Clean Oxidized Headlights

As your headlights are exposed to the UV rays and air, their surface may become cloudy or yellowed. You can purchase a special headlight cleaning kit to remove oxidation. For a more inexpensive option, try creating a homemade cleaning solution with simple household products like toothpaste and baking soda.

Steps

Using a Headlight Cleaning Kit

1. Remove dirt with a soap and water solution.. Fill a bucket with water. Add the amount of car soap indicated on the label to the water. Agitate the water until the soap is distributed and bubbles form. Wet a clean microfiber cloth in the solution. Wipe the headlight clean with the cloth.
   • You should work on headlights one at a time. Doing so will prevent cleaner from drying on the light, which can have a negative effect on it.
   • Alternatively, you can use a household glass cleaner or dish soap to wash your headlights. Spray it on the light and wipe free dirtiness with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.
2. Dry the headlight and tape around it. Take a clean, dry microfiber cloth and wipe the light dry. Pay attention to the cracks around the outside of the light, as water collects easily there. Once dry, tape around the light with masking tape or painters tape.
   • Many cleaners and the sanding that’ll be done later can damage your paint job. A thick border of tape around the light will protect against this.
3. Wet the headlight. Many kits come with some kind of lubricating liquid for the sanding process. Apply this to the light as directed in the kit instructions. If your kit does not have lubricant, wet the headlight with water. Keep the headlight wet while working on it.
   • Always follow the usage directions that came with your cleaning kit for best results. Using your kit improperly could diminish its effectiveness.
4. Buff the light with the coarsest grit sandpaper in your kit. Your kit will likely come with several kinds of sandpaper. The lowest number will be the coarsest. Wet the paper with lubricant or water. Rub the paper with moderate pressure against the light in a circular motion.
   • Take care not to rub any part of your vehicle’s paint job with the sandpaper. Doing so will likely damage its finish.
   • Your sandpaper, much like the surface of the headlight, should remain wet at all times. Re-wet your paper as necessary.
5. Rinse the light with clean water and dry it. Use water from a hose to flush away lubricant and loosened particles created by the sandpaper. When the light is completely rinsed, use your microfiber drying cloth to wipe remaining moisture away.
6. Repeat this process with finer grit sandpaper. Most kits have at least two sandpapers with different grit ratings, though some may have more. Lubricate, buff, rinse, and dry your light as previously described with a finer grit (higher number) sandpaper with each application. Depending on how badly your light has been oxidized, the buffing portion of this project may take you between 10 and 30 minutes.
   • After drying the light each time, your next buffing sequence should use a finer grit rating sandpaper until all grit ratings have been used.
   • The highest grit rating sandpaper is often smaller in size. This paper is ideal for the curved parts of the light and corners.
7. Polish the light, then wipe polish away. Apply a small amount of the polishing agent that came with your kit to a polishing pad. Rub the pad against the light in a circular motion. Keep the pad in motion constantly. Spread the polishing agent over the entire light. When the polish begins to dry or dissipate, it’s ready to be wiped away with a clean part of your microfiber drying cloth.
   • Some kits may be intended for use with an electric polisher. In this situation, attach the polisher pad to the electric polisher and buff the light as you would normally.
8. Seal your light, if applicable, then remove the tape. Some kits may come with sealer to help prevent your lights from oxidizing. A little bit goes a long way. Apply a small amount to a fresh microfiber cloth and rub it over the entire surface of the light. Remove the tape and the light is done.
9. Repeat this process with your other headlight. In this fashion, remove oxidation from your other headlight. While you’re at it, check out your taillights and any other plastic exterior lights. These, too, can be cleaned with your kit.
   • Although kits are suitable for cleaning exterior hard plastic light covers, you should never use this kit on glass. Doing so will likely permanently cloud or damage the glass.

