Car Headlight cleaner?

[tgc]

I guess this part of the forum is for subjects other than guns.

You all have seen the commercial on TV where they sell the stuff to clean the haze off of older headlights so they will be clear again.

My question is; Does anybody reading this know of a home remedy for getting the haze off of the headlights without buying what they are selling on TV? What ever it is they are selling seems like it couldn't be too complicated, it's really not very expensive. But I'm cheap:)

Thanks for your input.

[banjopkr]

One of my buds who works at car lot said Deep Woods Off would do it,aint tried myself.

[dougader]

I read a review of several brands once, but can't remember which one they said ws best, but it ws about $16 IIRC.

One thing to remember is once you buff off the haze, you need to put a sealant on there or it will tyellow and haze over again real quick.

I need to do this on an old Hyundai Elantra. The right side is really fogged over. The left side was replaced once during a repair when a 5 year-old kid backed into me (long story).

BTW, I've heard the same thing about the Deep Woods Off but have never tried it.

ETA: Here's the review I read:

www.consumerreports.org/cro/headlight-restoration-kits/buying-guide.htm

[ericp]

You can polish them back up with toothpaste on soft cloth (or old sock), it's a great mild abrasive.



Eric

[tgc]

Okay. I tried the OFF. My truck was more advanced, but it got a lot of the oxidation off as evidenced by the junk I was getting on the paper towels I used to rub with. Spray and let it sit a couple of minutes then wipe off. I did the tail lights and head lights. It did a pretty good job.

My wifes car is not as old and the OFF worked even better on it. I think if you were to use it more often and don't let the lights get in such bad shape to start with it would be good.

Will try the toothpaste on a small section later today.

Thanks!!

[squawberryman]

600 grit sandpaper and lots of water and elbow grease. Use blue painters tape on the fenders and bumper cover as you WILL hit them. 600 will acually make it look worse BUT it evens out the oxidation. Then switch to 1000. More water and elbow grease. All of the 30 dollar kits in the auto parts stores work with either sandpaper pads in a drill or a sponge ball with an abrasive cream. Save the money, give it some time. Your headlights will look like new.

[Markbo]

I used a cheap home buffer with Flitz. Cleaned them right up. A coating of car wax once or twicw a year and have never yellowed hazed up again

[Deleted]

Yeah. Treat it like oxidized paint, but be careful not to damage it. The haze is actually microscopic cracks. A simple scuff and buff will do wonders for it.

[cas]

On another forum someone suggested "Bar Keepers Friend". I bought a bottle of the liquid type at Lowes in the household cleaning section and it worked better than any purpose made product, or headlight polishing kit we tried.

Like anything you have to go at it with some effort and do a few applications. But it worked well on some headlights and amazing on others. Thing is with the old plastic lenses, they don't stay clear long. But even if you have to do it twice a year it's worth it, and at just a couple bucks a bottle you don't mind so much. Pius you can use it on your counter tops.

[cmh]

I www as restoring g a stage 1 Buick years ago and the instrument cluster was a mess. The lens was hazy and nasty.... About a hour with some glitz and ultra fine steel wool and it polished up very nicely

[Wasp]

You would think car Mfg's would have solved this by now, or at least we would have figured out how to fix it. My best suggestion would be to trade every few years, but who has money for that.

[blazenet]

A dab of Dillon case polish on a soft cloth and lots of elbow grease.