Cloudy headlight lens

[enigma-2]

My wife's Sebring Convertable headlights are starting to become cloudy. I bought a headlight cleaning kit from a local auto store, and it uses sandpaper to sand off the top layer of the lens. Thoughtt that that was a little radical and watched a few YouTube vids on it. Also did some other research and learned that once you do this, it removes the UV layer from the lens and the lens will start to yellow from UV rays.

 

Kept researching and found a product that removes the cloudy layer (oxidation) with a chemical solution. The product is Pittman ALR. Anyone ever use this?

 

Here's their website: http://www.ibc34.com/

 

Sounds perfect, but it's a little salty at $30 for 7 cc's. (But, you only use one drop per headlight, or so they say).

If it works I'll go this route and sell the kit at a garage sale.

Edited December 27, 2014 by enigma-2

[Salta Woods]

I have seen a you tube Where mosquito spray was used to clean the oxidation off with a rag

[ls973800]

I have seen a you tube Where mosquito spray was used to clean the oxidation off with a rag

 

It's the ingredient "Deet" in the mosquito spray which temporarily makes the headlights look clear.

 

http://www.precisiondetailgroup.com/#!Bug-Spray-Headlight-Restoration-Myth/c1gzc/CE9CDA18-1148-4AD7-9D9D-CAE290994918

 

There are many kits available to clean the haze off the headlights. Stick with a well known product, or one that has good reviews on line and you will not be wasting your money. Heck, how much does a replacement headlight lense cost compared to one of the kits?

[enigma-2]

 

It's the ingredient "Deet" in the mosquito spray which temporarily makes the headlights look clear.

 

http://www.precisiondetailgroup.com/#!Bug-Spray-Headlight-Restoration-Myth/c1gzc/CE9CDA18-1148-4AD7-9D9D-CAE290994918

 

There are many kits available to clean the haze off the headlights. Stick with a well known product, or one that has good reviews on line and you will not be wasting your money. Heck, how much does a replacement headlight lense cost compared to one of the kits?

 

 

I have seen a you tube Where mosquito spray was used to clean the oxidation off with a rag

So I'm reading this, jaw hanging on the keyboard, looking for all the world like a deer in the headlights ..... mosquito spray??? Fellows, that blows me away.

No, hadn't run across this on YouTube. Who on earth figured this out?

 

Thanks so much, what a great forum this is.

Dennis

[enigma-2]

 

It's the ingredient "Deet" in the mosquito spray which temporarily makes the headlights look clear.

 

http://www.precisiondetailgroup.com/#!Bug-Spray-Headlight-Restoration-Myth/c1gzc/CE9CDA18-1148-4AD7-9D9D-CAE290994918

 

There are many kits available to clean the haze off the headlights. Stick with a well known product, or one that has good reviews on line and you will not be wasting your money. Heck, how much does a replacement headlight lense cost compared to one of the kits?

Well I ran through a few YouTube vids and I'm not so certain that this is really a good way to go.

This is the video that made me rethink using Deet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYmbBZntuY8

 

Reviewed Consumer Reports test on four products: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/headlight-restoration-kits/buying-guide.htm

(I have the Sylvania kit, still not ready to commit to sanding plastic headlights yet).

 

So back to asking about the ALR product. Anyone actually use this stuff? (The cleaner and sealer seems to work).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XPoZARi0T0

[akirby]

Yep. Acetone does the same thing and if there was a UV coating on the outside it's gone either way. Stick with the kits. They work.

[freebird]

I use Colgate toothpaste.

[TheWizard]

Toothpaste is actually a very good choice. It has a very fine grit that won't leave your lights looking like they've been sanded (as long as you're careful). I've used it on windshields with great success. For headlights I've used the Mother's Headlight Restorer kit that comes with polishing compound and a foam ball for your drill. It works well, is inexpensive and somewhat more convenient than toothpaste (although it doesn't have that "minty fresh" smell).

[PaulSchott]

I did the headlights on my 98 ford Contour. They were out in the sun for 10 years and were really dead. I used 3 different compounds from heavy to medium to polishing for a couple of hours and they looked like new when I was finished. I didn't use sandpaper, it's too scary.

A month later I hit a deer and took them both out. I guess I can't say I didn't see him coming lol.

My 2007 has slightly hazy lights and needs a good buffing that I will do when it gets nicer out. I hope the deer aren't reading this post.