Got dull, yellow headlights? We’ve got three easy ways to clear and shine them up.
Dull, yellowed headlights can are a bit like those few stray grays in an otherwise beautiful brunette head of hair. They’ll show a car’s true age quickly, and if you’re looking to sell or trade in your ride, they could cost you. E3 Spark Plugs offers four ways to rid your ride of the yellow and shine up those tell-tale headlights.
- Toothpaste: Turns out toothpaste is a bit of a cure-all. It can take clear away your toddler’s crayon masterpiece from your living room wall, water rings from your coffee table and scuffs from your shoes. And, it can help shine up your yellowed car headlights. Apply a little toothpaste to your headlights with a soft dry cloth and rub it in circular motions. Rinse with water and wipe with a wet cloth.
- Aluminum Polishing Compound: Wash your headlight with soap and water, then dry them. Apply a little aluminum polishing compound, which you can find at most any hardware or automotive supplies shop, to the headlights and spread it in small circular motions with a soft dry cloth. It’ll self-dry with a hazy look. Buff that haze by wiping with a clean cloth. You may have to repeat the process a few times before your headlights are sparkly clear again.
- Sandpaper-to-sealant: You’ll need a bit of a kit for this one – wet/dry 800-, 1,000- and 2,000-grit sandpaper pads, lubricant, cleaning polish and a wax sealant. Tape off the paint surrounding your car’s headlights to protect it from scratches. Douse the headlights covers and the 800-grit sandpaper pad with the lubricant, then scrub the headlight cover until you begin to see the yellow film begin to lift. Repeat using the 1,000-grit, then the 2,000-grit sandpaper pads. Wash your headlights with a cleaner like Rain-X, let it air dry, then buff it off. Do the same with a plastic polish, then a sealant.
Got another great method for shining up your ride’s headlights? Post it on the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook Fan Page.
