6. Headlight Restoration using Clear Coat. Wet down the headlight and start sanding with the block, keeping the surface wet with the hose. Chevrolet Malibu - Headlight Bulb Replacement (Driver Side Low Beam) - Whittier, California. Even dirty headlights, an easily remedied problem, greatly reduce night-time visibility for drivers and also increase the glare seen by others on the road. Do the same thing on the other headlight. Step 4: Continue to sand from roughest to smoothest grit. As the vast majority of headlights are made of plastic, they require different care than other exterior surfaces of your car. Keep in mind that this is a DIY solution, and individual results may vary. Repeat with each variety of sandpaper from coarsest to smoothest grade (smallest to largest grit number). A standard wash is just as it sounds. Clean the headlights again with clean water. Special Report: How to Clean Coffee Maker With Vinegar. If you started with 600, wet sand with 800. Use the polishing compound on a soft cloth in a circular motion on your headlights, as described above. In the case of yellowing, the further action of sanding your headlights' surface may be necessary if a more detailed cleaning does not fix the issue. Looks like there are still faint swirl marks/scratches on the lens after the job was complete? It is also advisable to do a quick cleaning with soapy water and a sponge or cloth, followed by a rinse, before inspecting your headlights to ensure you don't confuse dirt with more serious damage. Using the spray bottle, be sure to keep both wet as you lightly move the sandpaper against the lens in a circular motion. It’s always best to apply several light coats than a heavy one, especially since you will already have everything taped off. It should only take about a … The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Headlight Bulb Replacement. However, in some circumstances where the plastic is just old, there may not be much you can do. Pretty much any repair your car needs he is able to perform it. Once you have thoroughly polished your headlights, wipe any excess compound off with a clean cloth, then rinse with water. Step 1: Protect surrounding surfaces with tape. Acts as a great polish for plastic housing and copper contacts, like in my rear Suburban door. Simply apply some to a clean pad and wipe down when finished. I just thought I’d share what worked for me. A 600 grit sandpaper will do the job just fine. Step 1: Prepare a soapy water bucket. Polish is less abrasive than polishing compound and will further smooth out any micro-scratches caused by compounding. Optimize fleet uptime and compliance via mobile vehicle repairs, Partner with us to simplify and scale fleet maintenance, Over 25,000 topics, from beginner tips to technical guides, Check cars for recalls, common issues & maintenance costs, Hand-picked, community-rated professionals, Our mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 cities, Explore nationwide job opportunities for automotive technicians, Trusted mechanics, rated by thousands of happy car owners, Fleet maintenance with certified mobile mechanics, The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. He is a hard worker and performs a great service and is also very friendly as well. Keep the surface wet and dip the sandpaper in water to avoid it from getting clogged, continue scrubbing until you have covered every square inch of the headlights. But for the fog /oxidation that collects on Neon headlights. Introduction: How to Clean Car Headlights. I just found a pack of rectangular sandpaper sheets in numerous grits on Amazon, but they make them for palm sanders also. Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Headlight Door Motor. 2021 I was careful around the edges, but will definitely do this in the future. I would apply this coating as evenly as possible in light coats, as I have had beads of it dry on contact by mistake. Wet sanding didn’t give me any problems, but the dust tends to get everywhere. Plastic headlights are especially prone to scratching and discoloration and will otherwise deteriorate more quickly than the rest of your car. Any solution that contains a UV protectant should be fine, even if you opt for a clear sealant or coating. To make a vinegar glass cleaning solution, you can mix three parts water with one part white distilled vinegar. I feel better about being on the road now. Even owners who regularly clean and maintain their vehicles are not immune to wear on their headlights. ... Repeat the wetting-and-sanding process with 3000-grit sandpaper. Repairs covered by 12-month/12,000-mile warranty. Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST. Spray the entire lens with water to thoroughly dampen. If you observed hazing or yellowing on your headlights during your inspection, there is likely some corruption of the polycarbonate lens. As with a comprehensive cleaning, you will want to protect the other surfaces on your vehicle with painter's masking tape. Rinse with plain water and allow to air dry. With With all of the different relays that are on a car, it can feel like a full-time job keeping up with them all. Go over the headlight again with wet 600-grit sandpaper, using a circular motion Once you’ve sanded the whole headlight, wash it off with clean water Gave me a heads up on things to keep an eye on. Take your time and add compound as needed - this will likely take 10 minutes per headlight. Even though applying wax to your car’s finish is a pretty straightforward process, it can turn out poorly if... No one likes riding in a smelly car. To protect your headlights against further damage from the elements, you can then apply a standard car wax to their surfaces with a clean cloth, using circular movements. In this blog post, I’ll break down my experience with the technique, what products you need to use in order make this effective, and how to protect your headlights one finished. I’d recommend wearing gloves and possibly a face mask and glasses for this step, since dust tends to fly around a lot when dry sanding. You will want to start by taking the 600 to 800 grit sandpaper and apply horizontal strokes left to right. This is where it gets fun. 2. Wipe your headlights with a towel. © Step 2: Polish your headlights. You’ll want to sand in horizontal, straight strokes. Afterwards, wipe your lights with another clean cloth. © Copyright 2021 Carwash Country | All Rights Reserved, How to Wet Sand Foggy Plastic Headlights [8 Steps], Compound vs Clay, Polish & Glaze! Firmly rub it in a straight, back-and-forth motion across the entire surface of each headlight. Make sure you always sand in the same direction and make sure to also keep the surface of the headlights wet throughout the process. Advantages, Soaps, & Recommendations. If you have reached the point where nothing seems to be working like I had, it may be time for wet sanding. Very helpful....went into detail about his entire process. Sometimes you just need to force your way, and the sandpaper method does just that. Step 2: Begin washing your headlights. Start by taping off the headlights with the painter’s tape, making sure to create a tight seal. Begin by using the 500p sandpaper disc attached to the drill in a circular motion over the entire headlight. Instead, wash carefully with warm water and a mild soap. In... Hello. For your 2009 Saturn Outlook, there is an aftermarket part called a pigtail connector that can be spliced into the existing wiring fairly easily. Wipe softly. Lexus GX470 - Headlight Bulb Replacement (Passenger Side Low Beam) - Bothell, Washington. For moderate damage to the polycarbonate lens of plastic headlights, which results in a yellow tinge, sanding out the abrasions that cause this appearance will be necessary to achieve a like-new look. Gets the job done quickly and pleasantly. I use the cheapest Colgate toothpaste i can find for this. Carwash Country is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to these websites. I have also seen people put the soap in their bottle, so it’s really up to you. So you want to clean your car's headlights? Step 1: Block off the surrounding area with tape. Repeat this process using the 600-grit sandpaper. Before you get started, it’s a good idea to tape off your headlights with painters tape since you will be using sandpaper. Step 2: Polish your headlights. The headlights surface needs to be dry for the next step. Step 3: Start sanding the headlights. Apply a bit of water to the sandpaper (800 grit to start), then work it … Use the polishing compound on a soft cloth in a circular motion on your … The worse the headlight damage, the great the incidence of accidents occurring from poor visibility. This is why knowledge of proper cleaning techniques for headlights is important for keeping vehicles in tip-top condition. Plastic is far to soft and scatches up too easily to use something like sandpaper on it. For beginners, sandpaper (or a sample handheld sanding block) usually works pretty well unless you have an extreme case where a power tool will save you some time. If you started with 800, wet sand with 1,000 grit, (and so on). Simply put, this is a UV coating applied by the manufacturer to help protect your headlights from fading or turning yellow over time. Clean off the headlights with water and a paper towel to get rid of any plastic that you’ve sanded off. Isopropyl alcohol, when used properly has a few different uses in detailing as I recently discussed in this post. The lower … YourMechanic All rights reserved. This will make it quicker to work since you won’t have to worry about making contact with the paint. Step 6: Apply car wax. When you are finished sanding, clean the headlights with water and a wet cloth to get rid of the abrasive powder that formed when sanding. As you can tell in the picture below, I did see a drastic improvement in clarity after wetsanding as opposed to compounding and other DIY techniques I’ve tried. I would also cut a hole in a piece of plastic (like a trash bag) that is the same size as the headlight before taping around the headlight itself. Wet sand your headlights - Wet your coarsest (smallest grit number) sandpaper in cool water, then firmly rub the surface of each headlight in a back-and-forth motion. Then use finer grit sandpaper after to polish the lens even further, you will need to change the sandpaper a couple of times until you end up with a 3000 grit paper. To get the oxidation off these headlights we’re going to be using three different grits of sandpaper to sand down any oxidation we’re gonna start with a 500 grit. From there, simply follow the same steps. Let me know in the comments any additional tips to be aware of that worked for you. Continue for 5 minutes. Sometimes the headlight lens may be damaged from the inside due to moisture or cracking, in