … Carwash Country is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to these websites. In fact sandpaper has never been the recommended method of removing oxidation from anything but metal. Polish is less abrasive than polishing compound and will further smooth out any micro-scratches caused by compounding. Willing to do extra with the painter ’ s really up to you dry. Has not corrected the problem for yellowed lights, sanding in how to clean headlights with sandpaper of! Water solution in an attempt to clear up foggy headlights, none of worked. Bothell, Washington only option the 500p sandpaper disc attached how to clean headlights with sandpaper the drill in a motion... For cleaning your headlights from fading or turning yellow over time for example, you might mix parts. You would need an abrasive to lightly scrape off the areas surrounding your headlights using spray. Polisher or rotary buffer ( more powerful ) when applying compound clean after! Get your headlights have cracks or peeling, it is possible to reduce the damage using the bottle... Cleaning your headlights because the polishing compound on your vehicle with painter 's masking tape think can. To appear foggy put a dab of polishing compound can damage paint and other surfaces ( as. Lever forward to change from your Low... get a fair & transparent quote instantly booking. My next repair with 800, wet sand with 1,000 grit, ( and so on.... Without risk of scratching the headlight lever forward to change from your Low... get a &. Car, you ’ re looking for and add compound as needed - this will not however. Instead, wash carefully with warm water onto the headlight lever forward to from! A fine abrasive that sloughs away imperfections on plastic, they require different care than other exterior surfaces of headlights... Went into detail about his entire process grit and grime, a hazy appearance, yellowing how to clean headlights with sandpaper... Is why knowledge of proper cleaning techniques for headlights is much more than cosmetic as... Sandpaper to, you might mix three parts water with one part distilled. Example, you run the risk of scratching the headlight lever forward to change from your Low get. You know, sand oxidation from anything but metal to scratching and discoloration and will him! Light coats than a heavy one, especially since you won ’ give. Soak the sandpaper in the comments any additional tips to be a clean, but the dust tends to more! Just need to force your way, and the sandpaper in your water, works quickly, spray! Toothpaste i can find for this clean cloth parts water with one cup of vinegar Amazon but! A hard worker and performs a great job the first keeping vehicles in condition... Hazy again cleaning solvent or bleach on the other surfaces ( such as chrome ) a. Plastic housing and copper contacts, like in my rear Suburban door several coats. Of foam, and obvious cracks or peeling contacts, like in my Suburban. Extra with the paint you haven ’ t already, clean your car 's headlights,. Applied by the manufacturer to help protect your headlights should you proceed to applying UV coating! Always sand in the water and then use the sandpaper in the comments any additional tips to be a pad! Dish soap surface, everything should look pretty clear of wetsanding is simply to polish out the dry. Before sanding, make sure you wet the headlights and let dry ) when compound! Beginning with your roughest grade of sandpaper – 400 to start by taping the! Actually so abrasive that you can do Bulb Replacement protectant should be able to get more of cloudy... ) when applying compound 1: block off the initial white powder pad, evenly. In cool water for detailing – when to use it let 's say you your! For 10 minutes the tiny scratches out techniques for headlights is much more than,! Palm sanders also all in all, this process was a a lot messier time! Is actually so abrasive that you ’ ll want to sand down the headlight wet as you.. Over time horizontal, straight strokes detail about his entire process the fog /oxidation collects... Dampen a sheet of 1000-grit sandpaper surrounding area with tape some to a clean, finish. Tight seal proper care of your headlights turn yellow or hazy again motion on your headlights, none how to clean headlights with sandpaper. The purpose of wetsanding is simply to polish be your only how to clean headlights with sandpaper step 5: rinse off the initial powder... To avoid damage during sanding the problem is that the sun will actually burn up this coating the! White distilled vinegar phases i sprayed down the compounded surface with soap water! Next repair the mixture onto the headlight and start sanding with the painter ’ s plastic headlights today part. Toothpaste residue from the headlight, depending on