I actually tried this today. I am quiet satisfied with the results. Sure, there are some dirt within the headlight, but overall, it did the job, and visibility has definitely increased.
I used this cleaning method on my 2004 Toyota Camry recently. Although the car has lived in the garage since it was new, there still was some headlight cloudiness that the toothpaste method removed, and now the headlight covers are clear as new. Greetings from Dallas, TX, USA!
Use Meguiar's Keep Clear Headlight Coating after this to prevent the yellow from returning. Clear cote will always flake off of plastic because its not designed for plastic.
Thanks for sharing your video on cleaning the headlights because I just replacement cover for him but there's too much involved in replacing them I am going to give it a try because I do have a hard time seeing at night when I drive
I use Mother's aluminum polish / cream. Works better than anything. You'll need two soft cloth towels. One for application and another for polishing. I can clean my headlight plastics in 10 minutes to a clear plastic look. Last a couple months
I’ll have to try this again on my 2007 Honda Fit. I did it last summer but it didn’t make much difference because I gave up when my arms got tired. In a pinch I’ve wiped on a little bit of wd40 if I’m going to do any night driving but that helps very little and very temporarily. This is why I’m a subscriber. Thanks for posting this!
OwnedByACatNamedC.C. I need to amend my comment. It appears that WD40 is a viable temporary fix for foggy headlights. It doesn’t melt the plastic like bug spray does. Sorry I mislead you.
to replace even a turn signal bulb on my cts you have to remove the fender inner liner, front bumper and grille and then take the lights out of the car. it is atrocious.
A few years back, when headlights were made with glass lenses, one did not have to spend elbow grease and about an hour of time on a weekend buffing plastic lenses. The auto industry is pretty extravagant with my leisure time and elbow grease! if I were buying a new car, I would try to find one with headlights that did not waste my leisure time and elbow grease!
Your method really does work great , didn't have wax so I used WD 40 to fill in .. I buffed it off like wax then applied a second spray, still looks great ... Thank you!!! 👍👍
Thanks my man! Just what I was looking for! Much easier, cheaper, and quicker than spending the whole day with expensive cleaners, sand paper, sanders, etc! I don't have the time, money, or patience for a big project like that! This is much better. Thanks again! 🫡 😀👍
I have a 2007 Chevy Malibu on which I will use this headlight cleaning method. If I can pull it off, I will give before/after shots to let you see results. Thanks for posting. This is very timely.
I’ve been skeptical about this for years but I finally tried it for the first time and this actually works great!! Obviously it does not make it look brand new, but you can definitely see the the difference. It is definitely worth a try if you have not yet!
Works, but only mildly. And you still need to reseal with good anti glazing clear coat to make results last. Toothpaste is a very mild abrasive and won’t work on badly glazed plastic.
@Cerebro Brother you want a U.V. Resistant clear. They make them but many auto parts don’t carry. Go on line and find. It will still yellow in time, just like the original clear did. Even waxing won’t stop the slow deterioration due to environment.
Bloody (damm) great, no, Fantastic outcome! A car wash joint in my town charges $50.00! This method didn’t cost me a Penney! Because I had everything on hand! Thanks.
And, the chance of your headlights getting cavities, is reduced dramatically. I once purchased two different toothpastes that I did not realize were manufactured by the same company. On the sides of the packages, one said "CAVITY PROTECTION", and the other said "FIGHTS CAVITIES". So I thought that was kind of weird.
I've done the wd40, headlight restoration products, Turtlewax Colorback, and toothpaste. As youve stated they're all only temporary fixes as that the clear coating and UV protection has all deteriorated. But, toothpaste is safer on your automotive paint than other products.
@@TightWadDIY thanks. I use the Xpel PPF, said to be the best on the market with 10 years of warranty. I didn't put it over the paint tho, since I already got the dealer's ceramic coating and 6 years paint warranty
As someone who restored headlights professionally this is a stop gap temporary fix. Headlights have a UV coating to protect them from oxidation, to truly restore them you have to sand the plastic pretty hard with a 800/1000 grit wet dry sandpaper, working up to 2000 grit or better. Then you can seal them with a spray on UV coat or Wipe New.
Yep... Just bought my wife an 02 camry mint condition except for the valve cover and those hazy headlights lol. Chris fixit agrees with you. The toothpaste deal is good but the dude said there no permanent fix. Chris fix it used sand paper and clear coat spray with UV protection. All these methods will clean but the deal is how long will it last. ruclips.net/video/UEJbKLZ7RmM/видео.html😊
That was really good thanks. Another trick for removing sun screen around door handles is Brasso Not sure you have that in the USA but its for brass and silver cleaning. My friend who valets cars was impressed because he had tried everything and this was the one that worked. We use it also to polish perspex.
Does this actually work, just recently got a new car and it has some sun screen finger prints on the metal as well as the black plastic strip on the vertical side of the door above the handle and its annoying me
I just did this and it worked quite well. I was out of elbow grease so I put a foam buffing pad from a previous headlight kit, in my drill and buffed it on medium speed. I also had Crest with scope and the headlight smelled minty fresh after the buffing.
