Guide to: How to Clean Headlamps?

Driving in dusty conditions can make the headlamps dirty. You will have to clean them for time to time for better visibility. If you don’t clean a headlamp, there will be foggy headlights. Headlamps require cleaning to improve visibility while driving at night. By cleaning, you will be able to protect the coating and improve the lifespan of the headlamp. You can inspect if the headlamp looks dirty as well as haziness and see if it needs cleaning. Here are all the steps you need to perform to clean headlamps.

Gathering the Items

For cleaning a headlamp, you need to gather all the necessary items. In many cases, you will find a DIY headlight restoration kit that includes all the necessary items. However, you can even opt for other commonly available items to have effective cleaning. Some of the items that you require are sandpaper, paper towel, alcohol, soap, water, and toothpaste. Toothpaste is a perfect item for cleaning the headlamp, and it lets you clean it in an affordable way.

Sanding

You can begin by sanding the headlamp with the help of wet or dry sandpaper. Fine-grain sandpaper helps to offer perfect finishing. However, make sure that you do it gently so that it does not cause any scratches. The best way to prevent scratches will be to use tape around the edge. You need to do it where the light meets the car’s painted part. Proceed by rubbing alcohol and paper towels to have efficient cleaning. Sanding also helps to remove any kind of debris. Keep in mind that you will have to move onto a higher grade count sanding paper.

Cleaning the Headlamp

After you are done sanding, you will now have to clean the headlamp. For this, you need to have soap and water. Gently clean the headlamp with soap and water and remove all the debris. You can now wipe it off with a dry cloth to confirm if it has a perfect finishing. It is advised that you select a perfect location where you have access to water.

Polishing

The next step will be to polish the headlamp. For this, you need to get a buffing compound, and it has to be non-abrasive. An aluminum polishing compound can be great as it lets you use it with different types of surfaces. With the help of the clean microfiber cloth, you can now apply the buffing compound to the headlamp. Apply it in a circular motion and make sure there is a uniform finish. Continue with it until you get great results.

Toothpaste for Cleaning

In many cases, people also use toothpaste for having a perfect shine. However, you will have to make sure that it is plain toothpaste and does not include any additives. The one that comes with baking soda delivers great results. For toothpaste also, you need to first apply it all over the headlamp surface and clean it with a cloth. Additionally, you can consider having plastic adhesion. It helps to improve the lifespan of the headlamp. Plastic adhesion helps to offer a durable finish.