How to Clean the Inside of Your Headlights

There are plenty of solutions out there when it comes to cleaning the outside of your headlights. You can easily remove the yellow coating that forms on the plastic lens using a few household products.

However, cleaning the outside isn’t always enough. Sometimes, dirt, road debris and condensation can cause the headlights to fade from the inside. This reduces the amount of light they emit and creates a safety risk.

In this guide, we’ll cover the steps you need to take to clean the inside of your headlights. We’ll also provide a list of the items you need for the job. Since vehicles have different headlight designs, the process may vary slightly for you.

How to clean the inside of your headlights

What you’ll need:

• Screwdriver
• Car soap or toothpaste
• Clean microfiber cloth
• Warm water

Step 1: Pop the hood of your car

Start by lifting the hood of your car. This will allow you to gain access to the headlights. Check to see the mechanism used to attach them to the car.

For some cars, you’ll need to remove the entire headlight so as to remove the headlight lens. The process here varies from vehicle to vehicle. You may have to remove ancillary parts such as the front bumper.

In other cars, you may be able to remove the lens while the headlight is still attached to the vehicle. It’s best to first consult your user manual. You can also check online to see the attachment mechanism for your vehicle’s headlights.

Step 2: Remove the headlight

Use a screwdriver to remove the headlight if you need to. Disconnect the electrical wiring that connects to it from the back. Unclip any plastic clips that may be holding it in place.

With the help of instructions in your user manual, remove the headlight lens from the headlight. This will allow you to clean it from the inside.

Be careful not to touch any of the bulbs with your bare fingers. The oils on your hands will cause the bulb to burn out sooner than expected.

Step 3: Clean the headlight lens

Fill a bucket with warm water and mix it with detergent. Dip a microfiber cloth in it and use it to clean the headlight lens.

You can use a soft sponge pad to scrub out the dirt and contaminants that have accumulated on the headlight. Be gentle not to cause any scratches.

If the dirt is persistent, you’ll have to go with toothpaste. The same chemicals that help to clean and whiten your teeth will help clear out the fogginess in your headlights.

All you need to do is apply a generous amount of toothpaste on the lens and use a microfiber cloth or sponge to scrub. This also helps to remove small scratches that may have accumulated inside.

Once you’re done cleaning the headlight plastic and are satisfied with the results, rinse away the soapy water or toothpaste and dry the lens.

Step 4: Re-install the headlight

Reattach the headlight lens to the headlight. Reverse engineer what you had done to remove it. The final step is to reinstall the headlight back onto the car.

Reattach all the clips and reconnect the electrical connectors. Make sure the connections are secure and firm.

Sometimes, you may have to use a headlight sealant to seal the edges of the plastic lens before reinstalling it. Removing it from the headlight usually breaks the seal that prevents contamination and moisture penetration.

Headlight sealant helps to prevent any wet air from finding its way inside and causing condensation. It also lessens the amount of work you have to do.

Benefits of cleaning inside your headlights

• Improves illumination

The most important benefit of cleaning inside your headlights is the improved performance at night. The yellow coating and condensation that covers most headlights greatly reduces illumination when driving. Once that is removed, your headlights produce more light.

• Enhanced safety

With better illumination, the driver is able to spot obstacles, pedestrians and other drivers on the road. Visibility also gets better in harsh weather conditions. You’re able to see through fog, snow, and rainy weather.

In addition, clean headlights allow you to stay on the right side of the law. The authorities tend to stop vehicles that do not produce adequate lighting for driving. This is because they can cause an accident. Having clean headlights keeps you out of trouble and compliant with the state laws.

• Improves aesthetic value

Hazy headlights can make a car look really old. They can also lower its value on the market if it’s being sold. Cleaning your headlight lenses helps to improve the look of your car.

It makes the headlights appear new. This can be beneficial during a sale as it shows the car is well-taken care of. The driver may be able to get a better deal thanks to the clean headlights.

• Important for identifying problems

Cleaning your headlights occasionally allows you to inspect the electrical wiring and bulbs. This allows you to spot potential problems.

If your headlights are dimming, you may be able to spot and fix bad wiring. Or, if the headlight is cracked, you may be able to seal it yourself. This can help save you money in repairs and prevent the problems from getting worse.

• Prolongs headlight lifespan

Road debris and harsh weather elements can affect the performance of your headlights and cause them to wear out quicker than they should.

Cleaning your headlights adds hours to their life. They get to serve longer without experiencing any damages. It also saves you money that you would otherwise spend on repairs and replacements.

Conclusion

Knowing how to clean inside your headlights is part of car maintenance. It ensures that your headlights stay functional and safe to use. You do not need much, just some simple tools and cleaning items to get the job done. In the end, you’ll be able to restore the look of your car and improve its value on the market