The hazy line you see is the factory coating coming off. To know if your car uses a sealed headlight, open your car hood and check if bolts are holding a flat metal piece covering the headlight and its surrounding. Use a spray bottle, a bucket of water or a hose to wet surfaces while sanding. Choose another answer! Also keep in mind that anytime you're using abrasives like toothpaste or sandpaper that you're going to strip away the UV layer which will soon turn your headlight yellowish,you may want to look into a UV safe deoxidizer, saves time as well. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. If this is the case, you might need to replace your headlights or have them resurfaced, which might end up costing more. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. You can avoid the monthly extra maintenance by applying a high temperature resistant UV coating to the headli… Keep it wet. Go slowly, about an inch a second. Wipe the lenses clean using a paper towel. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. The magnets should have even surfaces and be big enough to cover a large area of your side mirror when swiping. For a quick fix, apply toothpaste to a damp cloth and buff the toothpaste into each headlight for about 5 minutes. Plastic headlights are especially prone to scratching and discoloration and will otherwise deteriorate more quickly than the rest of your car. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Tips to Clean Foggy Lights. This restores the clarity and the shine. If your UV coating has been compromised, you must restore the headlight lens by fully removing the oxidized layer of plastic by some mechanical process like wet-sanding, then sealing the lens with a high temperature resistant UV inhibitor coating. Don’t rush through it. ", "Very helpful, explained some problems I've encountered. You must maintain the headlight lenses every month or so. Spritz any stubborn, dried on bits with clean water and then polish until dry with your towel. Then, using a soft cloth, rub a fingertip amount of toothpaste onto the wet headlight. It’s best practice to remove the entire layer with your coarse sandpaper to get the headlights as clean as possible. First, clean the headlights with Windex or soap and water. Some kits recommend taping around the headlights to help. IE 11 is not supported. This should dry quickly and you'll be ready to go. Make sure it’s non-abrasive, because more abrasive cleaners could potentially cause damage. "I have not tried this yet, but it is very clear on how to do it. You can find buffing compounds like McGuire’s and 3M at most hardware and auto supply stores. Make sure the headlight is completely dry before applying the protective sealant. We’re going to take you through a step-by-step guide on how to properly clean your headlights back up to a factory finish, all while busting out some odd DIY headlight … If you hear clicking when you turn at low or medium speeds then the CVs will have to be replaced, being a Toyota it wont be THAT expensive. Using your clean rag or towel, buff away any residual cleanser from your lens. Apply a fingertip amount of toothpaste to the soft cloth. While this is correct, there are other supplies you can use for polishing purposes. Clean microfiber cloths. How do you clean headlights with yellowing? Place the toothpaste on the toothbrush, and rub in on the headlight in circular motions. You typically only need a professional if you have glass headlights. It is essential to maintain proper functioning of headlights as well as keep them clean and fog-free for a clear view. Remember, you’re rubbing away years of oxidation AND the original protective coating. "We’ll lightly sand down all the yellow and dust with a very fine sandpaper," he said. Step 1: Clean your headlights with a clean cloth, car wash soap and water. Depending on how foggy headlights are, this could take 15-20 minutes per headlight. Sandpaper with a coarser grain than 1500 can do more damage than good. You can find glass headlights on classic cars and older model cars. How to Clean Headlights with Magic Erasers, How to Clean Headlights with WD-40; How to Clean Headlights Bug Spray (DEET). After you’re done sanding the headlights, you need to follow up with a polishing agent, so they are not full of scratches and can do their job of clearly lighting the road. Start scrubbing. After that, wipe the headlight with a clean rag. Then you can learn to abrade the wear and buff them to a new shine. After you spray your headlights with water, it is important to wipe it with a clean cloth or towel paper. Among these kits are 3M, Meguiar's, Turtle Wax, Sylvania, Headlight Wizard, Mothers, as well as many other major brands. Allow the sealant to dry for several hours — better yet, overnight — before using the car. Not quite! One kit usually has enough to clean two headlights. What can I do? As you sand, run your hands over the wet headlights. Switching on the car AC puts load to the engine, which is normal. The ultimate guide to Headlight Restoration without using Clear Coat. Clean Your Headlights With Toothpaste: So you're driving around super late at night in the middle of Nowhere, NM - and you realize you can't see a THING. You’ll make driving at night easier and safer — and save a few bucks, too. For the magnetic headlight cleaner method, you wrap two soft clothes or rugs over the magnets. Rinse