Your car headlights need to be in good working order to keep you and others safe on the road. You also have a legal responsibility to make sure your vehicle is roadworthy. Therefore, it is important to contact Dirty Details if you have any concerns whatsoever about the appearance or functionality of your headlights. Common problems that you need address include scratches, foggy-looking headlights or discoloration from too much exposure to strong sunlight. Headlights have a clear coating to reduce this effect, but it gradually wears away and the lens starts to discolor.

Heavy oxidation reduces light output from your car headlights. This can increase the risk of accidents, particularly when driving at night. Our headlight restoration can help to avoid this. Cleaning cloudy headlights not only increases road safety day or night but can also help you save money that you would otherwise have to spend on a costly headlight replacement. In addition, cloudy headlights could decrease the trade-in value or sale price of your vehicle.

Dirty Details Headlight Restoration Service

If you want to do something about your hazy or discolored headlights, here is what you should expect when you use Dirty Details’ headlight restoration service.

Protecting Paintwork

Cleaning car headlights begins with a preparation stage.  We will use a couple of layers of masking tape around the headlights to protect the car paintwork while we work, especially when using sandpaper (see below). We might also cover the hood and surrounding area with plastic sheeting or some other type of covering.

Sanding to Remove Oxidation

Different grades of specialty fine grit sandpaper are used to remove all signs of oxidation and imperfections. First, we spray the headlights with water to help act as a lubricant. Then the sanding process takes place with occasional spritzes of water to help rinse and clean the area. We rub the lens area to gradually remove all the oxidation. Then we will do sanding evenly back and forth for a consistent finish. Sandpaper is a key component of car headlight restoration because it effectively removes the oxidized layer of plastic that makes the lens look discolored and cloudy.

Rinsing Off Residue

Wiping down the lens and thoroughly rinsing with water will remove any residue left behind from the sanding stage. The lens should feel quite smooth to the touch at this point. However, it will still look hazy. Buffing with a dry microfiber towel will leave the headlight lens clean and dry ready for the next important step in the car headlight restoration service.

Using Rubbing Compound and Buffer to Restore Lens

Dirty Details’s tools used in a car headlight restoration service include a rotary polisher. This handy piece of equipment will effortlessly remove any remaining marks or sanding scratches. We will also use a rubbing compound that is suitable for cleaning plastic automotive lenses. The compound is simply dotted onto the rotary polisher and applied to the lens to buff away any traces of haziness and minor imperfections to achieve the glass-like finish found on a brand-new lens.

Adding Wax or Sealant

Once the rotary polisher has cleared the headlights, any residual polishing compound will be wiped off. The final stage of a car headlight restoration service is to make sure the headlights are protected from fading or any new signs of oxidation as a result of exposure to UV rays. Dirty Details uses a wax or sealant that is suitable for use on plastic lenses to help protect them from other contaminants.

Buffing the Headlights with a Soft Cloth

After the wax has been applied, it is left to dry for about half an hour. Then all it takes is a soft microfiber towel to go over the lens to remove any excess sealant or wax. If you ever consider attempting DIY headlight restoration product, be sure to choose a quality wax that will offer maximum protection.

Removing Protective Tape

Once we are satisfied that the car headlight restoration service is complete, the surrounding tape is removed. Your car headlights will now be looking as good as new again and feel smooth to the touch. This flawless finish not only looks great but will offer optimum light output to keep you safe when you are on the road. Your visibility for night driving will be enhanced and you will also be more visible to other road users and pedestrians whenever you are out in your vehicle.