Wow! That is amazing! We live in the country, so you can kinda guess what kinds of things hit our lights. But, I'm going to give this a try. I have Crest Prohealth ADVANCED Deep Clean Mint. That should work.👍 TU.😊
So I used Cif which worked amazingly. Then my mate, who has an alloy referb business, sprayed the clear alloy wheel protector over the lights so the UV doesn't make them fade again. Been 6 months and still no fading.
I discovered this for myself when thinking I needed a mild abrasive to clean my Ford Fiesta lamps…Toothpaste naturally springs to mind, but don’t use the smooth gel. You want the toothpaste with the gritty texture. A few minutes hand polishing is all you need and rinse with water. Done👍
@TightWadDIY Nice Results!!! I don't know if someone asked this in a previous comment but I don't want to go through 600+ comments, so I'll ask: What kind of cloth did you use when first applying the toothpaste and does it matter?
I just did my daughters headlights. I have tried the toothpaste method, on my own car, it did last a few days. I used sandpaper, 800 stroking side to side and then rinse, then up and down, then side to side with 1000 grit. Then scrubbed with the Barkeepers friend, it's like Comet bath scrub. Then waxed, and the drivers side looks great, but as I was trying to teach her, she did the passengers side, which ended up less yellow, but still foggy. I heard once you get them clear, WD-40 will help seal and keep them clear? Great video BTW!! THANK YOU! I may try again on her passenger side, toothpaste. My daughters car is a 2004 Sonata. Her headlights are very dim, she is scared to drive at night. I drove her car at night and couldn't see well either. Scary! Trying to find the right headlight bulbs as well. Any ideas on that?
I don’t think WD40 will have any benefit. Just keep scrubbing with toothpaste until they are clear. They will stay clear for a couple months and you can repeat the process. To get the correct bulbs, go to an auto parts store. They will look them up for you.
If you have the funds, swap out factory headlamps for projector type headlamps instead, can use factory bulbs and it still focuses the beam better and magnifies it, worked awesome on my 06 f150...
I have a 2003 4 Runner bought in November 2002, almost 20 years old, so I used Colgate last time with no wax or water, it didn’t last long, I’ll try this method tomorrow with the TP, water & wax. I’ll let you guys know how it works….
If you use this method be prepared to do it every 2 months to keep them looking decent. You can get non oem replacement lamps at a pretty decent price.
WOW!!!! Thanks for the tip!! I went and bought the 2 small tubes of Crest and did this this evening on my wife’s 2011 Honda Pilot EX. One tube actually did both headlights that were really glazed. Got some shop towels and did the wax on wax off!! LOL Worked like a charm, looks new!! The only thing I didn’t have was some wax to put on. I will have to pick up some. Also, our map lights are out and I watched your video on that. There is my next project!! Again thanks for posting these videos. One question have you had an issue with the third seat latch not working?? The 1/4 seat is down and the latch will not release so I can raise the seat. Again thanks!! Juddie - J & J TOA
Yes, Hell and satan go together. That is where he is headed for eternity, and so will those who serve. Whether you believe it not doesn't make any difference.
The plastic fogs up due to UV in sunlight. It comes with a UV Filter which has worn off. Pastes you buy for this purpose clean the surface but also add the filter to protect it for a while.
@@TightWadDIY I got my headlights done by a franchise called "ultra-tune". They added the filter, which took a while to dry and was a bit sticky. Then I got another car and went to a car products shop, they had one product which was for mild problems and had the additive in it to protect after cleaning. They also had a two product solution for really bad headlights. It might depend on whether your car is garaged or spends a lot of time in the sun. If your car is garaged and you live in a cold area it may not need the additive. I'm in Australia and I notice a lot of older cars with this problem. Anyhow well done with the toothpaste!
@@rexcowan9209 I see what you mean now. Yes, the various clear coat materials can help dramatically. I thought you meant just the “polish” they sell. Most kits are simply a rubbing compound and a wax.
As an auto detailer I can honestly say this works BUT only for a few weeks. An it will make the headlights look worse… Best bet is to sand the headlights with 1500/2000 wet sandpaper then get rubbing compound an buff the headlights. After, wax the headlights with your favorite wax. This will make an keep the headlights looking great for more then an year. If you want to keep them looking newer for longer, ceramic coat the headlights after the wax an it will literally last you about 3 years before you have to repeat the process…💯🤓
I need to try this. I have one headlight that is awfully cloudy, and one that is nearly clear. I think there was a difference in the one they used as a replacement after a deer collision five years ago. Does it have to be Crest? lol, I have several other brands in the cabinets, and travel bags. They need to be used for something, since I don't brush my teeth anymore. Thanks for the vid.
The coating on the headlights wears off overtime causing the cloudiness. That would explain why the newer light still looks good. Any toothpaste will work but I prefer the non gel type.
Mothers aluminum polish! Wipe an even coat on headlights let it dry no taping necessary. Put a buffing whel on a drill unless you have a buffer. Buff lightly & uniformly in 2 directions up & down then side to side using outside edge of wheel which is moving faster dont apply anything more than light pressure & keep your movements uniform. Did it yesterday once dry I spent 5 minutes buffing? Like new. Acan is like 5 bucks. Ive used it 4 or 5 times & still have 1/2 a can. Its ok if you buff body paint next to headlights/tail lights it does no damage.
