When it comes to important parts of your car, one of the most underrated pieces is the headlight. Unless you never drive at night (or through tunnels), your headlights are one of the most crucial elements of your vehicle as they can provide better vision and increase overall safety while driving. Thus, if your headlights ever get damaged or dirty, you need to fix the problem right away. If you live in Denver, CO, then here are five tips for getting the most out of your headlight restoration.
Test it First
Sometimes the damage can look worse than it is. Perhaps your headlights are just grimy from not being cleaned often enough. Thus, before even starting on your headlight restoration, test to see if you can clean the glass easily. An excellent way to do this is with a spot of toothpaste. Rub the paste on a small portion of the headlight; if it becomes clear, you can just clean and polish it. If it doesn’t clear up, then you’ll need to sand the whole thing.
No Glass Cleaners
If you’re tempted to use a household glass cleaner, don’t. Proper headlight restoration is done with automotive cleaners only. Other products will turn the glass yellow and can make the problem worse. Auto glass is different than your standard window pane, so don’t clean it as such.
Clean It
Before you even think of restoring your headlights, make sure that they are clean. Wash them with soap and water first and make sure that they are completely dry.
Work in the Shade
If you do your restoration outside, it can be hard to tell if there is a marked improvement. Thus, do your work indoors or in the shade so you can get a better view of the light. For best results, see how it looks before you start work, and then check it out afterward.
Look for Condensation
If you see droplets on the inside of the headlight, then that means that you have internal damage. Before you begin your headlight restoration, you’ll need to drain the piece and dry it out. Then you’ll need to patch any holes where water can come in.