How to clean car headlights

How to clean car headlights

When it comes to keeping a vehicle clean and in good condition, the importance of keeping the headlights in perfect condition is sometimes forgotten. It is not only a matter of aesthetics, but also of safety, because cleaning the opaque car headlights will make them illuminate the road correctly, on the contrary, it will be a safety hazard.

The passage of time and the action of external agents, especially the one caused by the sun’s rays, causes the glass of the headlight to deteriorate, that is why there are a series of specific products and also some simple homemade tricks that will make them return to be like new with very little effort. In this OneHOWTO article we show you how to clean your car’s headlights so that in a few minutes you can leave the crystals spotless and enjoy a more beautiful vehicle and, of course, also safer driving. These are some of the options available to you. Keep reading!

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Turn to toothpaste

Toothpaste, due to its whitening and slightly abrasive properties, has multiple applications in addition to the main one, which is none other than oral hygiene. Well, if you are thinking about how to clean car headlights, a toothpaste may be the solution. Here are some instructions for you to put into practice the following steps so you can check the effectiveness of toothpaste to clean car headlights :

  1. Clean the headlights (and if you want the rest of the car) as you normally do, with water and a little diluted soap. Do not forget to remove any remaining dirt that is embedded in the headlights, as well as mud particles or the usual mosquitoes that remain attached after a trip.
  2. Dry the crystals with a soft cloth, but be careful, it is better to use a microfiber cloth to prevent scratches.
  3. Put masking tape around the perimeter of the glass to protect the vehicle body and thus prevent the paint from deteriorating.
  4. Using a cloth (or your fingers), apply a medium-thick layer of toothpaste all over the headlight. Do this by drawing small circles that will help polish the headlights.
  5. Leave the toothpaste on for no more than five minutes (don’t wait for the paste to dry completely).
  6. Remove the toothpaste with the help of a cloth moistened with water or, if you prefer, with a glass cleaner. If necessary, dry again and you will have them perfect.

How to clean car headlights with vinegar

You might be wondering how to clean car headlights burned by the sun. Well, are right on point that vinegar is another good ally for this  situation. Especially if your vehicle “sleeps” on the street and spends long periods in full sun. Thus, it is quite common for headlight lenses, which are actually made of polycarbonate, to become cloudy. When you detect this problem cleaning them with vinegar will be effective. Next, we leave you a list so that you can follow the instructions step by step and you can clean the headlights of the car with vinegar :

  1. Heat a glass of vinegar until it is lukewarm (without boiling).
  2. Apply the vinegar on the headlights, either with the help of a spray bottle, or directly by pouring it on a cloth and passing it through the glass.
  3. Let it act for a couple of minutes and remove it by washing the headlights again with soap and water. Dry conveniently.

Vinegar and baking soda

If the headlights of your car are very dirty and dull, it can risky to drive with them. A remedy to this is even more effective than the previous one. Just add 1 – 2 tablespoons of baking soda to the vinegar and you are ready. So, here we show you how to clean car headlights with vinegar and baking soda .

  1. Make the mixture and apply it on the headlights using circular movements with the help of a microfiber cloth.
  2. Let it act for a few minutes and wash carefully with soap and water to remove any remaining baking soda and make your headlights shine.

We emphasize that you must add bodybuilder tape around the perimeter of the glass to protect the headlights of the vehicle.

Ash paste

One way to take advantage of the ash that remains after burning the wood in the fireplace is to save it and use it to clean and polish the headlights of your car, although you should always check it and check that it is fine powder ash. You must take special care and ensure that the ash is free of traces of wood particles or any other element that can scratch the glass. Follow these steps to clean car headlights with ash paste :

  1. Mix the ash with water little by little until you get a consistent paste, but one that you can spread easily.
  2. Apply it to the entire glass and leave it to act for a short period of time (2-3 minutes).
  3. Remove with a clean, dry cloth.
  4. With another damp cloth, rub thoroughly to remove any residue and contribute to polishing.

Sandpaper with soap and water

These two elements form a good tandem to remove the yellow veil from the headlights. When polishing them, always use sandpaper with water so as not to damage them. The most advisable sandpapers are those whose grammage does not exceed 1500 – 2000 grains. Follow these tips to use sandpaper with soap and water to clean the headlights of the vehicle :

  1. Once the sandpaper is moistened, run it around the headlights for a few minutes in circles.
  2. Next, apply a layer of liquid or paste soap.
  3. Let it dry for a few minutes with a damp cloth and remove the liquid or paste soap.

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Cleaning and polishing kits

Currently on the market there are different types of cleaning and polishing kits that give good results when cleaning opaque headlights. They generally include some specific product to polish the headlights together with water-based sandpaper or wool discs to apply it. Some also incorporate a product for the final lacquer in the form of a spray, which is very practical and must be applied once the headlights have been polished. These protective lacquers are not removed, they must be applied and allowed to air dry. Also, these cleaning kits work great especially for car headlights that are yellow.

If, in addition to having doubts about how to clean the headlights of the car, you also want to know how to clean the dashboard of the vehicle , in this article we offer you all the tricks and tips to keep your car in good condition.