So what ab the cloths you used? What did you wipe the toothpaste on with? Applied toothpaste and used ...... to clean headlights? Any cloth or sponge? Microfiber? I guess u used those blue glass cleaning towels.
Man oh man I got the 5 dollar answer . Easier than any of the “professional” methods . It’s called “Mothers” mag and aluminum Polish. It’s micro-abrasive is extremely consistent in grit# perfect for this. I Polish clear helicopter bubbles n shields with this awesome product. You’ll be a believer after 30 seconds of using. Crystal Clear in 4 or 5 minutes by hand. Wow!!!
@@TightWadDIY i have just done it after , your thing is ok, but as you know its not the only way to clean it. I mean whats toothpaste made of ? i used warm soapy water along with vinegar to rub off somebodys useless attempt at tinting his windows, i had to rub off the bubble effect he made. so a good old steel wool worked. the vinegar is just for crispness and clean look not really sparkle
@@TightWadDIY we were never in disagreement, i was surprised when i used it, really the film that was on there needed to be taken off more carefully, as you know, i guess thats why u used toothpaste, of course im sure u know of using a very smooth piece of sandpaper that also works
9 out of 10 Dentists recommend brushing your headlights at least twice a month. Plus, you get the added benefit of Minty Fresh vision on the darkest of nights! In between brushings be sure to use Colgate Breath Strips or Hubba Bubba! 😂 Joke's aside, I've used this method many times, and it works fairly well! Thanks for sharing ✌️
All you do with toothpaste is clean out the dirt, not the actual problem, which is oxidation and carbon deposits baked into the lens. This video is utterly useless, as I described above.
I plan on trying this tomorrow on my Honda Element. I saw another video of someone who showed how well oven cleaner works. So the plan is to do the oven cleaner first & whatever is left over, hit with the tooth paste & it should be good as new & ready for some night shades.
@@TightWadDIY apparently it's not too bad. But as a precaution I bagged & taped off around the lights. Even though I have an element & it has plastic trim there. But overall I think it ended up making my light more foggy for whatever reason. So I would not recommend it.
@@wizzdumb2971 hopefully it didn’t melt your plastic. A lot of people say to use deet bug spray but I discourage that because it can cause permanent damage.
@@TightWadDIY I regret trying it. But I also planned to darken them all the way around with VHT nightshade anyway, so hopefully that helps a little with the look of it, once all is said & done.
For $20 you can get a meguiars headlight restoration kit from walmart. Made my headlights look like new and i have leftover product for more headlights (they recommend 2 coats and thats all i used). Been over 6 months and theyre still looking new. In the long run the $20 is the better deal, just saying...
I just spent 3 hours trying to get my headlights clean with some crap from the auto store. Didn't work worth a shit. Imma try this and hopefully it works.
@@TightWadDIY thank you very much I used it on my dad's car and my dad's headlight's are now strong and before I did the method my dad's car has only one light working and after I used the method both of my dad's headlight's starting work and they became stronger
I finally did this to one of my headlights. Toothpaste and Turtle 🐢 wax. Not perfect, I didn’t have as much elbow grease due one shoulder painful. Will do again. Didn’t do the other, it’s fairly new and not glazed. I drive rural roads and a large dog 🐕 committed suicide, so close and charging at the car, couldn’t miss it, broke that headlight. It ran off up a wooded hill, probably died. Had to order new headlight.
I actually tried this today. I am quiet satisfied with the results.
Sure, there are some dirt within the headlight, but overall, it did the job, and visibility has definitely increased.
Glad to hear it worked for you too!
Try mothers wheel mag in a red small tub.
@@shawnmyers1880 q😊😊a
I will try it
I am QUITE satisfied. There IS some dirt
I used this cleaning method on my 2004 Toyota Camry recently. Although the car has lived in the garage since it was new, there still was some headlight cloudiness that the toothpaste method removed, and now the headlight covers are clear as new. Greetings from Dallas, TX, USA!
That’s great! I’m glad it worked for you too.
Yyyyyyypy uh
I'm in Dallas tx go cowboys🤠 I'm gonna try it brother
@@westmanyoung2708 Okay! My headlight covers are still clear. Didn't follow up with the wax recommendation though; guess I should have. Peace ✌️!
We tried it on my Mustang. It lasted for about a week then back to being cloudy again
OMG. that was amazing
thanks. iam a senior widow and so tired of getting ripped off. i will be sure to do my owm headlites. thanks.
You’re welcome. Just keep rubbing until they come clean.
Why you getting rip off
Use Meguiar's Keep Clear Headlight Coating after this to prevent the yellow from returning. Clear cote will always flake off of plastic because its not designed for plastic.
Thanks for sharing your video on cleaning the headlights because I just replacement cover for him but there's too much involved in replacing them I am going to give it a try because I do have a hard time seeing at night when I drive
No problem 👍
This is real good for pedestrian safety too. Lots of folks get hit crossing roads thinking those dull headlights are far away.
