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DIY Tips: How to Clean Cloudy Headlights

Are you driving with cloudy headlights?

Cloudy headlights are a common issue that can significantly reduce visibility while you’re driving at night or in inclement weather. Clear headlights, therefore, are necessary for safe driving. They make sure you can see the road and other vehicles clearly.

What do you do when your headlights are cloudy?

Keep reading as we guide you on your path to cleaning cloudy headlights effectively, restoring their brightness and improving your overall driving safety. Our step-by-step guide will make the process as clear as day – or as clean headlights.

Prepare to Clean Cloudy Headlights

Before you start cleaning your cloudy headlights, it’s important to prepare your materials and working area. Gather the following supplies:

• Mild soap and water
• Microfiber cloths
• Sandpaper of various grits
• Polishing compounds
• UV sealants
• Masking tape

It’s also important to take proper safety precautions. Make sure you are working in a well-ventilated area, and you are wearing gloves and eye protection.

Step-by-Step Headlight Cleaning Process

You can clean your own cloudy headlights by following four simple steps:

Step 1: Wash the Headlights

When you begin cleaning your cloudy headlights, remove surface dirt with soap and water. Dry the surface with a microfiber cloth.

Step 2: Sand the Headlights

After you’ve cleaned and dried the headlights, tape around their edges to protect your car’s paint. Begin sanding with coarse-grit sandpaper and progress to finer grits as you go. Make sure you keep the surface wet while sanding.

Step 3: Polish the Headlights

Now that you’ve sanded the headlights, it’s time to polish them. Apply the polishing compound to the headlights. Use a clean microfiber cloth to polish the surface in circular motions.

Step 4: Apply UV Sealant

The next step to clean cloudy headlights is to apply UV sealant. After you finish polishing the surfaces, make sure the headlights are dry and clean. Apply the UV sealant to protect against more cloudiness in the future.

Alternative Headlight Cleaning Methods

While the above process is one of the most common and simplest methods of cleaning cloudy headlights, it’s not the only option. You might prefer to clean your headlights in the following alternative ways:

• Using a Headlight Restoration Kit: A headlight restoration kit typically includes sandpaper, polishing compound, and a UV sealant.
• Home Remedies: Rather than purchasing specialized compounds to use as cleaning agents, you can try applying toothpaste with a cloth, or you could mix baking soda and vinegar to form a paste.
• Bug Spray Method: Spray a small amount of bug spray containing DEET onto a cloth and wipe the headlights. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean cloth.

Headlight Maintenance Tips

Now that you’ve cleaned your cloudy headlights, you’ll want to take steps to keep them clean in the future. The following maintenance tips will keep your headlights from clouding over again:

• Regularly Wash Headlights: Keeping the headlights clean by washing them on a regular basis will help to prevent buildup.
• Park in the Shade: Park in shaded areas to reduce UV exposure and prevent future clouding.
• Apply sealant: When you reapply UV sealant every few months, you help prevent moisture from clouding the headlight’s surface.

If you’re interested in cleaning your own headlights, you might want to check out our online store for a host of quality products that can help you repair vehicles.