Need a DIY: Cleaning Headlights

[Gillette51]

Whats the best way to remove the build up of yellowish/white stuff on your headlights?
any recommend products or tricks to removing this?

Thank you.

Most annoying stuff ever...

[Dirt McGirk]

There's a ton of erite ups on this, ive done it many times on different headlight. Just take the lights off and wetsand with 1500 until all the discoloration is gone and they look completely even, then wetsand with 2000 to clear them up more. Make sure you take your time, its a long process. Make sure you do it lightly and keep the headlight and paper very wet. It shoukd be able to just glide accross the headlight. After your done dry it and buy some Plastix from walmart or autozone, put a little on an applicator and start rubbing it in like how you would apply wax, do small sections and not the whole light at once because it dries kinda fast and is hard to buff if you let a bunch dry on it. After you apply it on the whole light and its dry then buff it with a micro fiber like you would after waxing. Then theylle look brand new. I normally throw like ice paste wax or any wax that works on plastic on after the plastix to keep them shiny longer. Just because its so hot here that it dries the light out. Then every few months I just do a quick buff with plastix if they start to fog at all.

[EJ_Uno]

800 sandpaper then just spray them with high temp clear coat

[Dirt McGirk]

Originally Posted by EJ_Uno

800 sandpaper then just spray them with high temp clear coat

Done this too but it works best with an actual spray gun and most people dont have that.

[Gillette51]

alright sounds good thank you guys! just picked up some plasticx

[Dirt McGirk]

Sweet man, take some before and after shots.

[azjared]

20 minute method, no sanding needed:

go to Honda dealership ask for this (I think its about 8 Bucks)



apply to headlights with a rag using some elbow grease



wipe off with microfiber and throw a coat of wax on it. Ending in this Result



Same Headlight in both pictures that i used this exact method on

If you really want to get down and dirty use a buffer to apply the polish

[HondaFreak]

Does it have to be that specific metal polish or can any other be used?

[95_B18b1_Teg]

Originally Posted by HondaFreak

Does it have to be that specific metal polish or can any other be used?

has to be the same one
i did this on some jdm da lights and they came out looking fresh as fawk
use the honda metal polish and finish. its the best 10 bux and change youll ever spend on refinishing your headlights

[azjared]

Originally Posted by HondaFreak

Does it have to be that specific metal polish or can any other be used?

I'm not sure this is all I have tried after the guy at arrowhead honda recommended I try it

[Kahuna]

Don't laugh...But you can use toothpaste and a rag to get the headlights gleaming again.

[Gillette51]

Well i got that plasticx and shit i did a 1000 and 2000 sand paper sand then rubbing compound then the plasticx with buffing and it ended up foggy as hell... it got the shit off the top but i dont know if its hazy from getting minor water in it last summer that dried up or if i should give the stuff above a shot hmmm

[Gillette51]

Originally Posted by azjared

20 minute method, no sanding needed:

go to Honda dealership ask for this (I think its about 8 Bucks)



apply to headlights with a rag using some elbow grease



wipe off with microfiber and throw a coat of wax on it. Ending in this Result



Same Headlight in both pictures that i used this exact method on

If you really want to get down and dirty use a buffer to apply the polish

My 2nd attempt with be this

thanks man
ill let you know how it goes

[TauntDevil]

Originally Posted by Kahuna

Don't laugh...But you can use toothpaste and a rag to get the headlights gleaming again.

What i use as well

[azjared]

Originally Posted by Kahuna

Don't laugh...But you can use toothpaste and a rag to get the headlights gleaming again.

Ive herd that a lot and tried it myself but never had any luck with it

[AZ_CIVIC]

I use 1000 grit sandpaper, then 2000 grit, then I apply plast x and use a Dewalt variable speend buffer and it comes out like brand new.

It only takes about 10 minutes per light if you have a real buffer.

[stockNess Monster]

3m has a little kit. part number 39008, comes with the sandpaper pads and little polish...just attatch to drill

[Dirt McGirk]

If they came out hazy after the plastx then you need to try wetsanding again, keep itet and just glide it.

[project91ef]

I used the 3M kit that come with everything you need except a drill...came out pretty nice

[the_serg]

I gotta try the toothpaste method.

[nyenye09]

Originally Posted by azjared

20 minute method, no sanding needed:

go to Honda dealership ask for this (I think its about 8 Bucks)



apply to headlights with a rag using some elbow grease



wipe off with microfiber and throw a coat of wax on it. Ending in this Result



Same Headlight in both pictures that i used this exact method on

If you really want to get down and dirty use a buffer to apply the polish

Wow! Good results! on the pics above!

I baught a kit at autozone that came with all the stuff to do it, followed instructions step by step, did help a bit but not like the reults from above.

I will be trying this method hopefully next weekend!

[casto27]

Nice turn out Ima try these steps this weekend.

[jdmgil411]

wasted all the toothpaste on my way out to buy some more ... headlights do look better

[higinio]

wd40 spray it all over the head light and wipe it off it works really good

[ceyazzie]

i got to try this.....

[TucsonEuroCamry]

i used the turtle wax headlight restoration kit on my buddies headlights and it looks brand new

[p-townHONDA]

You cant go wrong with the 3m headlight kit! everything else doesn't last that long and gets hazy, ive tried everything..

[blackyem1]

Wow good info here ima have to give these a try my head lights r getting all ugly... thanks for info

[One Slow Hatch]

just sand it with 2k grit or 1500 depending on how bad they are but i like to always finish with a 2000 then u can use a can of high temp clear just make sure it has a good tip so it dont spray all over the place ive used engine enamel clear works good then after a couple of weeks you wax it and it gets even better and smoother.

[IllestGsrhatch]

Originally Posted by One Slow Hatch

just sand it with 2k grit or 1500 depending on how bad they are but i like to always finish with a 2000 then u can use a can of high temp clear just make sure it has a good tip so it dont spray all over the place ive used engine enamel clear works good then after a couple of weeks you wax it and it gets even better and smoother.

Good info sir!! You are a genius!!