Hazy headlights can be a common problem for car owners, especially for those who live in areas with harsh weather conditions. Over time, headlights can become foggy or cloudy due to exposure to sunlight, moisture, and road debris. This can significantly reduce visibility while driving at night, which can be dangerous. In this article, we will discuss how to restore hazy headlights to their original clarity.
Before we get into the restoration process, it’s essential to understand why headlights become hazy in the first place. Most modern headlights are made of polycarbonate plastic, which is a durable and lightweight material that can withstand impacts. However, polycarbonate is susceptible to UV rays, which can cause the plastic to break down over time. This, combined with exposure to moisture and road debris, can lead to hazy headlights.
To restore hazy headlights, you will need the following materials:
Masking tape
Microfiber towels
Headlight restoration kit (available at auto parts stores or online)
Water
Bucket
Here are the steps to follow:
Step 1: Clean the headlights
Before starting the restoration process, you need to clean the headlights thoroughly. Use a gentle car soap and water to remove any dirt, grime, or debris from the surface. Dry the headlights with a microfiber towel.
Step 2: Protect the surrounding areas
Using masking tape, cover the areas around the headlights to protect the paint from any damage that might occur during the restoration process. This step is crucial because some headlight restoration kits contain abrasive compounds that can damage the paint if they come in contact with it.
Step 3: Apply the restoration kit
Most headlight restoration kits come with a series of abrasive pads and a polishing compound. You will need to use a bit of elbow grease to remove any grime, grease and oil before you start. After you’ve accomplished this, follow the instructions on the kit to apply the abrasive pads to the surface of the headlights. I can’t go into exact details here on how to use a headlight restoration kit, as all of them are a little different, and you may find that your kit differs from what I’m explaining. That being said, the basic steps are as follows:
- Clean the headlights: Before using the kit, clean the headlights thoroughly with soap and water. Make sure there is no dirt, grime, or debris on the surface of the headlights.
- Mask off the area: Cover the area around the headlights with painter’s tape to protect it from any accidental scratches or damage.
- Sand the headlights: Use the coarsest abrasive pad or sandpaper included in the kit to sand the surface of the headlights. Wet the surface with water and use a circular motion to sand until the surface is smooth and all the cloudiness is removed.
- Repeat with finer abrasives: Use finer abrasive pads or sandpaper to smooth out any remaining imperfections on the surface of the headlights. The kit will typically include several grits of sandpaper, from coarse to fine.
- Apply the polishing compound: Apply a small amount of polishing compound to a clean cloth or applicator pad and work it into the surface of the headlights using a circular motion. Have you noticed the circular motion pattern here?
- Remove the excess polish: Use a clean cloth to remove any excess polish from the headlights.
- Apply the sealant: Apply a small amount of sealant to a clean cloth or applicator pad and work it into the surface of the headlights using a circular motion. The sealant will help seal and protect the headlights from future damage.
- Remove the tape: After the sealant has dried, remove the painter’s tape from the area around the headlights.
There are a ton of different brand names out there that sell headlight restoration kits, but out of the 6 we’ve personally tried here at NYC Auto Detailing, we absolutely love the 3M kit. It comes with quality components and it just seems to work better than some of the others.
On a recent vacation to visit a family friend, we purchased the 3M kit to help them out. Our friends own a lawn service business and frequently use their headlights to illuminate a yard towards the end of a day. Sometimes, they’re stuck working late into the evening on summer nights, and they’ve used their headlights to light up an entire field for mowing before. They’re still talking about how awesome the difference was after we used the headlight restore kit on their work truck.
By following these steps, you can use a headlight restoration kit to improve the clarity and brightness of your headlights. You’ll be amazed at the difference the next time you drive at night. The difference can be night and day!
Look out for our next upcoming article on how to adjust headlights for optimal light conditions while driving at night, while still not blinding oncoming drivers.