It’s good for everyone!
Yes
WD 40 is CANCEROUS. Stinks like the exhaust muffler shops.
@@haroldreyes7549 do you know the main component of WD40?
👌👍
I use Mother's aluminum polish / cream. Works better than anything. You'll need two soft cloth towels. One for application and another for polishing. I can clean my headlight plastics in 10 minutes to a clear plastic look. Last a couple months
Nice! Same concept for sure.
I did this back when I had my 2005 MR2. It wasn't perfect, but it worked at least as good as those $50 restoration kits. I got 2 tubes at Dollar Tree
I agree!
Dollar tree lol. Thanks for the store i forgot about that
Iv known about this for years and great that it’s being put out there again
Nice!
I’m going to apply this method tomorrow. Quite excited. Thanks!
Did it work?
I’ll have to try this again on my 2007 Honda Fit. I did it last summer but it didn’t make much difference because I gave up when my arms got tired. In a pinch I’ve wiped on a little bit of wd40 if I’m going to do any night driving but that helps very little and very temporarily. This is why I’m a subscriber. Thanks for posting this!
OwnedByACatNamedC.C. I need to amend my comment. It appears that WD40 is a viable temporary fix for foggy headlights. It doesn’t melt the plastic like bug spray does. Sorry I mislead you.
TightWadDIY Will do - thanks again. I’ll put away the WD40!
If the yellowing is on the inside it cannot be cleaned unless you take off the lens which will than destroy the seal.
You saved me $270 and the hassle of removing the fender to replace the headlights. You rock!
You’re welcome!
to replace even a turn signal bulb on my cts you have to remove the fender inner liner, front bumper and grille and then take the lights out of the car. it is atrocious.
@@ADX4M Wow. That’s terrible!
A few years back, when headlights were made with glass lenses, one did not have to spend elbow grease and about an hour of time on a weekend buffing plastic lenses. The auto industry is pretty extravagant with my leisure time and elbow grease! if I were buying a new car, I would try to find one with headlights that did not waste my leisure time and elbow grease!
Good luck to find one
Your method really does work great , didn't have wax so I used WD 40 to fill in .. I buffed it off like wax then applied a second spray, still looks great ... Thank you!!! 👍👍
I’m glad yours look great too!
It will be back to be as foggy as before after you go to the car wash
@@Norita72cox Thank you for your reply, it did come back after 3 washes I sprayed WD-40 on it rubbed it in circles twice and it is all good again..👍
BINGO! that's exactly what I needed! Got toothpaste, no wax coating, but got wd 40 !! Aloha from Hawaii!
Me too, no wax, but i got wd 40😂Aloha from Palm Springs 😂@MK-su6eg
Thanks my man! Just what I was looking for! Much easier, cheaper, and quicker than spending the whole day with expensive cleaners, sand paper, sanders, etc! I don't have the time, money, or patience for a big project like that! This is much better. Thanks again! 🫡 😀👍
Exactly!
Thank you I'm an owner of a 99 Camry it did wonders for my fogged up headlight lenses
That’s great to hear!
I have a 2007 Chevy Malibu on which I will use this headlight cleaning method. If I can pull it off, I will give before/after shots to let you see results. Thanks for posting. This is very timely.
I have no doubts it will work!
I’ve been skeptical about this for years but I finally tried it for the first time and this actually works great!! Obviously it does not make it look brand new, but you can definitely see the the difference. It is definitely worth a try if you have not yet!
Yes! People doubt it but it works.
Works, but only mildly. And you still need to reseal with good anti glazing clear coat to make results last. Toothpaste is a very mild abrasive and won’t work on badly glazed plastic.
You need a clear coat no matter which method you use to clean them if you want it to last.
@@TightWadDIY What clear coat would you recommend, thanks?
@Cerebro Brother you want a U.V. Resistant clear. They make them but many auto parts don’t carry. Go on line and find. It will still yellow in time, just like the original clear did. Even waxing won’t stop the slow deterioration due to environment.
Just tried this on my 2013 Honda Civic.... WORKS great. Thx
That’s great to hear!
Bloody (damm) great, no, Fantastic outcome! A car wash joint in my town charges $50.00! This method didn’t cost me a Penney! Because I had everything on hand! Thanks.
Yes! It’s so easy!
Thank you for the information I'm going to use it I appreciate everything you went through this is perfect
My pleasure!
And, the chance of your headlights getting cavities, is reduced dramatically. I once purchased two different toothpastes that I did not realize were manufactured by the same company. On the sides of the packages, one said "CAVITY PROTECTION", and the other said "FIGHTS CAVITIES". So I thought that was kind of weird.
Interesting.
👀
Protection..is for existing cavities.....so use that first.... then to keep them looking good use the fights cavities 😂
I'm in Ghana and unable to get some here.
Lmao!!!Good one lol
Thanks very much. I need to know, we use any toothpaste or we have specific one?
Any toothpaste will work. I prefer the paste, not the gel though.
I've seen many different ways on RUclips how to restore headlights. Haven't tried any. But I do plan to try this way 👍👍
You should!
