Toothpaste to clean headlights?
05-05-11, 09:38 PM
#2
what are you trying to do that car wash soap can't
If you have hazing, then toothpaste won't cut it. You will need to wetsand then polish the plastic to get the sanding marks out.
If you have hazing, then toothpaste won't cut it. You will need to wetsand then polish the plastic to get the sanding marks out.
05-06-11, 05:23 AM
#5
I'd expect that you would find toothpaste would not have as uniform an abrasive size as you would find in a product like PlastX, SwirlX, ScratchX or Meguiar's #205. I'd trust these to do a better job and leave better results. There is also the Meguiar's Heavy Duty Headlight Restoration kit.
Toothpaste would not be as effective so I think using products designed for the task at hand is a better idea.
A safe & effective hand sanding & machine polishing system that restores optical clarity to severely oxidized, yellowed & scratched headlights. Professional results are made easy with Meguiar's® Sanding Pad & Finishing Discs (1000 & 3000 Grit), followed by Meguiar's® Easy Buff™ polishing pad that attaches to your drill. The included Headlight Protectant provides UV protection and helps keep restored headlights looking like-new longer!
05-06-11, 11:04 AM
#7
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I'd expect that you would find toothpaste would not have as uniform an abrasive size as you would find in a product like PlastX, SwirlX, ScratchX or Meguiar's #205. I'd trust these to do a better job and leave better results. There is also the Meguiar's Heavy Duty Headlight Restoration kit.
Toothpaste would not be as effective so I think using products designed for the task at hand is a better idea.
Toothpaste would not be as effective so I think using products designed for the task at hand is a better idea.
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05-07-11, 04:06 PM
#10
plastx works but it takes a long time. If you have hazing, then wetsanding is the way to go. My fogs were basically frosted from all the highway driving the previous owner did. I taped them off, used 1500, then 2500 with a car soap and water spritzer, then plastX with a wool pad on a drill attachment (meg's headlight kit). Took about 15 minutes for each light and afterwards I could see the bulb again. The lights are much brighter too.
don't worry about least aggressive method first. That is for clearcoat. You can't take off that much plastic by wetsanding, no matter how hard you rub.
don't worry about least aggressive method first. That is for clearcoat. You can't take off that much plastic by wetsanding, no matter how hard you rub.
05-07-11, 06:29 PM
#11
I've done this to my Max and a friends Civic with good results. It all depends upon how bad your lights are and what you expect. Since it is a no cost option you have nothing to lose. I saw it first on "Two Guys Garage".
05-07-11, 11:21 PM
#12
plastx works but it takes a long time. If you have hazing, then wetsanding is the way to go. My fogs were basically frosted from all the highway driving the previous owner did. I taped them off, used 1500, then 2500 with a car soap and water spritzer, then plastX with a wool pad on a drill attachment (meg's headlight kit). Took about 15 minutes for each light and afterwards I could see the bulb again. The lights are much brighter too.
don't worry about least aggressive method first. That is for clearcoat. You can't take off that much plastic by wetsanding, no matter how hard you rub.
don't worry about least aggressive method first. That is for clearcoat. You can't take off that much plastic by wetsanding, no matter how hard you rub.
05-08-11, 06:22 AM
#13
yes but if it's that old or sandblasted that you are needing to do this in the first place, that UV resistant coating is already long gone. You can also recoat (cquartz, spar varnish with mineral spirits, or lamin X) them afterwards...
05-08-11, 10:47 PM
#14
True, but I recommended my method as a starting point. Why would he have to do all those steps if its potentially as simple as taking a polish to it? Until we actually get feedback from the guy or pics, I'll stand by the least aggressive method first