Clear Foggy Headlight Covers
Cleaning headlight covers is far a less expensive option than replacing them. It won't take you long and the headlights will shine brightly again once done.
Steps
- Take a sheet of 1000 grit sandpaper.
- Wet the cover, then rub side-to-side with sandpaper, ensuring that you clean the entire cover.
- Rinse well.
- Repeat steps 1-3 with 1500 grit sandpaper.
- Dry the cover by rubbing it with a good rubbing compound (such as 3-M).
- Rub in a circular motion for about 5 minutes, then wipe off the compound.
- Buff the covers using a dry cotton cloth. (You may have to repeat this process one to three times if the cover was badly fogged.)
- Polish the cover with car wax.
- Finished.
Tips
- It's best to do this task in the shade, not in direct sunlight.
- Follow the 1500 sanding with 2000 sanding. For some, Meguire's Mirror Glaze H 4 followed by Mirror Glaze H 7 and then wax has given the best result.
- Be sure to buff off all the rubbing compound before you apply car wax.
Warnings
- Can be used on glass or plastic headlamps––it works best on plastic ones though.
- You can use a buffer and light grit compound, but the speed on the buffer has to be set extremely low. If you're going too high, you risk damaging the lens by adding scuffs and hitting paint on surrounding painted panels.
Things You'll Need
- 1000 & 1500-grit sandpaper
- Liquid rubbing compound, fine
- A bucket of warm water
- Several cotton rags
- Car wax