I've done the wd40, headlight restoration products, Turtlewax Colorback, and toothpaste. As youve stated they're all only temporary fixes as that the clear coating and UV protection has all deteriorated. But, toothpaste is safer on your automotive paint than other products.
Correct. I do this every few months. It’s worth it!
I put some clear paint protection film on our new car headlights. Will see how it goes.
@@dearbulls I’d love to know the results.
@@TightWadDIY thanks. I use the Xpel PPF, said to be the best on the market with 10 years of warranty. I didn't put it over the paint tho, since I already got the dealer's ceramic coating and 6 years paint warranty
@@TightWadDIY
İncelip, matlaşması için değer! 👌🤠
As someone who restored headlights professionally this is a stop gap temporary fix. Headlights have a UV coating to protect them from oxidation, to truly restore them you have to sand the plastic pretty hard with a 800/1000 grit wet dry sandpaper, working up to 2000 grit or better. Then you can seal them with a spray on UV coat or Wipe New.
Yep. This lasts a couple of months as mentioned.
Yep... Just bought my wife an 02 camry mint condition except for the valve cover and those hazy headlights lol.
Chris fixit agrees with you. The toothpaste deal is good but the dude said there no permanent fix. Chris fix it used sand paper and clear coat spray with UV protection. All these methods will clean but the deal is how long will it last.
ruclips.net/video/UEJbKLZ7RmM/видео.html😊
So could you do this method but just use uv spray at the end
Rather just do this every few months than have to sand them.
So you do a little more often not everyone can afford to have this done professionally I have been doing this for years no fading
That was really good thanks. Another trick for removing sun screen around door handles is Brasso
Not sure you have that in the USA but its for brass and silver cleaning. My friend who valets cars was impressed because he had tried everything and this was the one that worked. We use it also to polish perspex.
That’s a great idea!
The winos where I live used to drink that when they were hard up
Does this actually work, just recently got a new car and it has some sun screen finger prints on the metal as well as the black plastic strip on the vertical side of the door above the handle and its annoying me
@@lukecarter1978 yes luke do you have brasso its a very fine cutting compound and doesn’t scratch paint.
@@geofftaylor7541 I do mate, I'm from the UK and remember using it to get a badge in scouts lol. Thanks if it'll work on the plastic too ill get some
I just did this and it worked quite well. I was out of elbow grease so I put a foam buffing pad from a previous headlight kit, in my drill and buffed it on medium speed. I also had Crest with scope and the headlight smelled minty fresh after the buffing.
Nice! Did you taste it to see if it was fresh?
@@TightWadDIY ROFLMFAO
ROFLMFAO
Wow! That is amazing! We live in the country, so you can kinda guess what kinds of things hit our lights. But, I'm going to give this a try. I have Crest Prohealth ADVANCED Deep Clean Mint. That should work.👍 TU.😊
You’re welcome!
This worked well on a 2008 Transit. Some of the cloudiness is deep and will need a second go in time.
Glad it worked well for you!
So I used Cif which worked amazingly. Then my mate, who has an alloy referb business, sprayed the clear alloy wheel protector over the lights so the UV doesn't make them fade again. Been 6 months and still no fading.
That’s great!
Jif peanut butter? lmao really?
@@tjgrafiks lol. Sorry I'm meant Cif
Thanks alot I am from south africa and it worked I wish I had tried this earlier before wasting money on expensive products
That’s great!
I discovered this for myself when thinking I needed a mild abrasive to clean my Ford Fiesta lamps…Toothpaste naturally springs to mind, but don’t use the smooth gel. You want the toothpaste with the gritty texture. A few minutes hand polishing is all you need and rinse with water. Done👍
Yep!
What type of toothpaste pls?
@@ucheejiofor2145 Nongel
@@TightWadDIY 0:51 It doesn't really matter which kind?!
@@ucheejiofor2145 Whitening toothpaste.
very good explanation, I will do the same process for my car. Thank you
You are welcome
@TightWadDIY Nice Results!!! I don't know if someone asked this in a previous comment but I don't want to go through 600+ comments, so I'll ask: What kind of cloth did you use when first applying the toothpaste and does it matter?
It was just a regular wash rag. It doesn’t matter what you use.
@@TightWadDIY Thanks.
grea tjob, ! any type of tootle paste, extra cavity protection vs. extra whiteness? type
I just did my daughters headlights. I have tried the toothpaste method, on my own car, it did last a few days. I used sandpaper, 800 stroking side to side and then rinse, then up and down, then side to side with 1000 grit. Then scrubbed with the Barkeepers friend, it's like Comet bath scrub. Then waxed, and the drivers side looks great, but as I was trying to teach her, she did the passengers side, which ended up less yellow, but still foggy. I heard once you get them clear, WD-40 will help seal and keep them clear? Great video BTW!! THANK YOU! I may try again on her passenger side, toothpaste. My daughters car is a 2004 Sonata. Her headlights are very dim, she is scared to drive at night. I drove her car at night and couldn't see well either. Scary! Trying to find the right headlight bulbs as well. Any ideas on that?
