How Do You Clean Vehicle Headlights?

Are foggy or yellowed headlights of your vehicle affecting its looks? Perhaps illuminating the road at night or in bad weather is getting more difficult. If so, a quick clean can revitalise your car’s appearance and improve safety.

Most headlights will eventually appear faded due to age and damage, which is why regular maintenance is crucial. This blog aims to guide you on how to clean headlight covers and keep them in top shape. We’ll also explain why they need to stay bright and clear.

When you drive your car on dirt roads or park directly under the sunlight, your headlights will get cloudy, dirty, and scuffed. Nowadays, companies use lightweight, hard-wearing polycarbonate plastic to construct headlight lenses. This material is ideal as it can be moulded into any size or shape. However, with time, they can turn foggy or yellow due to the following factors:

• Moisture
• Oxidation
• Dirt build-up
• Chemicals
• UV Light
• Scratches
• Extreme Temperatures

Without giving them the needed attention, headlights will remain dull even if you routinely wash your car. You can extend their life by getting rid of dirt, dust, and chemicals that may lead to wear over time. Moreover, they can stay clearer for longer by parking your vehicle out of the sun, preferably in a garage or a carport to protect it from harmful UV rays.

Knowing how to clean foggy headlights is pointless if you don’t understand the reasoning behind the actions. One of the obvious reasons is that they look hideous. Besides, hazy lights often cause difficulties for other motorists. From affecting the vehicle’s visibility to affecting road safety, dirty lights can be quite a nuisance.

Degraded plastic can make the headlights appear dimmer. If you think replacing just the bulb will help solve the problem, think again. The light’s strength will be affected as it won’t be able to penetrate the cloudy plastic covering properly. Hence, it’s important to remember this point when working on headlights. Now, let’s move on to understand how to clean car front lights using some easily available products.

If the rest of your car is dirty, you can bet the headlights are too. We recommend several solutions to maintain their upkeep using things that are commonly found in any home. You’ll need the following:

• Water
• Masking tape
• Disposable gloves
• Microfibre cloths or sponges
• Baking Soda and Distilled Vinegar/Toothpaste/Window Cleaner
• Wax or sealant

Here are the steps to get you started on how to clean headlights on cars:

• Step 1: Wiping: First, wipe down dirt and dust using a clean cloth if the condition isn’t too bad.
• Step 2: Washing: If your headlights are extremely dirty, wash them thoroughly with soap and water. Then, let the air dry for a while.
• Step 3: Masking the Edges: This step is crucial to protect the paint and plastic parts of your vehicle from the cleaning products we’ll use later. Cover the edges of the front lights with painter’s tape.
• Step 4: Using Cleaning Products: Each solution offers a unique approach to cleaning your floodlights. So, choose a method that best suits your needs.
  • Toothpaste: Apply some toothpaste to a damp microfibre cloth. Wear disposable gloves to rub the fabric on the headlights firmly. Then, add a small quantity of water and toothpaste as you go. Keep doing this for a minimum of five minutes to achieve the desired result.
  • Vinegar and Baking Soda: In this method, mix one part baking soda and two parts of distilled white vinegar in a clean container. Shake the mixture well to combine. Then, dip a fresh cloth in the solution and rub it onto the headlights in a circular motion. You can add more of the products if needed.
  • Window Cleaner: Add a tiny amount of window cleaning solution to a microfibre cloth. Then, rub each headlight for at least five minutes until you’re satisfied.
• Step 5: Polishing: Once you’ve cleaned the light covers using one of the above solutions, rinse them with clean water. Allow them to dry before buffing with a second clean cloth. After that, apply a bit of polish to protect the headlights and make them clearer.

There are some general tips to keep in mind while cleaning your vehicle headlights. Not only will these measures deliver outstanding results but they’ll also prevent damage:

• Always wear eye protection gear and gloves
• Avoid using hard abrasives
• A soft, non-abrasive cloth is recommended
• Don’t forget to mask the surrounding area with a tape
• Use an LED light to help identify defects easily

Hopefully, you will find our tips on how to wash headlights helpful. While DIY restoration is a cost-effective solution, it’s risky too. One mistake and you could damage your car’s trim, paint, or other components. At Gunceler Motors, we can carry out professional headlight restoration at our workshop. Our qualified mechanics use a quality cleaning kit designed for foggy car lights.

In the case of chipped, heavily oxidised, or cracked lenses, they need to be replaced, and we can do that as well. Bring your car to our experts who will assess if they need repairs or replacement. If you want to save potential repair costs and time, let the mechanics at Gunceler Motors help.

Get maximum visibility on the road with a clean headlight. Call us on 0421 793 338 or email us at guncelermotors@hotmail.com for quality headlight care.