There are many methods for cleaning and restoring the clarity of plastic car headlights. Depending on the severity or yellowing of the surface, household items such as baking soda and vinegar or toothpaste may remove light oxidation. However, there is another trick to remove light yellowing, tarnishing, deep dirt and oxidation from car headlights and taillights. So all you need is a can of WD-40 and some cloths to restore your car’s headlights. The process is quick, easy, and doesn’t require intense scrubbing or scrubbing.
WD-40 works wonders to restore your car’s headlights!
The official list of materials for performing this WD-40 cleaning method includes a can of this product, some cotton or microfiber cloths, and a cleaning solution of water and car shampoo for rinsing the headlights. We highly recommend starting with a freshly washed car to remove excess dirt or dust from the headlights before treating the lights with WD-40.
Start with a clean surface.
If you have just washed your vehicle, dry the headlights with a microfiber towel, if you have one. If you haven’t washed it yet, take a damp towel and wipe off any excess dirt before continuing. Repeat the procedure for the rear lights.
So spray WD-40 on a dry towel and rub it lightly on each headlight. Use a left-to-right motion rather than making small circles as you clean, focusing your efforts more heavily on severely yellowed or oxidized parts of the lenses. The same procedure applies to the rear lights.
An alternative method is to spray WD-40 directly onto the headlights and taillights, let it sit for a few minutes, and wipe off the excess with a dry towel before buffing lightly. WD-40 does not damage clear paint, so don’t worry about overspraying the product on body panels or bumpers.
The final step is to wash off the WD-40 residue with water and car shampoo. Take a cleaning sponge to remove all traces of WD-40 from the lights and surrounding body panels. After washing, rinse with clean water and dry with a microfiber cloth.
However, after cleaning and drying, it is advisable to apply a thin layer of wax to the headlight and rear light lenses for greater protection against UV rays. Pour small drops of wax onto a small applicator sponge and rub lightly over the headlights. Let it dry until it forms a mist (about three to five minutes) before wiping off the excess with a dry microfiber towel.