I don’t think WD40 will have any benefit. Just keep scrubbing with toothpaste until they are clear. They will stay clear for a couple months and you can repeat the process. To get the correct bulbs, go to an auto parts store. They will look them up for you.
I just bought the brightest headlights pair cost without being led
If you have the funds, swap out factory headlamps for projector type headlamps instead, can use factory bulbs and it still focuses the beam better and magnifies it, worked awesome on my 06 f150...
I drive a 2011 Sonata and have problems w dim headlights too. My brights are like reg headlights so I use those instead.
Gotta try this today! Thank you so much. The only question is, can I use WD40 if I don’t have the thing you use after the toothpaste?
I have a 2003 4 Runner bought in November 2002, almost 20 years old, so I used Colgate last time with no wax or water, it didn’t last long, I’ll try this method tomorrow with the TP, water & wax. I’ll let you guys know how it works….
Nothing will keep them clear forever. It lasts a few months and you have to do it again.
wow that actaully worked great, I was just about to order plexus plastic spray cleaner too, you saved me $40 Thanks so much!
Thanks. It lasts a couple of months and you will need to do it again.
If you use this method be prepared to do it every 2 months to keep them looking decent. You can get non oem replacement lamps at a pretty decent price.
Yep. Just a few minutes every 3 months or so.
Does this work with just glass or the plastic types also?
Mine are plastic.
@@TightWadDIY ok. I got the stuff, I’ll try it tomorrow.
WOW!!!! Thanks for the tip!! I went and bought the 2 small tubes of Crest and did this this evening on my wife’s 2011 Honda Pilot EX. One tube actually did both headlights that were really glazed. Got some shop towels and did the wax on wax off!! LOL Worked like a charm, looks new!! The only thing I didn’t have was some wax to put on. I will have to pick up some. Also, our map lights are out and I watched your video on that. There is my next project!! Again thanks for posting these videos. One question have you had an issue with the third seat latch not working?? The 1/4 seat is down and the latch will not release so I can raise the seat. Again thanks!! Juddie - J & J TOA
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the videos. No, we haven’t had any trouble with the rear seat latches.
Can i use normal car body wax or there’s a special wax for headlamp
@Praise Jesus, Repent or Likewise Perish Hail Satan!! 👹🤘🤘
Yes, Hell and satan go together. That is where he is headed for eternity, and so will those who serve. Whether you believe it not doesn't make any difference.
@@Joeagbaje1 3:29 He says any type of car wax.
can i use it to clean the inside of my headlamp..too much oxidation inside aswell and some light scratches..?
You can try but it’s not easy to get to the inside.
Thankyou for this, I now have have the brightest, mintiest smelling car in the car park.
Nice! Better keep an eye out for those scandalous cars. I bet they will be checking yours out!
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How about putting a coat of clear coat on after you have cleaned the headlights would that help protect it?
@@TightWadDIY what do you need to look out for?
I wouldn’t because it will yellow and look bad.
Works great on scratches on dvds or CDs so doesn’t surprise me ! Always some good hacks
Interesting!
The plastic fogs up due to UV in sunlight. It comes with a UV Filter which has worn off. Pastes you buy for this purpose clean the surface but also add the filter to protect it for a while.
I don’t think the products they sell do anything for UV protection unless you are referring to some type of clear coat you add after the abrasive.
@@TightWadDIY I got my headlights done by a franchise called "ultra-tune". They added the filter, which took a while to dry and was a bit sticky. Then I got another car and went to a car products shop, they had one product which was for mild problems and had the additive in it to protect after cleaning. They also had a two product solution for really bad headlights. It might depend on whether your car is garaged or spends a lot of time in the sun. If your car is garaged and you live in a cold area it may not need the additive. I'm in Australia and I notice a lot of older cars with this problem. Anyhow well done with the toothpaste!
@@rexcowan9209 I see what you mean now. Yes, the various clear coat materials can help dramatically. I thought you meant just the “polish” they sell. Most kits are simply a rubbing compound and a wax.
Don't drive at night ! Problem solved 🙊😂
@@1gerard47 Except it would still look like crap.
Wow I have 2014 Honda crv.. im gonna try this for sure! Also replacing a headlight bulb i got this🙌🏻
Yes! You can do it!
Great information if its really bad do i have to take the head lights to the dentist.
Yes. You might have a cavity.
As an auto detailer I can honestly say this works BUT only for a few weeks.
An it will make the headlights look worse…
Best bet is to sand the headlights with 1500/2000 wet sandpaper then get rubbing compound an buff the headlights.
After, wax the headlights with your favorite wax. This will make an keep the headlights looking great for more then an year.
If you want to keep them looking newer for longer, ceramic coat the headlights after the wax an it will literally last you about 3 years before you have to repeat the process…💯🤓
Thanks.
👍 that’s what we did at the shop I used to work at
What do you mean by ceramic coat? Is it a spray......Paint. what form does it come in? Have you an example..
@@busdriver6278 it’s a spray, kinda of like a wax but just a little thicker…
Google it!!!!lol
I need to try this. I have one headlight that is awfully cloudy, and one that is nearly clear. I think there was a difference in the one they used as a replacement after a deer collision five years ago. Does it have to be Crest? lol, I have several other brands in the cabinets, and travel bags. They need to be used for something, since I don't brush my teeth anymore. Thanks for the vid.
