Car and motorbike headlights are cloudy, here are the causes and solutions

Causes of foggy headlights

Most commercial headlight lenses are made of clear, shatterproof plastic. They are also coated with a UV film to help them withstand the high temperatures from the lenses themselves and the sun.

However, there are two drawbacks to this design. First, like most other forms of plastic, the plastic used to make headlight lenses is somewhat porous, which means that dirt can get trapped on the surface and inside the headlight.

Second, long-term exposure to abrasion and high temperatures will cause the aforementioned UV film to gradually thin, the plastic glass of the headlight will lose its protection and be "baked" from both the inside and outside.

These two disadvantages combined will cause the headlight glass to become yellow, even cracked and seriously affect the lighting.

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How to fix foggy headlights

If your car is relatively old, it is likely that the cloudy headlights are due to wear and tear. Your best option is to go to the manufacturer or a repair shop and have the headlight lenses or even the entire headlight replaced.

Which option you choose is entirely up to your budget.

However, if your car is relatively new, you can clean the headlights yourself.

Specifically, look for headlight restoration kits, which include a bottle of specialized cleaner and some tools.

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If you can’t find them, you can also try some household cleaners like baking soda mixed with water or toothpaste. You’ll also need water, regular detergent, a soft brush, a towel, and rubber gloves before you proceed with the following steps:

1. Clean the headlight glass surface with a regular cleaner to remove dirt.

2. Wipe again with a towel until the glass is dry.

3. Apply a thick layer of the specialized cleaning compound or homemade mixture above to the headlight lens and let it dry for a few minutes.

4. Gently scrub the cleaning agent off with a brush.

5. Remove anything remaining on the headlight lens with a clean cloth and water.

If you follow these steps, your headlights should be sparkling again. And if your restoration kit came with some UV wax, apply it after cleaning to help add extra protection.