# headlight cover cleaners **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 20, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-cover-cleaners/638326 "2012-10-20T15:22:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stosh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@stosh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stosh)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-cover-cleaners/638326/1 "2012-10-20T15:22:55Z")
Hi there, does anybody know if any of the headlight cleaners work? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-cover-cleaners/638326/2 "2012-10-20T15:43:33Z")
Consumer Reports. [Headlight restoration kits buying guide](http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/headlight-restoration-kits/buying-guide.htm) ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-cover-cleaners/638326/3 "2012-10-20T15:57:05Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-cover-cleaners/638326/4 "2012-10-20T17:12:51Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-cover-cleaners/638326/5 "2012-10-20T18:06:04Z")
I just use buffing compound on a rag - it works great. ---
**Author:** ![phxjcc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phxjcc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phxjcc)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-cover-cleaners/638326/6 "2012-10-20T19:41:27Z")
Yes, they do. The 3M kit at Wallyworld is good. ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-cover-cleaners/638326/7 "2012-10-20T21:20:06Z")
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://m.instructables.com/id/Clean-your-headlights-with-toothpaste/) > **[How to clean your vehicle's headlights - Use toothpaste](https://www.tutorialgeek.net/2011/01/how-to-clean-your-vehicles-headlights.html?m=1)** > > A website about anything geeky. Mostly tutorials and reviews. [http://factsfromfiction.blogspot.com/2012/04/toothpaste-on-headlights.html?m=1](http://factsfromfiction.blogspot.com/2012/04/toothpaste-on-headlights.html?m=1) > **[Restore headlights using toothpaste - Honda Civic Forum](https://www.civicforums.com/forums/182-7th-generation-civic-2001-2005/340889-restore-headlights-using-toothpaste.html)** > > 7th Generation Civic 2001 - 2005 - Restore headlights using toothpaste - Hey, I decided today, after reading up on using toothpaste to restore your headlights, that I would try it for myself on my 2001 civic ex. I made a video of the pics I took,... > **[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/?app=desktop&reason=8&rdm=9098)** > > Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Happy motoring! ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-cover-cleaners/638326/8 "2012-10-21T07:49:40Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headlight-cover-cleaners/638326/9 "2012-10-22T04:46:26Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > 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. 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.