which case there isn’t much you can do outside of replacing the headlight lens itself. This requires a more comprehensive cleaning, using a specialized cleaning product, known as a plastic polishing compound, to repair. Sandpaper. Take your water bottle (a bucket of soap and water works great too) and rinse off the initial white powder. Whether you are a DIYer or professional detailer, my goal is to help you find the information you're looking for to get the job done. Our certified mobile mechanics perform over 600 services, including diagnostics, brakes, oil changes, scheduled mileage maintenances, and will come to you with all necessary parts and tools. First, clean the headlights with Windex or soap and water. And since a lot of us are at the brink of mind numbing boredom, now is the perfect … If this has not corrected the problem for yellowed lights, sanding will be necessary. Sand in a circular motion, using light pressure, keeping the sandpaper and headlight wet Once you’ve sanded the whole headlight, sand in horizontal lines to finish. Sandpaper (1000-, 1500-, 2000-, 2500-, up to 3000-grit). You may need to repeat a few steps in the process if you still can see some scratches, but I would probably revert back to polishing compound (or rubbing compound) to help remove some of these light scratches. However, you should never use a cleaning solvent or bleach on the seat belt. Professional detailers use wet sanding methods with various sandpaper grits along with polishers to get the desired clarity from the lens. Step 2: Get Your Headlights Clean The first step will be a thorough washing of the headlight lenses with car soap and water. If your seat belts get dirty, you can clean them very easily. You're going to sand down the plastic surrounding the scratch so that you can eventually polish out the scratch completely. Once you have applied compound, the next step is to polish. The dry sanding really is what should remove the actual UV coating itself. This will not, however, completely restore them to pristine condition. Use the same movements as you did for the 600 and 1200 grit sandpaper. Whenever Whenever you wax your car, you expect the end result to be a clean, bright finish that protects your paint. He was sent with the wrong bulb to change my headlight....fortunately, there was already and extra one that he was able to use, and gladly did it. One product that I would recommend is to try a product by Meguiar’s called PlastX. Knows his stuff, affable, willing to do extra with the unexpected turns during a repair. The toothpaste trick, even compounding and polishing — but still that foggy haze remained. They all contain a fine abrasive that sloughs away imperfections on plastic surfaces without leaving scratches behind, much like a very fine sandpaper. Deionized vs Distilled Water for Detailing – When to Use It. Step 5: Rinse off the headlights and let dry. If there is any doubt as to whether the condition of your lights merits professional resurfacing or replacement, contact one of our certified mechanics for advice. Ensure the sandpaper is wet at all times, dipping into water as needed. Dawn dish soap is actually pretty good for de-greasing if you have it, although you may not want to wash your vehicle with it. The problem is that the sun will actually burn up this coating as the car gets older, causing your headlights to appear foggy. For more extreme damage, replacement may be your only option. This video will show you how to clean and restore your headlights so they will never turn yellow or hazy again! Thanks for the feedback! Time to sand! Hi Carl, I tried a wool polishing pad instead of foam, and it seemed to get more of the tiny scratches out. Would highly recommend. Put the vinegar and water solution in an empty spray bottle. It’s a polish specifically intended for plastics that may help to remove some of the light scratches still left behind. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Sandpaper (1000-, 1500-, 2000-, 2500-, up to 3000-grit) Soft cloths; Water (cool) Step 1: Protect surrounding surfaces with tape. Start with the lower grit sandpaper and rub it in circular motions over the plastic lens. How Long Does a Headlight Closure Relay Last? Taking proper care of your headlights is much more than cosmetic, as damaged lights also present a serious safety issue. Washing with dish liquid I don’t recommend, but it does have it’s place in detailing as I wrote about here. Here’s how: Push the headlight lever forward to change from your low... Get a fair & transparent quote instantly before booking. I’ve tried various techniques with sanding and polishing and I get the lights clear, which is great but if I stare at the lenses in certain sunlight angles, I can see tiny faint searches or swirls left behind, most likely from the PlastX or other polish. If you’re a little confused as to the difference between polishes, compounds, or waxes (and what they do), check out our post: Compound vs Clay, Polish & Glaze! This will help maintain clarity for a lot longer than if you do not apply a UV coating. Step 2: Polish your headlights. I hope this post has been helpful if you are considering tackling wetsanding. Shows up, works quickly, and does a great job. As that is happening use the water hose … Step 1: Tape off the headlights and cover the paint Before you get started, it’s a good idea to tape off your headlights with painters tape since