Cloudy, yellow headlight lenses not only look bad but also greatly reduce nighttime visibility. Oxidation and pitting from sunlight and road wear can’t be washed away with soap and water; you must restore the surfaces and then seal them to prevent further damage. This is a great DIY project to get a vehicle ready for sale or just to help you see better when driving at night.

Several types of lens-restoration products are available at auto-supply stores, hardware stores and home centers and through online retailers. Some, such as Blue Magic Headlight Lens Restorer andMeguiar’s Headlight Restoration Kit, are one-step products. Others, such as 3M’s Headlight Lens Restoration System, MD Wholesale’s New Lite and Rejuvenate Auto’s Lens Renewer Kit, include special applicators, microfiber buffing cloths, multiple abrasives and separate polish and sealer. Meguiar’s and 3M’s products offer the mechanical advantage of an electric drill-mounted system; others require old-fashioned elbow grease.

Liquid cleaner/polish applied with a drill-mounted buffing pad is adequate for many lenses. For older lenses that are both yellowed and heavily scratched, choose a product such as the 3M system with two or three drill-mounted abrasive pads in progressively finer grits.

Whatever approach you choose, some precautions apply:
1) Make sure lenses are clean, dry and cool before you start.
2) Protect the surrounding paint from the abrasives with low-tack masking tape or painter’s tape.
3) Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes.

Meguiar’s Headlight Restoration Kit
To see the improvement in the headlight that comes from using this kit, see Photos 1 (before) and 2 (after).

Here’s how to use the kit:

1. After chucking the pad firmly into a power drill, apply a nickel-size spot of PlastX to the pad (Photo 3).
2. Place the pad flat against the lens surface. Then angle the drill slightly before depressing the trigger. Advance the speed slowly, with firm pressure to maintain control and minimize splatter (Photo 4).
3. Complete buffing with the microfiber towel provided (Photo 5).

Rejuvenate Auto Lens Renewer Kit
Check out the headlight before (Photo 6) and after (Photo 7) using this kit.

Here’s how to use the kit:

1. Apply a dime-size spot of polish to the yellow side of the applicator (Photo 8).
2. Rub the lens surface with an overlapping circular motion, applying more polish as needed until haze and yellowing are gone and the surface feels smooth (Photo 9).
3. Pour a generous amount of lens protectant on the blue side of the applicator, and rub the pad over the entire surface (Photo 10).
4. Buff the lens with a clean, dry cloth (Photo 11).

Mother’s California Gold Clay Bar
Over time, vehicle finishes oxidize and become contaminated with impurities that ordinary washing and waxing cannot remove or cover. A simple clay bar treatment will remove contaminants so you can start with a clean, smooth base before waxing or polishing.

Begin by washing and drying the vehicle. If necessary, use special cleaners to remove bugs and road tar. TurtleWax’s Ice Clay Kit includes a liquid-clay product that can eliminate these impurities before the clay-bar step. Mother’s California Gold Clay Bar system starts with the clay bar. With either system, knead the clay bar in your hands to form a smooth, flat mass. Spraying the surface with the provided lubricant will prevent the bar from sticking and help it to glide over the surface. Use a soft cloth to remove excess lubricant before moving to the next area.

The clay bar will develop black streaks as you clean the surface. Fold the bar as you go to expose clean material. Most important, be careful not to drop the bar on the ground, or it may pick up grit that could scratch the vehicle’s surface. To complete the job, polish the surface as usual.

Here’s how to use the kit:

1. Spray a 2-sq.-ft. area with Showtime to lubricate the surface (Photo 12).
2. Lightly glide the clay bar across the surface until it feels completely smooth (Photo 13).
3. Dry excess lubricant by buffing with a microfiber towel before moving to the next area (Photo 14).