Cleaning headlight covers

[Ari]

My car has clear headlight covers that are very grubby, indeed opaque in places (fortunately not in front of the beam). Normal cleaning won't clear them so I wondered whether anyone had any recommendations as to the best way to clean them.

I was going to use glass cleaner but it said not to use on plastic. I do wonder whether someone else has tried to do this and that's why they are how they are.

Any hints or tips gratefully received.

They look like this by the way (only not as clear):-

[BigS]

Try something like Meguiars Plastic X, not used it myself but have seen before and after pics of headlights that have been done using it.

[Big News]

Very light wet and dry (used wet), followed by T-Cut followed by Brasso cleared the ones on my Focus up a treat. Took about half an hour overall.

[rumbletum]

BigS said:

Try something like Meguiars Plastic X, not used it myself but have seen before and after pics of headlights that have been done using it.

Yes I used this for the first time on my 911 recently, after 15 years the headlight covers gad got rather hazy and grubby.

I removed them and did the insides too, worked a treat.

Sorry I didn't take any pictures (I don't even have a digital camera!)

[o0myles0o]

Greygate plastic polish is used to polish pilot's visors, and I have used it to get rid of a lot of cloudiness on my lenses. I found it at £6 on ebay.

[rumbletum]

o0myles0o said:

Greygate plastic polish is used to polish pilot's visors, and I have used it to get rid of a lot of cloudiness on my lenses. I found it at £6 on ebay.

I bought some of this stuff after reading all of the positive comments on the internet, I found that it didn't work anywhere near as well as everyone seemed to think, and that the Megs stuff was better.

And it bloody stinks, made my eyes water it did.

[o0myles0o]

rumbletum said:

o0myles0o said:

Greygate plastic polish is used to polish pilot's visors, and I have used it to get rid of a lot of cloudiness on my lenses. I found it at £6 on ebay.

I bought some of this stuff after reading all of the positive comments on the internet, I found that it didn't work anywhere near as well as everyone seemed to think, and that the Megs stuff was better.

And it bloody stinks, made my eyes water it did.

Funny how results differ isnt it, I used it snd it took all the cloudiness out and the lenses were very clear. Granted, they were only cloudy so am not sure how it would behave with light scratches.
It is used to polish pilots visors in the RAF by the way.

[rumbletum]

o0myles0o said:

It is used to polish pilots visors in the RAF by the way.

My Godson is a pilot in the RAF, I'll ask him to show me his helmet when I see him next.

[o0myles0o]

rumbletum said:

o0myles0o said:

It is used to polish pilots visors in the RAF by the way.

My Godson is a pilot in the RAF, I'll ask him to show me his helmet when I see him next.

Fnar, fnar!

[Petemate]

rumbletum said:

My Godson is a pilot in the RAF, I'll ask him to show me his helmet when I see him next.

[Ari]

Is this the stuff that's recommended?

http://www.meguiars.co.uk/product/225/Plast-RX/

[rumbletum]

Ari said:

Is this the stuff that's recommended?

http://www.meguiars.co.uk/product/225/Plast-RX/

Yes.

[Mr2Mike]

Big News said:

Very light wet and dry (used wet), followed by T-Cut followed by Brasso cleared the ones on my Focus up a treat. Took about half an hour overall.

They do look much better after this, but it does removes the anti-scratch coating so they start looking tatty again pretty quickly. However, apart from new headlamps (or lenses/covers if available) there really is no way to properly restore the finish back to "as new" condition.

[lowdrag]

I've been using a product called Finesse-it by 3M for years to clean up the perspex screen and headlamp covers of the D-type. Like T-cut but a lot finer. does a fantastic job.

[Ari]

Tried the Meguaires stuff. Better, but not great.

Maybe I should try that Finesse stuff.

[attym3]

Not got any suggestions myself but try asking,
Here...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...
Or here...
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/

HTH

[NHK244V]

lowdrag said:

I've been using a product called Finesse-it by 3M for years to clean up the perspex screen and headlamp covers of the D-type. Like T-cut but a lot finer. does a fantastic job.

yep use it all the time on plastic lenses, does a great job on paintwork as well lol

[Nige_GTI]

WhenI had my Skyline, the headlight lenses were very yellow, an old mechanic friend said to use toothpaste, it worked a treat!

No idea why

[RenesisEvo]

Nige_GTI said:

WhenI had my Skyline, the headlight lenses were very yellow, an old mechanic friend said to use toothpaste, it worked a treat!

No idea why

Probably because, like polish, toothpaste contains very fine abrasive particles.