There are many methods of cleaning and restoring your headlights. The difference in the different methods of headlight restoration is how long will it last. Headlight restoration is not very difficult to do but it does require some skill and time. If you are a handy person then cleaning and restoring your headlights may be a lot easier to do.

Methods of Headlights restoration

• Sanding polishing and sealing method (most popular)
• Buffing with compound to a shine
• wipe on and wipe off method (temporary fix)
• Sanding and spraying method

The headlight restoration method I will go over here is sanding, polishing and sealing.

First, you will need to get a couple of things

• sandpaper 400 / 800 /1000 / 2500 grit
• polishing compound
• a good headlight restoration sealer
• Masking tape
• spray bottle
• paper towel or rags
• lint-free applicator or shop paper towel

First, clean your headlight with soap and water to remove all the debris from your headlights.

The second tape off your headlight to prevent your vehicle from any rub-off sanding to the body of your car.

Now that your car is taped off proceed to start sanding your headlights with the 400 grit sanding paper.

IN HEADLIGHT RESTORATION SANDING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP!!

CAUTION: You must keep your headlights moist with your spray bottle of water.

Sand with the 400 grit sandpaper until the headlight lenses look clear of all blemishes and there is no more yellow.

Now wash the headlight to remove all the 400 grit residue.

Continue to sand with the 800 grit then to the 1000 and then 2500.

It is important to wash the headlights after every sanding change.

NOTE Sand from right to left in order to get the best results.

At the end of sanding with 2500, your headlight should look clean and a little hazy or cloudy.

That's perfectly normal

Now you have finished the sanding in the headlight restoration you need to polish your headlight. I suggest using a water-soluble compound or polish. Most polishing compounds work best by using a buffing pad with a drill or buffing machine. In buffing your headlights you must use caution so as not to spend too much time on any one spot as this will burn your headlight lense. Keep moving your buffer all over your headlights.

(Before using, read the instruction on whatever compound you are using)

After you have polished the headlights wash them off in order to seal them.

It is important to dry your headlight in this final stage of your headlight restoration.

Water will be your enemy in sealing your headlights

According to the type of sealer you use be sure to read the instruction on how to apply.

In my experience with experimenting with sealer application, most sealers in headlight restoration are best applied from left to right in a slow method. You must overlap every pass of your headlight restoration sealer.

After using your headlight restoration sealer wait for about 15 minutes to dry and you are done. Your headlight should look crystal clear.

Congratulations

You have now done your own headlight restoration.