Headlight Restoration Tips

​For the piston heads amongst you, you’ll no doubt want to keep your car in the best condition possible.
 
Whereas for a lot of people, a car is simply a necessity to get them from A to B, for some people a car is a prized possession of which they take great pride in. As far as keeping your car in great condition is concerned, you’ll need to ensure that your headlights are in pristine condition.
 
Your headlights are of course essential and could be the difference between life and death on the road, which is why you need to ensure that they’re functioning correctly, that they’re clean, and that they are safe.
 
As you know, new headlights and lenses do not come cheap, which is why today, we’re looking at headlight restoration tips that you can do at home with very little money. Check these headlight restoration tips out and see what you think.
 
Check for condensation
 
Your headlights are the equivalent of eyes for your car, in that if they’re dull and hazy it can be dangerous driving at night or in poor visibility.
 
If your headlights are dull and hazy, it could be due to damage on the inside.
 
A very simple but effective way of identifying damage on the inside of your car’s headlights is to inspect them and look for condensation caused by moisture.
 
If you identify any signs of condensation, there’s moisture on the inside which will need to be drained away and dried for safety reasons.
 
Never use household glass cleaners
 
One of the most common mistakes people make when trying to detail their own cars is to use household glass cleaners on the headlights.
 
Sure, these cleaners work on glass at home but headlights aren’t found in the home and they aren’t made from glass. Instead, they’re made from plastic and if you use household glass cleaning solutions on them it can discolour them.
 
Wash and dry them
 
Before you start using any specialist cleaning solutions on the headlights, simply go ahead and wash them with hot soapy water, and be sure to dry them thoroughly.
 
This is because the cleaners contain ammonia which can make clear plastic turn a dull yellow colour.
 
Use a headlight deoxidizer
 
Because plastic is now used in most car headlights as opposed to glass, debris, UV rays from the sun, pollutants and other contaminants can cause the plastic to oxidize which can cause it to become foggy and hazy.
 
To rectify this and leave the headlights clear and transparent, use a headlight deoxidizer and they’ll be looking their best in no time at all.
 
Sanding and buffing
 
Finally, to really get the headlights back to their best, sand them down with sandpaper soaked in water to help soften it, making sure to sand in straight lines rather than circles.
 
Next, apply a 3M rubbing compound directly onto them, leave them to haze over and then use a buffing pad and really buff them until they become clear.