Thursday, April 25, 2024

How To Clean Car Headlights With Baking Soda

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DIY – Clean Your Car Headlights Cheaper with Toothpaste & Baking Soda

This is a great way to clean and restore your foggy headlights permanently. This will cost you around $10 per headlight. The other methods with home remedies such as vinegar, baking soda, toothpaste, or the 3m kit work great, but they are not permanent. Your lights will eventually become hazy and oxidized. Im about to show you the only permanent method that doesnt require any maintenance such as adding wax or adding a sealer every so often. Not only do hazy oxidized headlights look bad, they also decrease the value in your car. So not only will you make your car look better, but youre actually going to help increase the value of the car by fixing your headlights.

There Are Two Different Methods When Using Lemon And Baking Soda On Your Headlights

Before getting started, youll need to gather up a couple of tools from your kitchen:

  • Baking soda

RELATED: Can Toothpaste Really Fix Your Yellowed Headlights?

You can also use eye protection if you want to be extra careful, but its really unnecessary. After gathering up your tools for the job, head out to your car, prepare the lemon and baking soda mixture, and apply it. There are two different ways to do this:

The pre-mix method

  • Pour a small amount of baking soda into the bowl
  • Squeeze half of the lemon into the baking soda
  • Stir until you get a paste
  • Apply the paste to the headlight and wait a few minutes
  • Rinse the headlight off with the water
  • Dry the headlight with a microfiber towel

The direct method

  • Pour a small amount of baking soda into the bowl
  • Take half of the lemon and dip it into the baking soda. Squeeze the lemon while you do this so that the baking soda sticks.
  • Apply the soda-coated lemon to each headlight with gentle force
  • Go over the entire headlight in a circular motion
  • Rinse off the headlight and surrounding area with water
  • Dry the area with a microfiber towel

Toothpaste And Baking Soda Seriously

If your cars headlights are hazy or discolored due to sun rays, one quick DIY is to clean them with toothpaste and baking soda. These have strong chemicals that help remove the discoloration or haze from the headlights without harm while also making them shiny. Certain over-the-counter surface finishing compounds can also help repair UV damage, so having them around in your garage is a good idea.

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Everything You Need To Do The Job:

  • Scissors
  • Alcohol
  • Gloss Clear for plastic

The big thing is you want them to be non-yellowing and UV resistant. The reason why your headlights are all foggy, yellowing and oxidized is because of the clear coat on the headlights gets chipped off over time from rocks hitting it from just. This method is going to put a nice barrier so that the plastic cant get yellow and hazy again. Most people have scissors and a garbage bag and some paper towels, but if youre going to buy the other stuff itll cost you around $20. So you figure, to make your headlights permanently clear $10 a headlight. Thats not bad, especially since some headlights can cost over a $100. Ive seen headlights that are $250 each. Ill show you the whole process. Its quick and easy.

UV Coating Product

How To Clean Foggy Headlights With Baking Soda

How To Clean Headlights with WD40, Toothpaste, Baking Soda ...

All of us have vinegar and baking soda at home.All you have to do, similarly to the vinegar and the baking soda solutions, is take a rag, apply a solid amount of toothpaste to the rag, and scrub around the hazy area of the headlights.All you need is toothpaste and baking soda.Another great way to clean your foggy headlights with $0 spent.

Apply the solution again to the headlight.Baking soda is fairly inexpensive so be generous when applying your solutions to the lights.Be sure to spray all angles of the headlight, to fully cover the car headlight with the vinegar solution.Begin by cleaning dust from the headlights with a microfiber cloth.

But it will work better when you mix them together and prepare the paste.Clean the seat and headlights with baking soda and vinegar.Finally, you just need to use a little bit of elbow grease and rub the bicarbonate of soda covered lemon all over your misty headlights.First, clean the headlights with windex or soap and water.

Headlight cleaning with baking soda takes advantage of the slightly abrasive compound that is a little tougher than toothpaste and is great for stubborn foggy spots.How do i remove the haze from my headlights?How to clean headlights with vinegar.If the headlights are only slightly foggy, you can try and restore them using an abrasive, like toothpaste, and lots of scrubbing.

You will need to clean the dust off from the headlights.Youll want to use roughly a 2:1 ratio of baking soda to water.

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How To Clean Your Headlights With Sandpaper

If you cant clean your foggy headlights using this method, then you need new headlights. For this method, you will need three different grits of sandpaper 400 to start, then 600, then 2,000. The lower the number, the more abrasive the sandpaper. You will also need some warm water. Make sure your headlight is clean before you start.