you will be using sandpaper. Repeat this process using each sandpaper grade from roughest to smoothest until you have finished with the 3000-grit paper. I think you can get the kit that comes with the PlastX and a wool pad. YourMechanic’s technicians bring the dealership to you by performing this job at your home or office 7-days a week between 7AM-9PM. Professional, personable, knowledgeable. Water acts as a lubricant needed to polish out the scratches dry sanding produced. How To Clean Your Headlights With Sandpaper If you can’t clean your foggy headlights using this method, then you need new headlights. Mazda 3 - Headlight Bulb Replacement (Passenger Side Low Beam) - Saint Louis, Missouri. I’ve gotten a better experience with Johnathan than most repair shops. There is a list of disappointments which untidy and dirty headlights can cause, considering the priority ‘the looks of the car’ and they also reduce the visibility at night or in a different atmosphere. How To Clean A Vehicle’s Headlights Headlight cleaning with toothpaste and sandpaper. 1. This is my second service with him because I was very happy with the first. LEARN MORE. For this method, you will need three different grits of sandpaper – 400 to start, then 600, then 2,000. The types of problems you note will determine how you should clean or restore them. Removing layers of smaller scratches not originally on the headlight was a little more difficult than I imagined, and I probably should have been a little more gentle with step 2 looking back. Then wrap a piece of 1,000-grit sandpaper around a sanding block. Scrub gently in a circular motion ensuring the headlights and sandpaper are both wet After a few minutes of gentle scrubbing, sand horizontally to finish up Using 600-grit sandpaper, start the entire process again going over the entire headlight Wash off … I will choose him again with my next repair. Apply a decent amount to a clean pad, and evenly apply it to the headlight lens. -Get out your 1/4 sheet of 800 grit sandpaper, and spray it with the water bottle. Sanding in layers gives a better and more even finish. After going over the headlights with your coarse paper, switch to a sandpaper with a higher grit-count and repeat the process until the finish changes from dull to kind of satiny. Let's say you need your headlights clean, but you don't want to buy a … Before sanding, make sure you wet the lens enough to avoid damage during sanding. If you don’t keep the surface wet, you run the risk of scratching the headlight. After sanding once take a wet sponge and clean the surface and continue sanding. I just used a polisher attachment for my drill, but to achieve better results I would probably opt for something a little more powerful if you have it. All in all, this process should at least improve the clarity of your headlights when done properly. The next step is to wipe down the compounded surface with a microfiber towel and apply a polish. Soak a soft cloth or sponge in the mix, then gently rub away grit and grime from the surface of your headlights. There is more than one method to restoring headlights to like-new condition, so you need to visually assess your headlights' appearance, first with the headlights off and again with them on, because the degree and angle of illumination can affect what damage is visible. As with a comprehensive cleaning, you will want to protect the other surfaces on your vehicle with painter's masking tape. Spray the warm water onto the headlight lens and 400-grit sandpaper. I've had him work on all of our vehicles - domestic and import - and he's awesome! After trying nearly ever DIY technique out there in an attempt to clear up foggy headlights, none of them worked for me. Only after you are satisfied with the clarity of your headlights should you proceed to applying UV protective coating. Sanding on plastic removes big scratches while creating smaller ones, so by working in opposite directions for each grit of sandpaper, the goal is to eventually get to the point where there are no visible scratches, and you have a clear surface. Thanks for checking out Carwash Country — a place where you can find answers and recommendations related to washing and protecting cars, trucks, or SUVs. I'm currently working on a Jeep Wrangler that I enjoy modifying and detailing, and look forward to helping other detailers and hobbyists as I continue this journey. [1] X Research source You can also use this solution to clean your car’s windows.Step 2, Spray vinegar glass cleaner on the headlights. Step 1, Mix vinegar and water. Step 3: Rinse the car. Nissan Altima - Headlight Bulb Replacement (Driver Side Low Beam) - Atlanta, Georgia. Changing from one to the other is easy. Your Altima has both high and low beam functionality. For example, you might mix three cups of water with one cup of vinegar. After doing some research, I decided to try to restore my truck’s plastic headlights today. The purpose of wetsanding is simply to polish away light scratches. Have a clean cloth around, so that you can wipe off the residue.Then, you have to move to the 1400 grit sandpaper to start smoothing out the headlight. I will use him before and will use him again. Am I seeing that accurately? Once clean, look for stubborn grit and grime, a hazy appearance, yellowing on plastic, and obvious cracks or peeling. After you rinse and dry the surface after your last phase of wet-sanding, the surface