Homemade Headlight Cleaner

Headlights can be cleaned with any type of soap and warm water. Dish soap, laundry soap or any type of hand cleaner will work well to remove road grime and dried-on bugs. Fill a bucket with warm to hot water and add as much dish or laundry soap as needed to make a bubbly mixture. Use a rag to wet the headlights with the washing solution and allow it to soak a few minutes to soften dried bugs, tar and road grime. Scrub with a rag until all the soil has been removed from the plastic. Rinse well. If tar is still stuck to the plastic, wet the rag and scrub until the tar has been removed. Using hot water will help remove tar splatters.

Yellowed or foggy headlights can be cleaned with a paste made of baking soda. Mix water with baking soda to create a thick paste. Use a damp rag to apply the paste to the plastic cover of the headlight. Rub with light pressure in small circular strokes to gently buff off the top layer of plastic and restore the clarity of a new lens. If the haze on the headlights is also on the inside, open the hood of the car and remove the headlight lens. Be careful not to touch the actual light, as oils from your hands can cause the bulb to shatter when it heats up during use. Clean the inside of the lens with the baking soda and water mixture. Rinse well and be sure the lens is thoroughly dry before re-installing it in the car.