Is It Time To Clean Your Headlights?

There comes a point in time when your vehicle’s headlights begin to fog over and struggle to emit the same amount of light and it’s time for a deep clean. Though this typically occurs with older vehicles, it has become a common theme for many drivers on the road today. The reason for the fogginess depends on a variety of factors: oxidation, road damage, dirt and chemicals, and water vapor.

Headlights that are foggy and turn yellow are not only a danger to you but to other drivers, as well. This is because of the reduced visibility at night, which makes it difficult for you to react. In fact, in many states, it is illegal to have severely yellowed or impaired headlights.

If your headlights look worse for wear, here are a few steps to return them to optimal condition.

Gather the Proper Materials

There are several ways that you can go about cleaning your headlights, many of which can be found at home. If you wish to use a more tried and true method, you can drop by your local auto shop or any large chain and purchase a headlight cleaning kit. Along with the cleaning kit, you need either Windex or soap and water, sandpaper, UV sealant, and painter’s tape.

Steps to Clean Headlights

To begin, clean your headlights with either soap and water or Windex. Use a microfiber cloth to scrub down each light. Also, wash the area surrounding the light. Once you have cleaned the lights, tape off the area around the headlights with painter’s tape. This is done to protect your paint.

Next, sand your headlights with 400-grit sandpaper. You can use 600-grit for a finer polish. Be certain that you wet the sandpaper before you scrub. Make sure you sand in horizontal, straight strokes. Ensure that the headlights are wet throughout this entire process or you risk scratching your lenses.

Once you have finished sanding (should take about five to 10 minutes), wipe the lenses clean and ensure that they are dry. Then rub the polish on the headlights with a clean microfiber cloth. Rub in a circular motion for about five minutes.

Once the polish has been applied, spray or rub on the UV sealant, which will protect the headlight housing and prevent it from fogging up again.