Your car's exterior parts can be just as important as its interior components. A prime example is your headlights - without them, you would not be able to see at night, and other drivers would have trouble seeing you. Proper maintenance is necessary for your headlights, and that includes a thorough and detailed car wash. You may sometimes notice that your headlights might still look fuzzy and yellow, even after cleaning. The fogginess is probably attributed to oxidation, but it can be a quick and painless fix.
How to Remove Oxidation and Restore Your Headlights
The top three essential items you need when cleaning are a microfiber cloth, soap specially made for cars, and water. Additionally, you will need to pair those things with one of these common three cleaning agents:
Toothpaste
Toothpaste is chemically made to remove plaque, and it's also a reliable cleaning agent for oxidation. To clean your headlights, apply the toothpaste directly onto the light lens. Then use a dry cloth to scrub it, and follow it with a rinse after. The best part is that you can save yourself a trip to the store, as you probably already have toothpaste readily available at home.
Baking Soda
You can mix baking soda and water to formulate a cleaning paste if you do not want to waste your toothpaste. The mixture should have more baking soda than water so that it can maintain a thicker consistency. We recommend using a sponge to wipe the headlights in circular motions. Just rinse with water afterward.
Vinegar
Vinegar is also a common household item that is highly effective at cleaning your headlights. You should remove your lens and soak them in vinegar for at least one hour. Once they finish steeping in the solution, please give them a thorough scrub with a rag. To complete the cleaning process, wash them a second time with car soap to remove the vinegar smell.
We hope some of these DIY cleaning tips make your headlights look squeaky clean again. It would help if you also got in the habit of parking out of direct sunlight to prevent future oxidation.
If you require auto repair or maintenance services, bring your car to Kaufman's Auto Repairs. Give us a call at (941) 254-2567 or visit our site to schedule an online appointment.