Using Toothpaste

1. Remove surface buildup from the headlight. Work on headlights one at a time to prevent cleaners from drying and negatively impacting the light. Fill a bucket with water and a car soap. Wet a microfiber cloth in the solution and wipe the light clean. Dry the light with an unused microfiber cloth.
   • If you don't have car washing solution available, mix a moderate amount of dish soap in a bucket of water, agitate it until it bubbles, and use this to wash your lights instead.
2. Protect the paint surrounding the light with tape. Cleaning your light with toothpaste will take a good amount of elbow grease. While buffing, it’s easy to get toothpaste on the paint. This can cause discoloration. Prevent this by creating a thick outer border around the light with masking tape.
3. Wet the light and buff it with toothpaste. Use a hose to wet the light again with water. Dampen an unused microfiber cloth with water. Apply a generous amount of toothpaste to the cloth. Rub the cloth over all surfaces of the light with moderate pressure in circular motions.
   • Whitening toothpaste may work even better than normal toothpaste. Avoid gel toothpastes. These may have a negative reaction to the light or have no effect at all.
4. Rinse and dry the light, then repeat the process. After you’ve thoroughly buffed all surfaces of the light, rinse it with water. Use a clean part of your microfiber drying cloth to dry the light. Look the light over when dry. If it is still cloudy, repeat this process.
   • Light oxidation may only take a few applications to remove. Heavy oxidation may take many applications. You should begin to see an improvement in the light after about five minutes.
5. Wax the light, if desired, and clean the other light. A thin layer of ordinary car wax will help prevent the light from oxidizing. Use a fresh microfiber cloth to spread a small amount of wax over all surfaces of the light. Remove the tape when the wax dries. Repeat this process to clean the other light.

Cleaning with Baking Soda

1. Wash surface buildup off the headlight. Fill a bucket with water. Add a moderate amount of dish soap to it. Stir the solution to evenly distribute the soap. Dip a microfiber cloth into the solution and wipe away grime and buildup on the headlight. When clean, dry the light with a separate microfiber cloth.
2. Create a baking soda paste in a cup. Put 3 tbsp (44.4 ml) of baking soda into a cup. Add water little by little to the cup. Stir the mixture with your clean hands or a spoon as you do so. When it becomes a thick paste, stop adding water. Blend the mixture so it is consistent throughout.
3. Use a sponge to apply the paste. Wet your sponge in clean water. Use the sponge to moisten the clean light. Dip part of your sponge into the paste and evenly dab a generous amount across the entire light. You should have enough paste to clean all headlights and taillights.
4. Buff the paste, rinse it, and then reapply it. Rub the paste into the light with your sponge using circular motions. Use firm, moderate pressure while moving back and forth over the light with the sponge. When all surfaces have been buffed, rinse the light with water, reapply the paste, and buff it again. Keep the light wet at all times while buffing.
   • Depending on the severity of the oxidation on the light, it may take many applications before all cloudiness and discoloration is removed. You should see results after about two or three applications.
   • Baking soda is a milder cleaning agent, so it isn’t likely to damage your paint job. However, it is mildly abrasive, so you should try to avoid getting it on the paint surrounding the light.
5. Repeat this process to clean the other light. When you finish a light, turn it on to make sure you haven’t missed any spots. Repeat the cleaning process to remove missed spots. In the same fashion as the first light, remove oxidation from your remaining exterior lights, including your taillights.

Warnings

• Failing to follow the directions of your headlight cleaning kit could result in diminished efficiency in the product or damage to your light. Some kits may require a special procedure. Always follow the directions.
• Some headlight cleaning and polishing agents are eye and skin irritants. This should be clearly indicated on the product labels. Always wear rubber gloves and protective eyewear when using these products.

Things You’ll Need

Using a Headlight Cleaning Kit

• Bucket
• Car soap (or glass cleaner)
• Electric buffer (optional)
• Headlight cleaning kit
• Hose
• Masking tape
• Microfiber cloths (x3)

Removing Oxidation with Toothpaste

• Car soap (or glass cleaner)
• Car wax
• Hose
• Masking tape
• Microfiber cloth (x3)
• Toothpaste

Cleaning Headlights with Baking Soda

• Baking soda
• Bucket
• Cup (for mixing a baking soda paste)
• Dish soap
• Hose
• Masking tape
• Microfiber cloth (x2)
• Sponge

Sources and Citations

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