off each headlight with water and let them air dry. Then, sand each headlight using horizontal strokes for 5 to 10 minutes, keeping the sandpaper wet at all times. Last Updated: November 18, 2020 Though there are may products you can use to polish your headlights, acrylic tub cleaner is an excellent option. Even if the dimness isn't severe, the fact that you're experiencing dimness at all is a clear warning sign that your headlights are … Yep, you can use ordinary toothpaste to clean tougher dirt off your headlights. If you notice yellowish coloring on the headlights, you need to opt for a more comprehensive clean, using Rain-X or some polishing compound to clean them up and correct the damage. It is generally best to sand the coating completely off. When choosing a restoration kit, look for one that contains several grades of sandpaper, a plastic cleaner/polish, polishing cloths and a protective coating. Soap and water won’t cut it when you're trying to remove yellowing. You should start with 1500 and end with 2000. You’re not finished when you see the hazy line. According to Brian Noble, North America marketing manager for Sylvania Automotive, two factors contribute to foggy headlights: road debris and UV rays from the sun. Read on for another quiz question. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. On headlights with an interior texture where you cannot necessarily see the bulb, you can usually stop at 1500 grit paper. You can use WD-40 to clean headlights. There are also kits that are used for buffing out paint which consist of very fine grit sandpaper (grits of 300, 600, 900, 2000, and 4000 are available). To fix the situation, the damaged coating needs to be removed and a new protective coating added. "When you sand it, it just becomes a matte finish. This will quickly and easily remove the residue and render a VERY smooth finish which will repel further hazing. If your once-crystal clear headlights now look like they're covered in wax paper, it's safer to learn to clean and buff them up yourself to maintain the life of the vehicle. Box baking soda. If this seems to be the problem, doing a cheap quick clean will be an effective way of slowing the degeneration of the headlights, but a more comprehensive clean may be called for. If you choose this method of refinishing / cleaning your headlights, keep in mind that you will have to reapply this method over and over because you removed what was left of the protective layer. Once you’re done sanding your headlights, what can you use to polish them? Make sure the toothpaste you choose doesn’t have peroxide or other whitening agents, which can do damage to your lights. How To Clean Your Headlights With Baking Soda and Vinegar References You should now have clean headlights. Make sure you are not using toothpaste in excess, as you only need a small amount. When you see a hazy line, you don’t need coarser sandpaper. Once you’ve cleaned up your foggy headlights, you should immediately notice increased visibility and brighter, whiter headlights! Then, apply painter’s tape around the perimeter of each headlight so you don’t accidentally damage the surrounding paint. Step 2: Mix two parts distilled white vinegar with one part baking soda in a clean container. The headlights will look hazy after sanding but they’ll be clear after applying the coating. The best kind to choose is aluminum polishing compounds. The headlights surface needs to be dry for the next step. It is not possible to prevent headlights from getting foggy. Here’s how to do it: Tub the toothpaste onto the headlight with a small brush In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. First, wet the headlights and some 1000-grit sandpaper with water. Be careful not to scratch the car’s paint while sanding. How to Restore Plastic Headlights. You can do this with a soap and water solution or a more aggressive cleaner. That's why afterwards we have to buff it and polish it. Step-by-Step on How to Clean Headlights. If your Toyota is a FWD car then it could be the CVs. Try another answer... Yup! Plain blue toothpaste is an excellent way to polish recently sanded headlights. Car wash soap. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Take a before and after picture to see the results. First, clean the headlights with Windex or soap and water. Distilled white vinegar. This article has been viewed 1,991,515 times. However, there's a better answer available. "If they don’t put the protective film on there, people can restore their headlights but six months later, they’re going to start yellowing again because the original coating from the manufacturer is already wearing off," he said. Use plain blue toothpaste, not anything with peroxide, whitening agent, or other additives. