How to polish headlights

Polishing is what makes your headlights shine. It’s easy to do and only takes a few minutes, but it makes a big difference in the overall appearance of your car. Any automobilist can attest to the importance of having clear, bright headlights. Not only do they make your car look great, but they also help you see at night and in bad weather.

What can I use to polish my headlights?

To clean headlights, toothpaste and baking soda are good options. Both products are abrasive enough to remove the fog without scratching or harming the headlights. Rain-X, for example, might be able to repair UV damage by polishing compounds. Also, there are headlight restoration kits that can be found at most auto stores which will help to restore the plastic.

That’s all there is to it! In just a few minutes, you can have clean, clear headlights that will make your car look great.

How can I polish my headlights at home?

To clean your headlights using baking soda, first, mix the baking soda and vinegar in a small dish. Next, use circular and side-to-side motions to apply the mixture to your headlight. Finally, rinse off the headlight with water. You can also use just baking soda and a damp cloth to clean hazy headlights.

Also, drivers can use a headlight restoration kit to clean and polish headlights. These kits come with everything you need to restore your headlights, including sandpaper, polishing compound, and a protective sealant.

First, use sandpaper to remove any haze or yellowing from the headlight. Next, apply the polishing compound to the headlight and buff it in using circular motions. Finally, apply the protective sealant to keep your headlights looking new.

How can I restore my headlights without sandpaper?

How do you polish plastic headlights?

What grit sandpaper do I use for headlight restoration?

There are different types of sandpaper grit like 400, 800, 1000, and 1200. The lower number means the higher grit like 400. So, you need to use higher grit sandpaper to remove the haze on your headlights.

Polishing the headlights with 400-grit sandpaper will take more time and effort than using higher grit sandpaper. Note, that when you use sandpaper, you need to apply even pressure.

Does rubbing alcohol clean headlights?

After you’re done, wipe the headlight down with rubbing alcohol (this will help the headlight dry faster). The plastic should look pretty clear at this point, but for a finishing touch, polish it with toothpaste (like we talked about above) or use a specialized headlight polish. You will be able to see a difference!

Rubbing alcohol is usually used for cleaning headlights. It can help remove the haze on your headlights and make them look clear. In fact, they are made of plastic, so it’s best to use rubbing alcohol to clean them.

How do you restore headlights with sandpaper?

Get a 1/4 sheet of 800-grit sandpaper and mist it with water from the bottle. Place the sandpaper on the headlight, making sure to wet the whole headlight. Slowly start sanding in a circular pattern, spraying water as needed to keep everything moistened.

After a minute or so of sanding, check your progress. If the haze is gone, move on to the next step. If not, continue sanding until it’s gone. Once the haze is gone, wipe the headlight down with rubbing alcohol and then polish it with toothpaste or a headlight polish. You will be able to see a difference!

Can you use car polish on headlights?

Can you use Mothers mag and aluminum polish on headlights?

Does rubbing compound restore headlights?

The two types of compounds that may be used for headlight restoration are polishing compound and rubbing compound. The polishing compound is finer in texture and less harsh than the rubbing compound, which is gritty.

You would use a polishing compound if your headlights are only lightly oxidized and just need a bit of shine. If your headlights are more severely oxidized, you may need to use a rubbing compound first to remove the haze, then follow up with a polishing compound.

To restore headlights with either type of compound, apply the product to a clean headlight lens using a microfiber cloth or applicator pad. Rub in a circular motion until the headlight is clear. Rinse with water and dry.

Bottom line

Now you know how to polish headlights! You can use either baking soda, vinegar, and a damp cloth or a headlight restoration kit. If you use sandpaper, start with a higher grit like 800 to remove the haze on your headlights. Finally, wipe the headlight down with rubbing alcohol and polish it with toothpaste or a headlight polish.