Here are the several moves to make, with highlighted steps to improve the brightness of your headlight bulbs.
Cleaning Your Headlight bulbs
When dealing with oxidized or dirty headlights, the best move is to clean them. Follow the below steps to clean these car lights.
Step 1: Get Your Cleaning Materials Ready
The first step in cleaning requires you to have all the necessary cleaning materials. In this case, you will need water, a cleaning cloth, two magnets, detergent, some wax, and toothpaste.
Step 2: Cleaning the Exterior Part
Start by removing the residual dirt from the headlight, using soap and water. Make some lather, and using the rug; gently wipe dirt off the headlight’s exterior surface. Focus more on getting rid of grime, mud, and other dirt that may coat the lamp’s surface.
Step 3: Clearing Oxidation
You now get on the stubborn stain, which is the oxidation. When dealing with oxidation, inspect the surface to see if the yellowing is inside or outside. If it is on the outside, noticeable by a rough texture, you should know how to make headlights brighter with toothpaste. It is advisable to use toothpaste with a gritty feeling to it and with some whitening capability.
If it is not gritty, you can add some baking powder to improve its oxidation removal quality. Apply a gentle amount of toothpaste all around the lamps. You can use an old toothbrush to spread it out evenly. Once well covered, let it rest for like five minutes, then spray it off using warm water from a spray bottle. Wipe it off using a dry cloth.
Once the surface is dry, apply a wax coat, which will prevent oxidation, and wipe it off after 15 minutes. You can use several coats of toothpaste, depending on how pronounced the yellowing is. You can also use a headlight restoration kit, which performs the same role as the toothpaste in removing the oxidation. The SYLVANIA headlight restoration kit is one of the best for such a task.
Permanently Removing the Yellowing From Your Headlights
The above method is temporary, as you may notice the yellowing coming back after a few months. There is a long-term solution to this, and here are some of the materials you will need.
P600, p400, and p2000 sandpapers.
Rubbing alcohol and paper towels.
Clear coat.
Warm water in a spray bottle
Step 1: Clean the Headlight Surface
Start by cleaning up the headlight surface to remove residual dirt and give you a clear working area. Soap and water will do the trick.
Step 2: Scrubbing the Surface Using Sandpaper
The oxidation results in having a rough outer surface on this frontal car light. To help remove the haziness, you use sandpaper. The P400 sandpaper is very coarse, and you can use it for extreme pitting. The p600 is fine and ideal for minimal pitting, while the extra-fine p2000 is suitable for a finisher. Spray water on both the sandpaper and the headlight to reduce friction, which can further degrade the exterior.
Step 3: Apply Some Rubbing Alcohol
After you complete the scrubbing, wash the area with some water and use a paper towel to remove excess water. Then apply some rubbing alcohol to remove any oils or dirt on the surface. It also promotes the fast drying of the lights. Now bring in the clear coat, which you shake first, then spray evenly on the headlamp. Do not put thick layers of the clear coat as it may affect the light’s glow. Put the first coat, and then let it rest for five minutes before putting the next coat. You now allow the work rest for a day; then, it will be all good. When applying the clear coat, you have to cover other parts of the car to prevent the coat from coming in contact with your paint job.
Focusing On the Interior of The Bulb
At times, the problem may be on the inside, which is hard to deal with. In case of dirt or vapor, you use a soft cloth tied to a magnet and insert it through an opening above or on the side of the headlamp. Getting the opening may be a difficult task, but it is possible. With the magnet inside the light, use another magnet to lead it in removing the dirt.
If the bulb is the issue, you can replace it and go for powerful or efficient bulbs like the 9007 headlight bulb. After replacement, use a headlight sealant to secure the lamp to prevent dirt or vapor entry.