The coating on the headlights wears off overtime causing the cloudiness. That would explain why the newer light still looks good. Any toothpaste will work but I prefer the non gel type.
That's because you ,have headlights troubleshooting
How long should I continue to rub the toothpaste on the headlight? I have a 2000 Honda Odessey
Mine usually take about 5 min. You can always do a second coat if needed.
Wow, I’m actually gonna try that. Thanks for the video my friend
You’re welcome!
Mothers aluminum polish! Wipe an even coat on headlights let it dry no taping necessary. Put a buffing whel on a drill unless you have a buffer. Buff lightly & uniformly in 2 directions up & down then side to side using outside edge of wheel which is moving faster dont apply anything more than light pressure & keep your movements uniform. Did it yesterday once dry I spent 5 minutes buffing? Like new. Acan is like 5 bucks. Ive used it 4 or 5 times & still have 1/2 a can. Its ok if you buff body paint next to headlights/tail lights it does no damage.
That works too! Same concept.
cleaning is fun when you actually have something you want to clean.
and this is a perfect example.
Exactly! I hope you get great results too!
I feel the same when I clean around the house. The end result gives a lot of satisfaction.😊
does the wax removes the scratches from the sandpaper? I know you never mentioned sand paper but I did it anyways.
It fills them in.
Excellent job! Fast and simple.
Thank you!
WOW! Amazing solution, wonder would it also work to gloss up a dull clear coat?
I wouldn’t use it on my paint. Polish and a buffer would be a better idea.
Worked great!
Inexpensive way to get the job done!
Definitely!
Can I use this technique on 2016 Corolla? It is plastic not glass?
I don’t know if any company uses glass now. These are plastic.
this method makes my headlight actually better than before.
That’s great!
So what ab the cloths you used? What did you wipe the toothpaste on with? Applied toothpaste and used ...... to clean headlights? Any cloth or sponge? Microfiber? I guess u used those blue glass cleaning towels.
I used just a regular dish cloth.
I will definitely give this a try and see what happens. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Great! Let me know how it goes!
Man oh man I got the 5 dollar answer . Easier than any of the “professional” methods . It’s called “Mothers” mag and aluminum Polish. It’s micro-abrasive is extremely consistent in grit# perfect for this. I Polish clear helicopter bubbles n shields with this awesome product. You’ll be a believer after 30 seconds of using. Crystal Clear in 4 or 5 minutes by hand. Wow!!!
@@tinypurplefishesrunlaughin8052 Good to know.
@@TightWadDIY You will be extremely happy with how well it works. Psssst take the label off if ya wanna be the wizard. HaHahahahaha
I just went inspection so it will pass ? Ty sharing
I’ll try this on my 2011 tundra, very cloudy headlights! Thanks for making and sharing this video!
Noladude504 You are welcome. I would love to hear how it goes. How do you like your Tundra?
TightWadDIY, I bought it new in 2011 and it’s been a great truck! No issues just routine maintenance, couldn’t be happier with it.
I just tried a lemon and baking soda with decent results, but I may go back over it with this to see if it does even more
The abrasiveness of the baking soda is what makes it work!
another trick is to use white vinegar and warm water actually for all type of windows, it also has the added bonus of no smear
I don’t think that will fix the micro scratches that are causing the cloudiness.
@@TightWadDIY i have just done it after , your thing is ok, but as you know its not the only way to clean it. I mean whats toothpaste made of ? i used warm soapy water along with vinegar to rub off somebodys useless attempt at tinting his windows, i had to rub off the bubble effect he made. so a good old steel wool worked. the vinegar is just for crispness and clean look not really sparkle
@@CoolCoyote I was saying you need some sort of abrasive so the steel wool took care of that. Toothpaste is a fine abrasive so that’s why it works.
@@TightWadDIY we were never in disagreement, i was surprised when i used it, really the film that was on there needed to be taken off more carefully, as you know, i guess thats why u used toothpaste, of course im sure u know of using a very smooth piece of sandpaper that also works
Vinegar will not work on oxidized plastic.
What can you do for the inner part of headlights? Is where the real problem is
You would have to take them apart, clean the inside, then reseal with a marine grade sealant.
Get a new vehicle … joking !
Incredible job. Thanks for the tips.
My pleasure!
Nice
I saw a guy just sand for 1 minute then use a krylon clear coat spray and it was almost 100 percent better. What is name of the clear wax u use?
Toothpaste worked pretty good. Used it on my Toyota and Nissan. Thanks for posting video. Will use it again.
Great! You will need to redo it every 3-4 months.
Works Excellent! I also put a coat of car wax after...
Good stuff!
9 out of 10 Dentists recommend brushing your headlights at least twice a month. Plus, you get the added benefit of Minty Fresh vision on the darkest of nights! In between brushings be sure to use Colgate Breath Strips or Hubba Bubba! 😂
Joke's aside, I've used this method many times, and it works fairly well!