  • Get the headlight soaking wet.
  • Tape off your paint. You are going to use a sandpaper and you dont want to damage your paint. If your headlights have rubber trim around them, then you are good to go.
  • Get your sandpaper and soak it wet.
  • Start by normal motions. Keep a flat surface, do not try to dig in.
  • Inspect. What you want to see is a uniform haze. Its not going to look clear at all, and thats good. Touch the surface. It should feel kind of smooth. There might be a little bit of grittiness which is fine. If there is a lot of grittiness you want to sand that spot pretty good.
  • Move to the next grit 600 and again soak your sandpaper wet.
  • After you get this grit done, wipe it off again to see what you have to work with.
  • Next grit is 2000 mm. If you have 1000, you could do 1000, then you could do 2000. Its up to you.
  • Get your headlight soaking wet and get your sandpaper soaking wet. With the 2000 grit, you might have to apply a little bit more pressure.
  • Wipe your headlights with a towel.
  • If you are not satisfied with the results, you can also use the toothpaste trick.
  • Dura-Gold Premium Sandpaper

    How Often Should You Clean Your Headlights With Vinegar

    The simple answer to this question is to do it only once every month or every two months. I am only saying this because Im just a skeptical person. There havent really been any cons of using vinegar to clean your headlights unless you are using too much and the liquid gets under the headlights and damages them. So you can either do it monthly or when you feel like doing it.

    But if you still have a foggy headlight, dont worry I have some other tips for you.

    Next, I will show you another way you can clean your headlights. Also if you want to know more vinegar uses you can check out this article 8 amazing vinegar cleaning hacks/uses

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    What Is The Best Way To Clean And Restore Foggy Headlights

    The cleaning procedure should vary depending on the severity of the fogging. Nonetheless, it would be wise to start with the least abrasive and involving cleaning procedures before going up the ladder.

    Here are some suggestions to help you jump straight to the most appropriate cleaning procedure.

  • Regular car soap and sponge wash: Ideal for a dirty car thats not been washed well in a while
  • Baking soda or toothpaste and a soft-bristle brush: Ideal for clean headlights that are still foggy on a relatively new vehicle
  • A headlight restoration kit: A suitable replacement for baking soda and toothpaste
  • Wet sanding with fine sandpaper: Professional cleaning appropriate for very foggy old headlights with visible deep scratches here and there
  • Complete opening and restoration: If the fogginess is from moisture within the headlight box
  • How To Clean Oxidized Headlights With Toothpaste

    Easily restore headlight with baking soda and vinegar a how-to video
  • Assemble the correct materials: If you want to clean your headlights with the toothpaste method, you will need Car wax, Masking tape, and Plastic or vinyl gloves Other items are Soft cloth, any kind of toothpaste and water.
  • First, use soap to clean: Start the process by washing first with soap and water. Rub the glass using a hard back-and-forth movement with the cloth and then rinse with ordinary water. Next, let it dry for a while and inspect your work on the glass.
  • Cover the immediate areas with masking tape: Get a masking tape and use it to cover the areas near your headlights to safeguard them from unintentional scuffing.
  • Wear gloves: If you have sensitive skin, put on plastic or vinyl gloves. Next, moisten a clean, piece of soft cloth with water, and add a bit of toothpaste to it.
  • Use a piece of cloth with a bit of toothpaste on it: Now, rub the surface of your headlights firmly with the piece of cloth in small circles. Also, add more water or toothpaste to the cloth if you need to and clean the surface of your headlight for up to 5 minutes.
  • Wash: After step 5 above, wash the headlight with water and let the air dry it.
  • Finally, rub car wax on them: Polish the headlight with car wax to stop dirt or debris from accumulating on them in the future. Just use a neat cloth to apply wax to the lights. Rub each surface using a circular motion and then wash off with water.
  • Whyit works

    cleaningheadlight lenses with wd40

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    Remove Cleanser With Brush

    Using circular motions, work your way around the surface of the headlight gently with your brush. Remember, the cleanser youâre using is abrasive, so be careful not to gouge into the plastic surface. You should see the yellowness or fogginess disappearing from the lens as you work your way around it.

    How To Clean Car Headlights With Toothpaste:

    If the headlights are only slightly foggy, you can try and restore them using an abrasive, like toothpaste, and lots of scrubbing. First, clean the headlights with Windex or soap and water. Then, using a soft cloth, rub a fingertip amount of toothpaste onto the wet headlight. Start scrubbing. Keep the surface wet and apply more toothpaste as needed. Once youve removed the protective coating, apply a sealant.

    When choosing a restoration kit, look for one that contains several grades of sandpaper, a plastic cleaner/polish, polishing cloths and a protective coating. One kit usually has enough to clean two headlights.

    Noble has the following advice when using a DIY headlight restoration kit:

  • Follow the manufacturers directions. Dont improvise.
  • Dont rush through it. Depending on how foggy headlights are, this could take 15-20 minutes per headlight. Remember, youre rubbing away years of oxidation AND the original protective coating.
  • As you sand, run your hands over the wet headlights. If you feel rough spots, sand until smooth.
  • Be careful not to scratch the cars paint while sanding. Some kits recommend taping around the headlights to help. But be careful: The tape itself may lift off the paint on some older cars.
  • Keep it wet. Use a spray bottle, a bucket of water or a hose to wet surfaces while sanding.
  • Trust the kit. The headlights will look hazy after sanding but theyll be clear after applying the coating.
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    How To Clean Up Headlights

    Firstly, if your headlights are good, never use a solvent or abrasive on them or youll remove the protective factory coating and find yourself looking at these kinds of videos. Apply a good, solid coat.