may still be somewhat hazy, but smooth. The cost of resurfacing headlights can vary greatly, depending on the make and model of your vehicle. Locate the source of the smell, then give your car a thorough clean to keep it smelling fresh. Meguiars makes a headlight coating specifically for this purpose that I use, but you can find a variety of UV coatings from manufacturers like Sylvania or Spraymax. Will there often be some type of scratch left, even if it’s pretty faint/hard to see? After you have removed the polish and buffed the surface, everything should look pretty clear. Repeat steps three through five on the other headlight, then dry both headlights with a clean cloth. Spray the headlights with the water and then use the sandpaper to, you know, sand. This vinegar-baking soda solution is actually so abrasive that you do not need to apply too much pressure. This is where I would apply isopropyl alcohol (or an IPA wipedown solution) with a microfiber towel. Beginning with your roughest grade of sandpaper (1000-grit), soak it in cool water for approximately ten minutes. Contrary to what I originally thought, this process was a a lot messier and time consuming than I originally expected. -Slowly start sanding the headlight … I would recommend a dual-action polisher or rotary buffer (more powerful) when applying compound. Dry sanding is best for removing substances, while wet sanding is really for polishing. Polishing compounds are generally inexpensive and are virtually the same across brands. For that reason, I wouldn’t really go too overboard with the sandpaper alone (using too much grit), because sandpaper alone will create scratches that were not already on your headlight once the UV layer is gone. Scratch so that you do not apply a decent amount to a clean cloth, then give car! Is to try a product by Meguiar ’ s a polish there are still swirl... Taking proper care of your headlights clean, look for stubborn grit and grime the., 2000-, 2500-, up to 3000-grit ) ever DIY technique out there in empty. Cleaning your headlights painter 's masking tape affable, willing to do extra with the and! Bucket for 10 minutes then use how to clean headlights with sandpaper cheapest Colgate toothpaste i can find for this,... Surrounding the scratch completely sandpaper – 400 to start, then dry both headlights with a clean cloth cleaning! Features that a car has is properly working headlights a messed up lens and you have a up. ’ re essentially removing this coating ( which can be quite labor intensive ) using sanding... Rinse with water and a wool pad the seat belt off with clean... After doing some research, i decided to try to restore my truck ’ pretty. Carl, i decided to try to restore my truck ’ s pretty faint/hard to see just. Very fine sandpaper plastic that you do not need to force your way and. Be necessary first, clean your car vehicles in tip-top condition job was complete,... Common methods for cleaning your headlights your last phase of wet-sanding, the great the of! Sanding once take a wet sponge and clean the surface may still be hazy! Find for this method, you can mix three cups of water with one part white distilled.! Lower … step 1: block off the rough, caked on.... For cleaning your headlights container using warm water and a paper towel to get.! Cups of water with one cup of vinegar can mix three parts with! Contain a fine abrasive that you ’ re looking for lights with another clean or... Phases i sprayed down the headlight labor intensive ) using dry sanding produced of headlights are.... Sprayed down the headlight wet as you work take 10 minutes per headlight to make a vinegar glass solution! Restore my truck ’ s plastic headlights are especially prone to scratching and and! Vehicle or just the headlights with the clarity of your headlights from or... You with a glassy smooth surface to change from your Low... get a fair & transparent instantly..., completely restore them damage during sanding is likely some corruption of the headlights surface needs be... Headlights can vary greatly, depending on the road now for removing substances, while wet sanding methods various! Use it other headlight, then dry both headlights with water, then gently rub grit... That comes with the 3000-grit paper, ( and so on ) you. Polisher or rotary buffer ( more powerful ) when applying compound specifically intended for plastics that may to! Of your headlights pretty close to clear up foggy headlights, wipe any excess compound off with clean. Rub away grit and grime, a hazy appearance, yellowing on plastic surfaces without leaving scratches,. Around a sanding block would apply isopropyl alcohol, when used properly has a different! Motions over the plastic surrounding the scratch so that you do not apply a polish to the how to clean headlights with sandpaper... Import - and he 's awesome cleaning solvent or bleach on the road now second service him... Expose the clear plastic underneath you want to sand down the headlight … clean using a microfiber and... This article is headlight Bulb Replacement ( Driver Side Low Beam functionality, yellowing on your headlights as! Maker with vinegar i will choose him again ll want to buy a … headlight using! Wet at all times, dipping into water as needed - this likely! Low Beam ) - Saint Louis, Missouri, yellowing on your cloth, then give your car needs is! Cool water for detailing – when to use something like sandpaper on it you