Thanks for sharing ✌️
😂😂Hubba Bubba brought back some memories! I loved the Watermelon flavor!
@@TightWadDIY 😂😆 👍 😂😆
😂😂😂
Thank you so much darling. My infiniti looks like it has cataracts.
😂😂If it’s super bad and yellowed, this might not clean them completely.
It didn't work for me. the yellow came back on withing seconds
You need to scrub more!
@@TightWadDIY it worked for me thank you Very much
All you do with toothpaste is clean out the dirt, not the actual problem, which is oxidation and carbon deposits baked into the lens. This video is utterly useless, as I described above.
@@عائلةالمحبين That’s great to hear!
Is the wax a must?
No. It just prolongs it. Still not a permanent solution.
Great video TightWad! Do you think rubbing compound would also work?
It should do the trick. I’ve actually heard that adding ceramic coating made as a wax substitute prolongs the polished look.
Are you using a regular paper towel? Or is that sanding paper?
I use a wash rag.
Thanks! If only I'd known. I paid €60 to get mine cleaned after car failed it's road test!!
I plan on trying this tomorrow on my Honda Element. I saw another video of someone who showed how well oven cleaner works. So the plan is to do the oven cleaner first & whatever is left over, hit with the tooth paste & it should be good as new & ready for some night shades.
I’ve never tried oven cleaner but I imagine it won’t be good for your paint.
@@TightWadDIY apparently it's not too bad. But as a precaution I bagged & taped off around the lights. Even though I have an element & it has plastic trim there. But overall I think it ended up making my light more foggy for whatever reason. So I would not recommend it.
@@wizzdumb2971 hopefully it didn’t melt your plastic. A lot of people say to use deet bug spray but I discourage that because it can cause permanent damage.
@@TightWadDIY I regret trying it. But I also planned to darken them all the way around with VHT nightshade anyway, so hopefully that helps a little with the look of it, once all is said & done.
For $20 you can get a meguiars headlight restoration kit from walmart. Made my headlights look like new and i have leftover product for more headlights (they recommend 2 coats and thats all i used). Been over 6 months and theyre still looking new.
In the long run the $20 is the better deal, just saying...
What is the final coat?
I know it varies but how long did you scrub on the headlight approximately
I spend about 5 min per light.
Now that's something to smile about! 😁
Yes! Minty headlights are a must for a happy car!
I just want to know, it is coke and what is the other compound, or is it just plain heated water?
Huh? It’s just toothpaste and regular water from a garden hose.
Omg it looks so beautiful!!!😲
I hope yours look great too!
Why do they get cloudy on the inside?I think mine has some inside and Out. Will try this thanks
The inside gets cloudy because of moisture. Your seal has failed. That’s not easily fixed.
We used toothpaste in the Army to shine our brass, I used on my headlights and beautiful👍👍👍
Nice! Glad it worked for you!
Thanks for tip, amazing!
I just spent 3 hours trying to get my headlights clean with some crap from the auto store. Didn't work worth a shit. Imma try this and hopefully it works.
Let me know how it goes!
This only works for a few weeks and comes back. Same thing with wd40. Best way is to buff it out with compound and then polish.
Nothing is going to keep them looking clear long term. A clear coat may help but it’s not ideal either.
How is the long term on this? What is the duration before you have to do it again?
It lasts a few months. The only real option for long term is replacing the whole thing.
You do it every morning and before you go to bed at night
Love it, Thanks!
I used the method yesterday day and it worked!
You’re welcome!
That’s great! I’m glad it worked for you too!
@@TightWadDIY thank you very much I used it on my dad's car and my dad's headlight's are now strong and before I did the method my dad's car has only one light working and after I used the method both of my dad's headlight's starting work and they became stronger
@@TightWadDIY does toothpaste also fix --> not working headlight's 😂 it fixed my dad's headlight's!
I wonder if some clear tint would help it stay clear for months or years
I bet it would!
This looks like a great method and a cheap technique, just the way how I like. Since I brush my teeth every night, I know where the toothpaste is at
I’m glad you found it helpful!
Do you think a Mr clean magic eraser will work for the scrubbing ?
I bet it would. I’ve never tried it.
@@TightWadDIY I was waiting on your response before I tried it lol, thanks.
So nice 👍 It looks amazing. I’ll try this for sure 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Thanks! I’m confident you will be happy!
Hi what do u do when your engine light comes on?
Ah, remember when we had glass headlights.
My first car had screw in bulbs!
That’s just what I was going to say lol 😂
I finally did this to one of my headlights. Toothpaste and Turtle 🐢 wax. Not perfect, I didn’t have as much elbow grease due one shoulder painful. Will do again. Didn’t do the other, it’s fairly new and not glazed. I drive rural roads and a large dog 🐕 committed suicide, so close and charging at the car, couldn’t miss it, broke that headlight. It ran off up a wooded hill, probably died. Had to order new headlight.
@Praise Jesus, Repent or Likewise Perish lol are you still cheering on the end of the world?
So the one in the video is plastic, right?
How do you move your hand so fast.??... that's gotta be the key... mine didn't look too different....afterwards
Daily wax on wax off drills.