How to clean headlights like the professionals do. Go from cloudy to clear.
Prep Time 2 hourshours
Author Karen Bertelsen
Cost $25
Equipment
320 – 800 grit sandpaper
1000 – 1500 grit sandpaper
2500 – 3000 grit sandpaper
Padded sanding block or dish sponge
Isopropyl Alcohol
Headlight polish/levelling compound
Headlight Clear Coat/UV Protectant
Orbital Sander
Water
Soft Cloth
Painter tape
Instructions
320 – 800 Grit (dry sand)
Tape around your headlights to protect your car paint. You can use masking tape. I used painters tape. Sand, yes SAND, your headlights in a left to right motion. The worse your headlights are the lower the grit number you should use. I started with 800, but probably should have used 400 to make the job easier. Keep your sanding pressure even and fluid. Your headlights will get even cloudier at this point.Rinse the headlight with water and wipe with a cloth to clear away any debris.
1000 – 1500 Grit (damp sand)
With a little water on the sandpaper sand the headlight again with this finer grit sandpaper in an up and down motion. The reason you change directions is because you’re sanding down the ridges you’ve caused by the rougher grit sandpaper earlier.Rinse with water and wipe with a soft cloth to get rid of plastic debris.
2500 – 3000 Grit (damp sand)
The final sanding step is to use the finest grit with a little water and sand in a left to right motion again.Rinse with water, wipe with soft cloth.
Buff/Polish With Wool or Microfibre Pad
Attach a microfibre of sheepskin pad to an orbital palm sander.Add compound to the pad and rub the polish into the pad so it’s evenly saturated.Polish headlights. The headlights will start to look clearer now.
Clean
Wipe the headlights clean with Isopropyl Alcohol.
Clear Coat
Spray with Headlight Clear CoatApply the clear coat / UV protectant according to directions. Mine was a spray, yours may be a liquid you wipe on.You're done!