how to clean and restore your cars headlights
Over time, your car’s headlights can go from crystal clear to cloudy and yellow. It doesn’t just make your car look older—it can also make nighttime driving less safe. The good news? You can clean and restore them yourself in less than an hour with simple tools and products.
Why Headlights Get Cloudy
Most modern headlights are made from polycarbonate plastic. Sunlight, road debris, and weather slowly break down the clear protective coating, leaving them oxidized and hazy.
What You’ll Need
Masking tape
Bucket of water
Car-safe soap or dish soap
Headlight restoration kit or sandpaper (1000, 2000, 3000 grit)
Plastic polish or UV sealant along with some sort of buffing pad.
Step-by-Step Restoration
1. Wash the Headlights
Give your headlights a good scrub with soap and water to remove dirt and grime. Dry them with a microfiber cloth.
2. Tape Around the Headlights
Use masking tape to protect the paint around your headlights! Trust me, you don’t want sandpaper marks on your hood or bumper.
3. Sand Away the Oxidation
If using sandpaper:
Wet the headlight and the sandpaper. Keep a bowl or bucket of water nearby to keep it wet! DO NOT sand it dry.
Start with 1000 grit, sanding in straight horizontal strokes. Spend about 5 or 10 minutes doing this.
Move to 2000 grit, then 3000 grit, changing the direction with each pass (horizontal, vertical, horizontal).
Keep the surface wet at all times.
If using sandpaper:
Wet the headlight and the sandpaper. Keep a bowl or bucket of water nearby to keep it wet! DO NOT sand it dry.
Start with 1000 grit, sanding in straight horizontal strokes. Spend about 5 or 10 minutes doing this.
Move to 2000 grit, then 3000 grit, changing the direction with each pass (horizontal, vertical, horizontal).
Keep the surface wet at all times.
If using a restoration kit, you can follow the instructions it lists out. To make it simple, it’s practically the exact same process.
As you go through the process, make sure to get every part of the headlight. You’ll start to see a slurry come off as you go - that’s all the old plastic. When you’re done with each step, the headlight will get progressively more and more cloudy. Don’t worry, that’s perfectly normal! When it’s all clouded over, you can move on to the next step.
4. Polish the Lens
Apply a small amount of plastic polish to a clean microfiber cloth and buff the headlight in circular motions. This brings back clarity and shine.
5. Protect with a UV Sealant
This step is key! Without UV protection, headlights will haze again quickly. Apply a UV sealant or clear protective coating to keep them looking new.
Pro Tips for Long-Lasting Results
Park in the shade or use a car cover to reduce sun exposure.
Reapply UV protection every few months.
Avoid harsh chemicals when washing your car.
Final Word:
Restoring your headlights is a quick DIY project that makes your car look newer and improves safety at night. For under $30 and less than an hour of work, it’s a no-brainer. In my personal experience, the headlight restoration kit by 3M (the one linked here) is the best solution. It’s pretty easy to use, the only real downside is that (depending on your cars headlight shape) the circular drill attachment can make it hard to reach every corner of the headlight, and it provides the kit for basically 1 car. If you wanted to do multiple you’d be better off just getting the full kit yourself with individual items.
I am an Amazon Associate and make commissions of of every qualified purchase.
