How to Clean Hazy Headlights

You may have noticed your vehicle’s headlights looked a little less-than-clean, but like most of us, you probably don’t give them much thought until it’s late at night, on a poorly lit road and you can’t see a single thing. Yikes.
Unless you’ve had the misfortune of your headlights burning out, there is a solution to your no-sight-at-night problem. Clean your headlights! Over the years, sunlight takes its toll on the plastics of your car, creating a hazy, oxidized layer. Meanwhile, dirt and little rocks on the road scuff up the surface, adding to the clouded cover. You wouldn’t go driving around with a dirty windshield, and your headlights should get the same treatment.
However, store-bought kits can be pricey and often, they take longer than you’d like to make your lights shine like new. Lucky for you, there’s a quick and low-cost solution and it’s in your bathroom…
The same product that keeps your pearly whites shining brightly will also clean your car’s headlights. Toothpaste is a mild abrasive, meaning it naturally polishes items and fills in tiny scratches. This is ideal for your headlights and will leave them shining like new in a matter of minutes.


Cleaning Headlights with Toothpaste

What you need:
  • Regular toothpaste with baking soda — skip the kind with cooling beads as this may scratch your lights further
  • An old towel or rag
  • Toothbrush
  • Water to rinse with
  • Sponge
Step 1: Squeeze some toothpaste onto your rag. About a quarter size will do to start.
Step 2: Apply a thin layer of toothpaste to the headlight.
Step 3: Wait 15 minutes
Step 4: Using your toothbrush, scrub in small circles. Right away you should start to see dirt and grime come off, but put in a little extra elbow grease to get those lights to really shine.
Step 5: Rinse the remaining toothpaste off with water and polish dry with your sponge.

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