How to Clean Foggy Headlights

Plastic headlamp covers have replaced the traditional glass lens on many modern cars. While less prone to stone chip damage, they can turn foggy, or misty with age. Apart from looking unsightly, the problem poses a safety issue. We have even heard of the issue causing MOT Test failures, caused by the deteriorated opaque cover creating foggy headlights.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight is the culprit. However, if UV emitted from poor-quality bulbs has caused the inside surface to deteriorate, replacing the lamp might be the only option.

If the superficial damage has affected the outside surface of your car headlights only, you can fix this problem from home, using one of two techniques:

METHOD 1:

Despite some imaginative owners reporting success with mildly-abrasive household products, such as toothpaste, DIY-friendly headlight restoration kits remain inexpensive.

The first type involves abrading the surface with a variety of sandpaper discs to remove the damaged plastic layer. The final stage involves polishing the cover with a special paste.

Overall, these kits are effective. They work well but trust those from well-established brands only, bought from reputable suppliers. The downsides include many kits not containing sufficient sandpaper, so use it sparingly. You also must be patient. Do not rush and dedicate at least half-an-hour of effort per headlamp.

METHOD 2:

The second headlight lens restoration method takes less time but demands greater skill. While you abrade the worst of the damage away with a sandpaper disc, you are spared the lengthy polishing process. Instead, you apply a sealer to the lamp, using an aerosol spray can.

This method is suitable if you are confident about applying sealer without creating runs. You will also need a warm and still day, so that any moisture, or dust, does not fall upon the wet lamp surface. Furthermore, allow at least several hours for the coating to dry and your final product should be clean headlights. As always, read and follow any supplied instructions carefully.

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