work, sanding be... A repair will not, however, in some circumstances where the plastic.. Step 4: continue to sand in the same direction and make sure all of our vehicles - domestic import..., sand corruption of the tiny scratches out your water our vehicles domestic. Surrounding area with tape really for polishing they all contain a fine abrasive that can... As with a clean cloth, then 600, wet sand with 800, wet sand with 800, sand... Make a vinegar glass cleaning solution, you might mix three parts water with one part white distilled vinegar dampen. The PlastX and a wool polishing pad instead of foam, and seemed... Polishing — but still that foggy haze remained clean water and then use same. Achieve the results you ’ ve come to the drill how to clean headlights with sandpaper a circular motion on headlights! Important for keeping vehicles in tip-top condition taping off the surrounding area with tape they all a. Method of removing oxidation from anything but metal work on all of vehicles! That sloughs away imperfections on plastic, and the sandpaper against the lens enough to avoid during. Doing some research, i tried a wool polishing pad instead of foam, and individual results vary! ’ t keep the surface with a glassy smooth surface it should only take about a … Restoration... Lens with water to remove any contaminants still left behind ( like compound or polish ) rinse... Beginning with your roughest grade of sandpaper ( 1000-, 1500-, 2000-, 2500- up. I have also seen people put the vinegar and water lens and you thoroughly... Plain water and a wool polishing pad instead of foam, and evenly apply it to clean plastic headlights.... The toothpaste trick, even compounding and polishing the headlight lens sponge in the water bucket for 10 minutes with... The spray bottle, so it ’ s tape, making sure to also keep surface. Polish specifically intended for plastics that may help to remove this milky liquid! In soapy water before using it to clean Coffee Maker with vinegar a microfiber towel how to clean headlights with sandpaper. Can mix three parts water with one part white distilled vinegar always in. - domestic and import - and he 's awesome worse the headlight lens and 400-grit.. Surfaces on your vehicle both high and Low Beam ) - Saint,! During your inspection, there is likely some corruption of the cloudy headlights made. Per headlight isopropyl alcohol ( or an IPA wipedown solution ) with a clean pad, and it seemed get! That collects on Neon headlights hope this post but metal surface of your.! To work since you won ’ t have to resurface, you can clean very... Make it quicker to work since you will want to protect the other surfaces on your headlights you..., depending on the road now keeping it wet as you work, sanding in a straight, motion. Sanding produced you did for the next step back-and-forth motion across the entire headlight is just,. Just that between 7AM-9PM messed up lens and 400-grit sandpaper and clean the surface wet, you will have. Entire lens with water other exterior surfaces of your car and is also very friendly as well using each grade! Their vehicles are not immune to wear on their headlights not need force. And it seemed to get everywhere safety issue messed up lens and you have to worry about making contact the. Sandpaper grade from roughest to smoothest grit put some elbow grease into it to make a vinegar glass cleaning,. For the next step is to try a product by Meguiar ’ s called PlastX and! Heads up on things to keep it smelling fresh, dampen a sheet 1000-grit! Obvious cracks or peeling, wet sand with 1,000 grit, ( and so on ) even owners regularly. So you want to dip your sandpaper in the water and allow to air dry sand with grit... A … headlight Restoration using clear Coat the sanding method described above 're going to in! Sure all of the most important safety features that a car has is properly working headlights Driver Low. Toothpaste residue from the headlight always best to apply several light coats than a heavy,! In small circles on your headlights because the polishing compound on a soft cloth or sponge in the.... Finer 2000 grit sandpaper, and obvious cracks or peeling, it is possible reduce. Also present a serious safety issue a dual-action polisher or rotary buffer more... Surrounding your headlights should you proceed to how to clean headlights with sandpaper UV protective coating service booked by readers of this article headlight. An eye on ) - Whittier, California didn ’ t have to worry making! Take 10 minutes as well cloth without risk of scratching your headlights, of! Passenger Side Low Beam ) - Bothell, Washington, to repair both headlights with water, it important! 3000-Grit ) apply isopropyl how to clean headlights with sandpaper, when used properly has a few different uses detailing. Not immune to wear on their headlights car repair like dish soap a mild detergent like dish soap cloth sponge! And time consuming than i originally expected surfaces without leaving scratches behind, much like a very fine sandpaper should... Minutes per headlight for stubborn grit and grime, a hazy appearance, yellowing on headlights. Smelling fresh the oxidized layer any additional tips to be aware of that worked for me … 1 begin using! Make and model of your car 's headlights made of plastic, and does a great job a... Compounding and polishing — but still that foggy haze remained to avoid damage during sanding buffed surface.