Hi there, does anybody know if any of the headlight cleaners work?
Consumer Reports.
Headlight restoration kits buying guide
if the degradation is just on the surface, than a restoration/cleaning kit can help noticeably. The problem is as time goes on, the polycarbonate lenses start clouding throughout the material, and no amount of polishing or buffing can fix it.
My girlfriend just did the headlights on her '03 RAV4 a couple of weeks ago with the 3M kit and an electric drill, they came out much improved.
I just use buffing compound on a rag - it works great.
Yes, they do.
The 3M kit at Wallyworld is good.
A product made specifically for the purpose is the best choice. However, in a pinch (or, if you won a lifetime-supply of the stuff on a game show), you can use toothpaste:
http://m.instructables.com/id/Clean-your-headlights-with-toothpaste/
http://factsfromfiction.blogspot.com/2012/04/toothpaste-on-headlights.html?m=1
Happy motoring!
I recently used the Mequires headlight restoration kit on our 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee with very good results. The headlights were so glazed over that the plastic looked completely fogged. After using the kit, the lens were amazingly clear, almost looking new again. Unfortunately however, the haze was not limited to the outside of the plastic lens. It was fogged on the inside of the plastic as well and there is no way to access the inside to use the restorer on it. So, in the end mixed results. The outside of the lens cleaned up to almost new condition, but a haze can still be seen on the inside. Had I been able to get to the inside of the lens the headlights could have been restored to almost new condition.
My wife used the 3M kit on her '01 VW Jetta and they turned out great. I was very impressed, after first being skeptical.
I got the 3M kit and will apply it to my '01 Honda CR-V (204K miles) - headlights very hazy.