Cleaning Your Vehicle's Oxidized Headlights

Did you know you can clean oxidized headlights? We discovered this when we started looking into buying new headlights. It was shocking to learn that polycarbonate plastic can be so costly.

We didn't anticipate it, so we searched for alternative options. We discovered that when the headlights are dirty, these auto parts can be made to look brand new with some elbow grease. Your headlights can have masking tape, car wax, painter's tape, and road debris.

This is a lot to clean, but you don't need any special commercial products. To make them fade, all you need are white vinegar, baking powder, and other household items.

Even plastic Tupperware will turn yellow with time. The same applies to your plastic headlight covers. This problem can be caused by sunlight, acid rain, and air pollution. Cleansing oxidized headlights once a year is a good way to keep your car in tip-top condition.

Tips to Clean Oxidized Headlights

Be sure to check your headlights every time you wash your car. You will need to clean them with a special cleaner if they have become foggy. This will make it easier for you to see and restore their brightness. Here are some tips for cleaning car headlights, so they look brand new.

Toothpaste for Car Headlight Cleaning

Toothpaste is mild enough to be used on teeth. It removes the plaque and does not damage the tooth. Toothpaste is good for use on headlights as it does not damage the lenses of the headlights and also removes the buildup.

Use an old toothbrush and a teaspoonful of non-gel toothpaste to clean your headlights. Apply the toothpaste to the toothbrush. Rub the toothpaste into the headlights using circular motions. Use only a small amount of toothpaste.

Continue by covering the whole headlight. You can remove any remaining masking tape from the headlight. With a soft cloth, wipe off any remaining masking tape. Repeat the process until the yellow tinge has been removed from your headlight.

Use toothpaste to scrub your car, not just the headlights. This can cause damage to the wax or polishing compound. To remove extra toothpaste, you'll need a glass cleaner. To wipe the lens, spray it with some water and then use a paper towel.

How to Clean Your Headlights With WD-40?

If you can clean your headlight lens with WD-40, you won't need any other cleaners. WD-40 was originally developed to be used on missiles to break through cracks and oil them. This works the same way here. It fills in the tiny cracks between the oxidized headlights.

Make your headlights shine again with a microfiber cloth, two sprays of WD-40, and a clean microfiber towel. You can fold the paper towel twice and spray it twice with some WD-40. You're done!

It'll look like new again by wiping it across the surface of your headlight. The oil may have to be reapplied every six months due to the fact that it is wiped off the car's surface by rain or other precipitation. No more worrying about your headlights getting cloudy!

While you are using the WD-40, it is a good idea to also clean your vehicle tires with this homemade cleaner. This will make them shine again.