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Cleaning car headlights: the best tricks

After a few years of use, car headlamps often turn yellow. It then appears as if the glass of the headlamps has fogged up. The good news is that you don't necessarily have to spend hundreds of Pounds in a workshop to clean or fix cloudy headlights. We reveal how you can clean your car headlights. By the way, it doesn’t matter what kind of headlamp it is: whether it’s a xenon or LED headlamp, you can quickly get it clean again using our instructions.

Why not cleaning cloudy car headlights can be problematic

Regardless of whether it’s a newer car or a used model, some car headlights turn foggy or cloudy after a few years. This problem definitely shouldn’t be ignored since headlamps are crucial for safety on the road. Only with sufficient visibility can you drive in a way that won’t endanger yourself or other road users. Especially in bad weather such as rain or snow, having both good visibility of the surroundings and of your vehicle is essential.

Why do headlamps go cloudy?

There are various reasons for cloudy headlights. All new headlamps are supplied with a UV protective coating. However, this can wear off over time, causing the headlamp to become milky. Stone chips, scratches and general dirt also mean that you have to clean car headlamps from time to time, and if in doubt, even repair or replace them.

It is important to clean foggy or cloudy car headlights as soon as possible. You can either take your vehicle directly to the car wash or clean them at home by making a cleaning solution for car headlights with a little warm water and a mild car shampoo. If no significant improvement is seen after cleaning, the headlamp may need to be replaced.

Cleaning car headlamps properly

There are two ways to easily clean your headlights. You can either take your vehicle directly to the car wash or do it yourself by making a cleaning solution for car headlights using a little warm water and a little mild car shampoo. If no significant improvement is seen after cleaning, the headlamp may need to be replaced.

Please note: polishing headlamps after cleaning isn't legal. By polishing, you’re making structural changes to the headlamp, which may invalidate the approval. You also shouldn’t use aggressive household remedies such as cleaning headlamps with toothpaste or cola, as they damage the surface material.