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Clean container. By using our site, you agree to our. Rub the cloth in a circle onto the wet headlights and apply more toothpaste if necessary. This is why knowledge of proper cleaning techniques for headlights is important for keeping vehicles in tip-top condition. The hazy line will change and warp as you sand until it disappears. Magic erasers are actually abrasive and will scuff the lens. You saved yourself two headlights which is a decent amount, especially on some cars that could be $200-$300. If the headlights are only slightly foggy, you can try and restore them using an abrasive, like toothpaste, and lots of scrubbing. Before you get started sanding, it's usually a good idea to wipe down the headlights once more, using clean paper towels and a bit of rubbing alcohol. For consumers about the only sealant you will find is car wax. Headlights, being a vital component of the vehicle, cannot be ignored. Clean headlights are just an hour away with a bit of white vinegar and warm water. There are several commercially available kits that are used for aircraft windshields (which are made of plastic, not glass) that will work very well for removing the haze. And you and your significant other talk about cleaning the headlights, or getting new bulbs, or … This will go much faster than polishing by hand. % of people told us that this article helped them. If the article doesn't help, you can polish the lights with wet and dry good quality sandpaper. You still have more sanding to go, and then you need to buff them without soap and water. Do the same thing on the other headlight. The car engine knocks when the AC is turned on. Mix 2 parts white vinegar with 1 part baking soda, and rub the mixture into each headlight with a cloth for a few minutes. Then, use a microfiber cloth or soft automobile sponge to wipe away as much dust, dirt, and stuck-on debris as possible. When you see a hazy “line” while sanding, what should you do? Baking soda and Vinegar Method Households cleaners are often the easiest and best way to clean many objects. First, wash your headlights with soapy water and let them dry. Therefore, it is necessary to clean the headlights not just from the outside but from the inside as well. If you choose this method of refinishing / cleaning your headlights, keep in mind that you will have to reapply this method over and over because you removed what was left of the protective layer. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. 6. https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a10346/how-to-make-your-headlights-shine-like-new-16649941/, https://www.familyhandyman.com/automotive/car-maintenance/restore-and-polish-auto-headlights/, https://www.theartofcleanliness.com/automotive/how-to-clean-headlights-restore-them/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Try again... You’re not wrong, but there’s a better answer! All you need is a foil of toothpaste and a clean piece of cloth (microfiber works well). This story was originally published Nov. 9, 2018. Cleaning Your Headlights Using Magnets A creative way to clean your headlights is by using two magnets. Not necessarily! 1. Rinse your headlights with water and repeat if needed. Read on for another quiz question. If it occurs when braking then it may be your brake pads which, again being a Toyota, won't be that expensive to replace. The best advice we can give when cleaning plastic headlights using the WD-40 is to first wash the entire headlight using car shampoo and clean water and this is just to make the entire area clean before proceeding with the main washing itself. Simply wash and rinse. This article has been viewed 1,991,515 times. Now the question here is how to clean inside of headlights? Types of Car Headlights. Use rubber gloves to keep the polish out from under your fingernails. What if my headlights are hazy and yellowish? "Once you polish them, there’s no more coating, so now you’re back to exposing the headlights to natural elements like rain, snow, the sun, the dirt.". You can also try using baking soda and vinegar. Follow the manufacturer’s directions. To restore your headlight permanently you should use this method. In the meantime, clean them up as best you can using a quick method and start pricing new headlights. Can I put a layer of glass on the headlights for added protection? These will cost around $5. Finally, polish and wax your headlights to really make them shine. Nope! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Clean your headlights with water. Next, clean the surface using a soft cloth. Repeat steps three through five on the other headlight, then dry both headlights with a clean cloth. If your engine makes much louder noises than normal, then go to the service center and get your engine checked. Once you’ve removed the protective coating, apply a sealant. (Toothpaste with baking soda works best.) Clean the Headlights using Baking Soda To clean headlights with toothpaste, you need an old toothbrush, one teaspoon of white, non-gel toothpaste, and your own elbow grease. For really hazy headlights, try wet sanding them. If you want to learn how to protect your headlights with plastic adhesion, keep reading the article! Use clean water to remove any remaining toothpaste residue from the headlight. Using a microfiber cloth, or even a toothbrush, rub the vinegar, baking soda, or a combination of both into the headlight lens. How to Clean Headlights: Three Easy Methods. Spray the headlights with the Glass cleaner: Apply plenty on the headlights with glass cleaner. You can avoid the monthly extra maintenance by applying a high temperature resistant UV coating to the headlight lens. If you're looking for a cheap option, plain blue toothpaste is a common substitute. My '99 Toyota occasionally makes a rattling noise in the front wheel. What could it be? This prevents future degradation of the headlight lens. If they still look dull, you can proceed with these following methods. Stir or shake the mixture to combine. Rub in the polish for a few minutes using circular motions. Almost! Using gentle pressure, slowly ease the RPMs up, moving the pad uniformly around the headlight. A dirty headlight can ruin the vision in the night, which is dangerous. 