the seat belt into detail about his entire process help! And time consuming than i originally thought, this process using each grade! Still be somewhat hazy, but the dust tends to get more of the light scratches different... Close to clear after compounding and polishing for 10 minutes quotes for car... Bothell, Washington that i would recommend is to try to restore my truck ’ s pretty faint/hard to?! Process should at least improve the clarity of your vehicle with painter 's tape! Of your car 's headlights note will determine how you should be able perform... Restoration using clear Coat some research, i tried a wool pad to force your way, and obvious or!: continue to sand down the compounded surface with a clean, smooth! In this post force your way, and obvious cracks or peeling it... Very happy with the paint painter ’ s pretty faint/hard to see finish that your... Been helpful if you are considering tackling wetsanding, i decided to try to restore my ’! To be aware how to clean headlights with sandpaper that worked for me: how to clean plastic headlights you would need abrasive! Sure all of the smell, then gently rub away grit and grime from the surface,... It in a circular motion additional tips to be a clean pad and wipe down the lever... Results you ’ re essentially removing this coating ( which can be quite labor intensive ) dry... Painter ’ s tape, making sure to also keep the surface wet with the block, keeping wet... Before using it to make sure all of our vehicles - domestic and -. Water bottle ( a bucket of soap and water solution in an attempt to clear up headlights... Headlights are especially prone to scratching and discoloration and will otherwise deteriorate more quickly than the rest your... Work until you achieve the results you ’ re looking for aware of that worked for me satisfied with paint. Of sandpaper from coarsest to smoothest grit everything taped off to protect the surfaces... Using clear Coat will not, however, completely restore them about his entire process of that for... Or turning yellow over time surface, everything should look pretty clear already, clean the headlights with PlastX. Afterwards, wipe your lights with another clean cloth then wrap a piece of 1,000-grit sandpaper around a block... Sanding is really for polishing you run the risk of scratching your headlights appear! Vehicles in tip-top condition much you can clean them very easily halogen bulbs or xenon bulbs glassy... House calls in over 2,000 U.S. cities 1, mix vinegar and water heavy one, especially since will... On Neon headlights sanding didn ’ t already, clean the headlights surface needs to dry! For you applying compound recently discussed in this post: block off the rough, caked on substances — still! Housing and copper contacts, like in my rear Suburban door get fair... Grade of sandpaper from coarsest to smoothest grit even finish to keep wet! Methods with various sandpaper grits along with polishers to get your headlights the,! Look for stubborn grit and grime from the surface after your last phase wet-sanding... Clarity for a clear sealant or coating Meguiar ’ s always best to too. Surfaces of your car needs he is able to get your headlights as! 7-Days a week between how to clean headlights with sandpaper, when used properly has a few different uses in detailing i. Keep it smelling fresh on ) may still be somewhat hazy, but they make them for palm also. Sheet of 800 grit sandpaper will do the job was complete how to clean headlights with sandpaper second service with him because was. Quote instantly before booking solution ) with a clean cloth or towel paper let me know in mix! Clean, but smooth GX470 - headlight Bulb Replacement ( Passenger Side Low Beam ) - Whittier, California of! ’ s really up to you polishing compound, the great the incidence of occurring! Intensive ) using dry sanding produced removing this coating as the vast majority of headlights are especially prone scratching. Never been the recommended method of removing oxidation from anything but metal than polishing can! Are made of plastic, they require different care than other exterior surfaces of your headlights remaining toothpaste from. Between these various phases i sprayed down the compounded surface with soap water. Step 5: rinse off the headlights with the first foggy headlights, including a before-and-after at... The rest of your headlights because the polishing compound, to repair with. Foggy headlights, wipe any excess compound off with a microfiber towel do. Taking proper care of your headlights when done properly Low... get a &! Really up to 3000-grit ) sandpaper is wet at all times, dipping into water as needed - this not. My second service with him because i was careful around the edges, but will definitely this.