    How To Clean Restore Headlights Remove Yellow Foggy Headlight Oxidation Youtube

    Cleaning Headlights With Toothpaste

    Cleaning car headlights with baking soda and vinegar

    One effective solution for making cloudy headlights clear again is something you reach for every morning. Cleaning headlights with toothpaste works as well as traditional car detailing supplies. Its mildly abrasive, making it excellent for cleaning off the residue that makes the headlights dim. Set aside about five minutes per headlight when using this DIY headlight cleaning method.

    What You’ll Need

    • Clean your headlights thoroughly with soap from your regular car washing supplies. Allow them to air dry for a few minutes before you move to the next step.
    • Cover the areas around your headlights with masking tape. This will protect your vehicle’s paint and plastic parts from the mildly abrasive drying toothpaste.
    • Wear disposable gloves and add a dab of toothpaste to a damp cleaning cloth. Rub each headlight firmly, adding toothpaste and small amounts of water as you go. Spend about five minutes on each light to obtain the desired effect.
    • Rinse each headlight with clean water. Allow them to air dry before buffing each headlight with a second clean cloth.
    • Apply a small amount of car wax to your headlights. This will protect them and keep them looking clear longer.

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    How To Clean Your Headlights With Toothpaste

    If you touch your headlights on the outside and they are not smooth, all pitted, that indicates that they should be polished out. So you want to make sure you use a toothpaste that has some grittiness to it and is an actual paste and not a gel. I usually use a toothpaste that has a baking soda and peroxide which will help get your headlight lenses clear. If your toothpaste isnt gritty, then you can add some baking soda to the toothpaste to clean foggy the headlights.

  • Start off by getting a bunch of toothpaste and rub it in. Make sure you rub it in good cover.
  • Use a toothbrush and brush it in there really good! The more yellow the headlight is, the longer you will have to brush and you might even have to do two applications of toothpaste.
  • Another tool you can use is a Dremel with a buffing wheel on it. Just buff all of the toothpaste into the headlight instead of brushing it in only with a toothbrush. This might give you better results. Make sure you use the low-speed setting . You dont want this to spin fast because you will melt your plastic.
  • Wash it off with some water and wipe it with a clean paper towel.
  • Apply wax on your headlights.
  • Wait 5 minutes and remove the wax with a clean towel. This will provide a protective layer so the headlights wont get yellow again quickly.
  • I have a more detailed article on how to clean your foggy headlights with toothpaste. You can check it out here.

    How To Clean Headlights With Wd

    If you want a quick fix for how to clean oxidized headlights, then the WD-40 product is a great option. However, it might not prove to be a suitable long-lasting solution for headlight restoration.

    Prep your car for headlight defogging by protectively tapping off the area around your front lights. Mix a bucket of water with car shampoo and use our premium wash mitt to clean and ready the surface for the WD-40 lubricant.

    Shake the can of WD-40 and spray the product onto the headlight lens, avoiding hitting unprotected car areas. Then, carefully but thoroughly wash off the lubricant with another clean wash mitt or rag with the bucket solution. Once all the oil has been removed, try it off with the CleanTools Absorber® and remove the tape .

    Use WD-40 sparingly: relying on this oil product too often could blur or burn out the bulb of your headlights, so be sure you wash it off completely every time its used.

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    How To Clean Headlights With A Restoration Kit

  • Mask off the headlight. Use painter’s tape to cover the paint and bodywork around the headlight.
  • Clean off any dirt and debris. Use soapy water and a toothbrush or cloth to thoroughly clean the lens, then rinse it with water and dry it off with a cloth or paper towel.
  • Spray the supplied cleaner over the lens. This is usually a Windex-type cleaner that will remove any dirt and oils. Some should be sprayed and left to work for 30 seconds before removing. Rinse off the cleaner with water.
  • Use the abrasive compound . Gently work over the entire lens surface using circular motions. Use two fingers inside a cloth to apply the compound. If using sandpaper and a rubbing compound, use the compound only with the final, very fine sandpaper .
  • Sand the lens with the sandpaper. If the kit includes sandpaper, you will probably repeat this process three times, with sandpapers of finer and finer grits. You should sand for about five minutes with each grade of sandpaper. The sandpaper must be used with water, never use it dry. Keep the sandpaper and the headlight surface wet at all times.
  • Buff the lens with the supplied cloth. Dry the lens and using the soft cloth, make firm but gentle circular motions across the entire surface.
  • Use the supplied spray cleaner . Apply it to the lens and wait 30 seconds before wiping it off. This step ensures the lens is free of sanding debris, so the UV protectant can form a good bond with the plastic surface.
  • How To Clean Car Headlights Using A Headlight Cleaner Kit

    How to Clean up Cloudy Headlights [With Lemon and Baking Soda]

    A number of car cleaning product companies sell kits that have been specifically designed for keeping car headlights spick and span. Generally, these will come with cleaning compounds and sanding discs that need to be used with a high-speed drill.

    Because many brands make their own specific car headlight cleaner kits, prices can vary quite a bit, so its worth shopping around if youd prefer to go down this route.

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