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. To clean your headlights, here are the steps which you need to follow in order to sparkling headlights: Step 1- Gather the correct materials You will need: car wax, masking tape, plastic or vinyl (optional for people with sensitive skin), soft cloth, tooth paste (any kind), water for cleaning the headlights by means of a toothpaste procedure. If your headlights are looking hazy or fogged over, you can clean them using a few simple supplies to get them looking new again. Sealed Headlights: These headlights come in a single to four light system design. The typical car wash is usually enough to keep your headlights clean, though you may want to use glass cleaner specifically on your windshield, side windows, mirrors, and headlights. Make sure whatever you use isn’t abrasive or your headlights could suffer damage. Repeat with 2000-grit and then 3000-grit sandpaper, changing the direction you sand in each time. Don’t improvise. Keep the surface wet and apply more toothpaste as needed. If you want to learn how to protect your headlights with plastic adhesion, keep reading the article! Wipe down the plastic lenses of the headlights with some soap and water to remove dirt and debris. Spray your cleaner of choice liberally onto both headlights. Guess again! Learning to inspect the headlights to figure out the degree of damage will help you learn how to approach the task. But, it is not difficult to retain the shine of these lights. Although experts say you should bring your car in for a professional headlight restoration service, here are some of the most common DIY methods we've seen for cleaning headlights. If you want to use a hand drill with a buffing kit, you can apply buffing compound directly to a foam pad that will spin on the drill, then buff the headlights at a low RPM. Other youtube videos do not work! 2. Mask the surrounding areas of the headlights with the painter’s tape so that the cleaning agents cannot blemish the paint job or the trim. If the headlights are only slightly foggy, you can try and restore them using an abrasive, like toothpaste, and lots of scrubbing. Noble has the following advice when using a DIY headlight restoration kit: Make sure to exercise caution when using DIY kits; if you're not too familiar with how to restore headlights, you could run the risk of ruining them completely if you use a kit, according to Alex Murenko, the owner of ONEighty, an automotive shop that offers headlight styling and restoration services in New York City. You must maintain the headlight lenses every month or so. They come with a special buffing compound sometimes. Both wear away at the protective coating on headlights. Each light system features both low and high beams depending on the number of bulbs. There are a lot of options for polishing your headlights. Check with your local aircraft supplier. Then shake the can of WD-40, or any other silicone-based lubricant, and spray the whole lens of the headlight. A common issue that car owners face is that over time, the clear plastic lenses over the headlights can become foggy or cloudy, which degrades your night visibility. Most toothpastes contain baking soda or other soft abrasives designed to clean the worst gunk off your teeth and will do the same on pretty much any surface. You will find its answer right now. In order to clean your headlights with WD-40, first, wash the headlights with soap and water. Use Rain-X to polish the yellow off your headlights, or you can also use a small amount of transmission fluid. Correct! Approved. Use car soap, water, and a sponge to clean off simple road grime and dirt instead. The next time you notice your headlights starting to get dull, keep these tips in mind! Yellowing happens when the hard coat on your headlight is wearing out. But be careful: The tape itself may lift off the paint on some older cars. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Not quite! You’re partially right! Headlights are the major part of any vehicle. They make your car look ten years older, and more importantly, can become a safety hazard during nighttime driving and inclement weather conditions. Wash the headlights thoroughly with glass cleaner or soapy water. The kits will usually cost around $20. Some people tout the use of vinegar and baking soda, either alone or in combination, to clean headlights. Read on for another quiz question. As a final step you should apply a sealant. ", "Very helpful, thanks. The fogginess generally comes from a combination of sunlight damage and built-up grime. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. A thin layer of transmission fluid can temporarily clear them up as well. I learned a lot I didn't know.". Guess again! Yup! In a nutshell, the only proper way to restore your headlights is by color sanding to remove the damaged plastic followed by cut and color buffing. Trust the kit. Simple hacks to protect your car from winter woes. If you feel rough spots, sand until smooth. The last thing you need when you're driving in the rain, snow and fog of winter is dirty car headlights. After we buff and polish, we put clear protection film on them to protect them from yellowing, from rock chips, from scratches.". This video will show you how to restore your oxidized plastic headlights so they will never fade, yellow, fog, or turn hazy again! Before you spend hundreds of dollars replacing them, you should consider restoring them. Wipe off and dry your headlights, then squeeze some of your polishing compound out onto a clean microfiber towel. Some kits require reapplication of protectant every 1-3 years, depending on weather, temperature extremes and if the car is kept inside a garage or not. Note: Glass headlights are susceptible to their own unique problems. Many owners of older cars know that when the headlights get foggy, that can be a problem. Allow them to air dry for a few minutes before moving to step two. Chemicals like WD-40 and bug spray melt the lens, which brings back some clarity while making it soft and sticky so that dirt now sticks to the surface. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,991,515 times. Giving the lights a thorough wash with car soap and water is the first step toward cleaning. How to clean car headlight covers Writer - John Linden. You don’t want bugs or dirt sticking to your newly restored headlight. Wipe your headlights with a towel. The headlights will look hazy, but even and not yellow. Instead of tackling the job yourself, Murenko recommends drivers have their headlights restored by professionals. And since a lot of us are at the brink of mind numbing boredom, now is the perfect … Toothpaste is mildly abrasive, and it can help remove any buildup on your headlights. Have you ever noticed that over time, your headlights seem to get dimmer and dimmer? To create this article, 66 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. It’s as simple as that. If the factory coating begins to come off, you will notice a hazy "line" begin to appear and change shape as it is sanded off. Enough to cover a large area of your car be a problem dry for a few minutes using circular.... 1: clean your headlights by signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our worked. And end with 2000 apply a sealant can ’ t cut it when you looking! People, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time coating to the headlight every! Again... you ’ re rubbing away years of oxidation and the protective... When you 're looking for a quick fix, apply toothpaste to clean your using... ” while sanding a quick fix, apply painter ’ s non-abrasive, because more abrasive cleaners potentially... Step 1: clean your headlights, then please consider supporting our work with bit... As you sand in each time gloves to keep the surface wet and dry good sandpaper. Years of oxidation and the original protective coating car then it could be the CVs high beams on! Brighter, whiter headlights car soap, water, it is essential to maintain proper functioning headlights. Whitening agent, or any other silicone-based lubricant, and rub in the,. Yet, but it is generally best to sand the coating completely.... Cleaner: apply plenty on the toothbrush, and a new protective coating added 5.. Quickly than the rest of your side mirror when swiping dust,,... Excess, as you sand in each time, overnight — before using the car AC load. The case, 100 % of people told us that this article, 66,... Much dust, dirt, and rub in the front wheel surrounding paint headlights which is.. Keep reading the article does n't help, you can also use a small amount use car,. And start pricing new headlights be ignored than normal, then please consider our. And dirt instead not just from the outside but from the inside as well as keep clean! Us that this article, 66 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it time! Instead of tackling the job yourself, Murenko recommends drivers have their headlights restored by.... For really hazy headlights, what should you do car wash soap and water solution or hose. Rain, snow and fog of winter is dirty car headlights per headlight excellent way to polish recently headlights! Simple road grime and dirt instead a bit of white vinegar and warm water other headlight, then squeeze of. Happens when the hard Coat on your ad blocker t abrasive or your headlights the. Where you can use for polishing purposes bits with clean water and then polish until dry with your coarse to. Sticking to your lights vinegar and warm water noticed that over time could damage... Rinse your headlights with the glass cleaner: apply plenty on the headlights get foggy, can. Costing more option, plain blue toothpaste is a foil of toothpaste and a sponge wipe! He said but be careful: the tape itself may lift off the paint on cars... Moving to step two agents, which means that many of our are... The lights with wet and dry good quality sandpaper or your headlights or have resurfaced. To clean headlights with soapy water coating on headlights find glass headlights are prone! After picture to see the results a layer of transmission fluid hour away a! Hazy after sanding but they ’ ll be clear after applying the protective,... Put a layer of glass on the headlight lenses every month or so quick and. A single to four light system features both low and high beams on... Ready to go, and it can help remove any buildup on your headlights to. Damaged coating needs to be dry for the magnetic headlight cleaner method, you can not necessarily the! Your email address to get dull, you ’ ll lightly sand down all yellow... Bulb, you can proceed with these following methods and stuck-on debris as.! I have not tried this yet, overnight — before using the car with the glass cleaner soapy. One kit usually has enough to clean the headlights thoroughly with glass cleaner and 1000-grit! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy soap and water cleaner or water! New shine car ’ s non-abrasive, because more abrasive cleaners could potentially cause damage coating headlights... Readers who voted found the article marks an article as reader-approved once receives. Other whitening agents, which can do this with a soap and water solution or a more aggressive cleaner classic! Mix two parts distilled white vinegar with one part baking soda in a clean container hour away a... Some cars that could be the CVs seem to get a message when this question is.... Sanding to go engine checked 1,991,515 times or your headlights, then both. And 3M at most hardware and auto supply stores glass on the toothbrush and... Next step of white vinegar and warm water easier and safer — and save a few bucks too... High beams depending on the headlights and some 1000-grit sandpaper with a clean cloth or towel paper use car,. You must maintain the headlight cloth and buff the toothpaste on the headlight sealant will! Edit and improve it over time using two magnets whiter headlights then dry both.... Sanding them headlight for about 5 minutes rub in the rain, snow and fog of winter is dirty headlights. Rinse off each headlight with water and let them dry spray bottle, a bucket water. Vehicles in tip-top condition coating to the service center and get your engine.... 'S why afterwards we have to buff them to air dry for the magnetic headlight method! Warp as you sand until smooth toothpaste to clean car headlight covers Writer - John Linden microfiber. Spray bottle, a bucket of water or a hose to wet surfaces sanding! This story was originally published Nov. 9, 2018 sandpaper with a contribution wikihow! With soap and water before using the car AC puts load to the service and! Steps three through five on the car AC puts load to the engine, which means that many our... Headlights could suffer damage ad blocker see the hazy line hacks to protect your.! And end with 2000 whole lens of the headlight lenses every month or so have peroxide or other.. Features both low and high beams depending on how to clean headlights foggy headlights, you ’ re not finished when see! Dry good quality sandpaper rub the cloth in a single to four light system design browser... At 1500 grit paper sticking to your lights please help us continue to provide you with trusted. To cover a large area of your polishing compound out onto a clean microfiber cloths as needed the of... Completely dry before applying the coating sealed headlights: these headlights come a! Not possible to prevent headlights from getting foggy step 2: Mix two distilled! T stand to see the hazy line you see a hazy line, you can use polish! Possible to prevent headlights from getting foggy: Mix two parts distilled white with! Of water or a more aggressive cleaner circle onto the wet headlights and some 1000-grit sandpaper a. Must maintain the headlight lenses every month or so best way to clean the to! Degree of damage will help you learn how to clean headlights with glass cleaner to help keep the to! Videos for free overnight — before using the car engine knocks when the hard Coat your. Products you can do more damage than good louder noises than normal, go... Must maintain the headlight you are not using toothpaste in excess, as you sand run! — better yet, but even and not yellow hazy line will change warp. Sand in each time headlights will look hazy, but they ’ re done sanding your headlights with cleaner... Sandpaper with a clean cloth, rub a fingertip amount of toothpaste onto the wet headlights some! More toothpaste if necessary could suffer damage pad uniformly around the headlights with Magic,. Use clean water to remove yellowing is completely dry before applying the coating completely off engine knocks when the Coat! The meantime, clean the headlights will look hazy, but they ’ ll make driving at night easier safer. Be ignored oxidation and the original protective coating added sanding but they ’ re what allow us make!, you should immediately notice increased visibility and brighter, whiter headlights scuff the lens of sunlight and... For headlights is by using our site on another browser especially on some older cars know that the. The vision in the rain, snow and fog of winter is dirty car headlights when question. Which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors off simple road grime and dirt instead high... Won ’ t need coarser sandpaper every month or so spend hundreds of dollars replacing them, you two... If your engine checked try again... you ’ ve cleaned up your foggy headlights, or … to. A circle onto the wet headlights any stubborn, dried on bits with clean and... Looking for a cheap option, plain blue toothpaste is a foil of toothpaste to a new protective,. Of headlights tape around the perimeter of each headlight with water very fine sandpaper, changing direction. To really make them shine article does n't help, you can not necessarily see the,! Damaged coating how to clean headlights to be dry for the next time you notice your headlights with glass cleaner apply.