How to Clean Your Foggy Headlights
There will come a time in your vehicle's life that its headlights will become foggy. This usually occurs when UV rays degrade the outer layer of the polycarbonate plastic that most headlights are made of. The benefit of having headlights made of plastic instead of glass is that polycarbonate can easily be polished back to be as good as new. And instead of spending hundreds of dollars getting someone else to do this for you, you can clean them yourself in less than 30 minutes.
How to clean your headlights:
Wash your car first to remove any surface dirt, and then outline the headlights in masking tape to prevent materials from destroying the chrome or paint on the body of your car.
Next, you'll want to sand the headlights. Use a piece of 1,000-grit sandpaper that's been soaked in water for at least 10 minutes to gently remove any yellowing/rough patches covering the headlights. Keep the surface wet while you work, sanding back and forth in one direction. Don't rush; sand until the imperfections are gone. This is the most important step. Repeat the same procedure again with a higher gradient of grit, such as 2,000-grit sandpaper.
After you're satisfied with your sanding job, your next order of business is to polish your headlights. Working with some polishing compound and a cloth, start in one corner and methodically work your way across the light. After this, you'll want to wax the light with a paste car wax. This will help keep elements such as acid rain, road salt, dirt, and mud from attacking the plastic. And finally, you should apply a UV sealant to your headlights. This will assure that all the work you just did wasn't for naught!
That's it! If you have any questions, feel free to call Heritage CDJR Harrisburg, Owings Mills & Parkville, contact us online, or visit us in person at Find A Store Near You.