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When it comes to cars and maintaining them, many people are clueless about what to do or even where to start. Lots of things demand our attention from washing and waxing the paint job to changing the tires and oil. Some of the upkeep is easy and can be done by anyone, while other things are best left to a mechanic. This video falls in the former category and shows how anyone can clean their car’s headlights with just some toothpaste, a bottle of warm water, paper towels, and a bit of wax..
For obvious reasons, headlights are an essential part of any vehicle, and the cleaner they are the better you can see and be seen by other drivers. When headlights turn hazy and dirty, as they inevitably become over time, the light output from the bulbs ends up getting diffused. This makes the light beams appear dimmer, weaker, and therefore less effective. The lights end up covering a reduced area ahead and pose a potential safety hazard, which is the last thing anyone wants because driving is already dangerous enough.
If you noticed that your vehicle’s headlights have this issue then you have to try this quick and easy method to clean the plastic covering. This fix will work if your headlights are yellowing on the outside, pitted, and not smooth. If your car’s headlight is smooth on the outside, it won’t work.
You’ll need to use a type of toothpaste with a gritty texture to it, such as the ones that contain baking soda and peroxide or a whitening version. It’s also important to not use any gel formulas because only pastes work and if you need more grit try adding baking soda to it.
Start by rubbing a generous amount of toothpaste onto the headlight and to keep your hands clean you can use a toothbrush. Work it in really well and soon after the paste should begin to turn yellow as dirt and grime start to come off onto the brush. Next, grab a spray bottle filled with warm water and spray the light, then rub it off with a paper towel.
Apply a fair amount of pressure while buffing it away and when you’re almost done grab a clean paper towel to remove the last of the residue. Finish it off by applying a smidgen of wax to the headlight and wait for it to completely dry before buffing it all off. The wax will form a protective layer over the now clean light and help keep it from becoming yellow again so soon.
The older and more yellow the light, the longer you’ll need to rub the toothpaste into it. If the light is still hazy or you feel that it needs to be cleaner, simply apply more toothpaste and try again. The best part about this technique is it costs maybe a dollar or so, but if you have a tube on hand that’s the right kind of toothpaste then it’ll only cost you a few cents.
In comparison, store bought headlight restoration kits sell from anywhere between $15-25 so this is by far the cheapest way to clean them. Hopefully this trick will work for you and help to restore your car’s headlights to their former clear and shiny glory!
Be safe and and watch the video below for the full tutorial:
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