Vehicle headlights, if plastic or glass, accumulate dirt, debris, stains and damage that construct a movie that blocks glassy beams--shortening the scope of the beam and/or angling the beam in a less optimal circuit. If you keep a cloudy or sneaking headlight lens, or a lens with interior condensation, in most cases you can quickly restore your headlight lens to fresh using a sporadic easy-to-find items.
Instructions
Cloudy or Yellow Appearance
1. Wash the headlight lens with a gentle abstergent and a soft-bristled pad or brush. Rinse to remove any debris.
2. Dampen your melamine resin foam eraser and gently rub a mini spot on the corner of the lens to research whether the eraser noticeably scratches the surface of the lens. Whether it doesn't, gently rub the eraser over the headlight lens. Melamine resin foam erasers have a hard structure similar to fine sandpaper and can rub away any fine particles, stains and debris as well as smooth out deep scratches. Use toothpaste and a scratch-resistant pad as an alternative if you don't have a melamine eraser. Toothpaste not only removes stains, but contains silica which acts in the same fashion as the melamine resin.
3. Rinse away any residue and apply plastic or glass cleaner to the surface using a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth. If some cloudy or yellow film remains, use headlight lens plastic/glass polish and a buffer or a headlight restoration kit.
4. Apply a headlight protectant (liquid or film) to reduce future discoloration.
Condensation
5. Search for cracks or holes in your headlight causing condensation behind the lens. If you find more than one, or a large damaged area, take your vehicle to a mechanic to look at the damage and/or have the headlight replaced. Police equate certain types of damage--a "broken" headlight for example--as a ticketable offense.
6. Clean the headlight thoroughly so that you can gauge the amount of condensation.
7. Dry out the headlight with a hair dryer if only a small amount of condensation exists. If the headlight has a lot of condensation, go to Step 4. Place the hair dryer one inch from the crack or hole and run it on the low setting for 15 minutes. Press clear headlight tape over the crack or hole--making certain to remove any bubbles as you press--to protect against future condensation. If you created a drain hole, cover with tape, bond to the headlight by heating lightly with the hair dryer and then place the headlight back in your vehicle.
Drill a tiny hole (2 to 4mm), also known as a "drain hole," through the bottom behind the lens and drain out any water. Dry with the hair dryer or, if you're not using your vehicle, set the headlight aside in a low humidity area for several days to dry out.
9. Repeat until dry, taking care to not melt any plastic or damage your vehicle's paint, and then go to Step 5.8. Remove the headlight.
