Revitalize Your Yellowed Plastic Headlights Without Replacing Them

To keep your plastic headlights clear, it’s crucial to protect them from the damaging effects of UV rays. Parking your car in the shade or garaging it can significantly reduce the impact of these rays.

Headlight Restoration Kits: Your Best Bet

There are various headlight restoration kits available that use different techniques to restore your headlights. Some kits require labor-intensive sanding with grit sanding disks, while others utilize solvents that quickly dissolve the yellowed film. Solvent kits are a popular choice due to their efficiency and relatively easy application. After using a solvent kit, light sanding is often required, which usually results in a better outcome than hours of manual sanding.

A Simple and Cost-Effective Solution: Toothpaste

A surprisingly simple and inexpensive method for restoring your headlights involves using toothpaste. Choose a gentler, less abrasive toothpaste like Oral B. Apply a small amount to the lens, dampen a cloth with water, and gently polish the lens, repeating the process until the desired clarity is achieved. Wash off any residue and rinse thoroughly with clean water. This method can improve the clarity of your headlights without the need for extensive sanding.

Understanding Headlight Discoloration

Over time, all plastic headlights will experience discoloration and oxidation. Some headlights may yellow and oxidize within a year of driving, depending on environmental factors. Protective films and headlight “wraps” often do more harm than good, as they can introduce bubbles and hazy spots due to water seepage.

The factory-applied clear coat on headlights is usually durable and resistant to degradation. However, as it begins to wear or peel, the headlights can start to deteriorate. Instead of completely replacing the headlights, you can restore them to a near-new condition with minimal effort.

Professional-Grade Restoration: A Detailed Guide

For a more thorough restoration, especially for headlights with significant chipping and peeling, follow this detailed guide. Begin by thoroughly sanding the headlights using progressively finer sandpaper grades.

Buy several sheets of sandpaper in various grits (400, 800, 1000, and 2000) and invest in a professional headlight restoration kit like Meguiar’s. The sanding procedure involves:

Use a quarter sheet of 400-grit sandpaper for a thorough removal of the clear coat in dry strokes. Maintain 800-grit sanding in light, circular, wet strokes in one direction to achieve a clearer surface. Repeat the same for 1000-grit sandpaper, then move to 2000-grit for a final, smooth surface.

Thoroughly wash and rinse the headlights after sanding to ensure all debris is removed. Apply a cleaning solution with a soft cloth and allow the headlight to air dry before applying the clear coat. Spray multiple, overlapping coats and let them cure for the recommended time. This process will restore your headlights to a crystal-clear condition.

Alternative Kits and Materials

For a budget-friendly option, consider Minwax’s Helmsman Spar Urethane Clear Gloss and mineral spirits. This solution offers a cost-effective alternative to expensive headlight restoration kits.

Remember, for minor discoloration, a specialized cleaner-restorer and clear coat spray can rejuvenate your headlights without significant effort. Regular maintenance can prevent the need for extensive restoration.