How to wash and clean the headlight inside and out
Content
With prolonged use of the car, the headlights get dirty in the same way as any other part. Moreover, pollution can be not only external, remaining, for example, after a trip on the road, but also internal. If dust has got inside the headlight, it is likely that its housing is leaking. Perhaps when installing new lamps, you did not glue the glass firmly enough. And sometimes this happens even at the factory. Be that as it may, the optical device requires thorough cleaning from all sides, including the inside. Of course, the easiest way to do this is to completely disassemble the headlight. But if the headlight is initially one-piece, or you are afraid of damaging its insides, use our recommendations to wash and clean it without disassembling it.
Content
- 1 Materials and Tools
- 2 How to clean the headlight from the inside without disassembling
- 2.1 Video: why it is necessary to wash the headlights from the inside
- 2.2 Glass cleaning
- 2.2.1 Video: cleaning the headlight from the inside with magnets
- 2.3 Cleaning the reflector
- 3 Cleaning the headlight from the outside
- 3.1 Video: cleaning headlights from dirt
- 3.2 From yellowness and plaque
- 3.2.1 Video: how to clean plaque with toothpaste
- 3.3 From sealant, glue or varnish
- 3.3.1 Video: how to remove sealant with sunflower oil
Materials and Tools
In order to clean your headlights as much as possible from dust, water drops and dirt, both outside and inside, prepare the following set of tools:
- cleaning agent;
- Toothpaste;
- soft cloth made of microfiber or other fabric that does not leave fibers;
- household hair dryer.
- Screwdriver Set;
- insulating tape;
- adhesive tape;
- hard wire;
- two small magnets;
- fishing line;
- stationery knife and scissors.
It is worth dwelling in more detail on the headlight cleaner. Not every liquid is suitable for these purposes, especially when cleaning lenses and reflectors from the inside. There is an opinion that alcohol or vodka eliminates pollution best of all. It really is. However, alcohol can corrode the coating on the reflector and ruin the optics forever. Therefore, do not use heavy artillery. Distilled water with dishwashing detergent will clean the headlight a little slower, but no less qualitatively. Some people use a regular glass cleaner for this purpose.
Another interesting method is to use cosmetic micellar water to remove makeup. It is sold in all cosmetic stores. You should not choose an expensive option, most importantly, make sure that there is no alcohol in the composition.
To remove dirt, try using a makeup remover.
How to clean the headlight from the inside without disassembling
The headlight cleaning procedure will be much easier if you can remove the glass and disassemble them piece by piece. Unfortunately, on many modern car models, non-separable lenses are installed. But even they require cleaning from time to time.
headlights must be cleaned not only from the outside, but also from the inside
Over the years of operation, an impressive layer of dust and dirt accumulates on the optical elements. This negatively affects the quality of lighting: the headlights become dimmer and diffused.
Video: why it is necessary to wash the headlights from the inside
Glass cleaning
Even if you do not want to disassemble the headlights completely, you still have to dismantle them from the car. For different cars, this process will be different: in some cases, you need to remove the grille, in others, the bumper. Most likely, you yourself know how to properly remove the headlights from your car, but if not, take a look at the owner's manual.
- After you remove the headlight, you need to remove all low beam, high beam lamps, turn signals, dimensions from it.
- Pour a small amount of your chosen cleanser into the holes.
- Now you need to temporarily cover the holes with duct tape and shake it well. Usually after these manipulations, the liquid acquires a dirty yellow color. This means that you did not start cleaning in vain.
- Open the holes and drain the water.
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the water runs clear.
- If you poured a soapy solution inside the headlight, rinse it with clean distilled water at the end.
- Dry the headlight from the inside with a household hair dryer. Do not set the temperature too high, so as not to damage the optics. You must get rid of all small droplets.
- Make sure the headlight is completely dry inside and put the bulbs back in.
When working with halogen and xenon lamps, do not touch the bulb itself! Due to the high internal temperature, it will leave traces of grease from your fingers, even if your hands are perfectly clean. This will significantly reduce its service life. Try to hold the lamps only by the base. If this is not possible, wear medical gloves.
to wash dirt from the inside of the headlight, pour the cleaning solution into the housing and shake it
There is another unusual way to clean glass from the inside. It is not suitable for heavy soiling, but can help if you need to quickly remove a small stain.
You will need two small magnets which need to be wrapped in a soft cloth. Lightly moisten a cloth of one of the magnets with a cleaning agent, fasten it to a fishing line and place it into the headlight housing through the lamp hole. With the help of the second magnet, control the internal and clean the glass in the right places. When you are satisfied with the result, simply pull the line and remove the magnet from the case.
Video: cleaning the headlight from the inside with magnets
Cleaning the reflector
The reflector inside the headlight collects the light from the lamp into a single beam. Constant exposure to a light source may cause it to become cloudy. If you notice that the light has become dimmer and diffused, the problem may be caused by the reflector.
To clean this part from the inside without completely disassembling the headlight, use the following method.
- Remove the car headlight.
- Remove the high and low beam bulbs.
- Take a strong piece of wire about 15 cm long and wrap it up to the middle with electrical tape or tape.
- Wrap a soft, lint-free cloth over the electrical tape.
- Lightly dampen the cloth with glass cleaner.
- Bend the wire so that it can reach the reflector through the lamp hole.
- Gently clean the reflector with a cloth. Do not make sudden movements and do not apply force! In case of improper exposure, the protective layer on the parts may peel off.
- If, after finishing work, there are drops of moisture on the reflector, dry them with a regular hair dryer.
- Replace the lamps and install the headlight on the car
using such a device, you can clean the reflector through the hole for the lamp
Never use alcohol to clean the reflector! Under its influence, the reflector will delaminate, and you will have to purchase a new optical system.
Cleaning the headlight from the outside
Many drivers, when washing their car on their own, forget to pay due attention to the headlights. However, their cleanliness is much more important than the cleanliness of the bumper or car door, because safety depends on the quality of lighting.
Video: cleaning headlights from dirt
From yellowness and plaque
Sometimes an ugly yellow coating forms on the outside of the headlights. It not only spoils the appearance of the car, but also makes the headlights dim.
regular toothpaste will help remove yellow plaque from the surface of the headlight
Today, the automotive cosmetics market has a large number of products designed to combat this plaque. However, the most effective of them you already have at home is ordinary toothpaste. After all, if the tool is able to remove plaque from the teeth and not corrode them, then it will cope with plastic just as well.
apply a small amount of paste on the headlight and polish it
To clean the headlight with it, apply a small amount of paste to a towel or toothbrush, and then buff the yellowed area in a circular motion. When finished, rinse the headlight and evaluate the result. If the plaque is very strong, repeat the procedure.
after polishing with toothpaste, plaque disappears
Video: how to clean plaque with toothpaste
From sealant, glue or varnish
After inaccurate sizing of the headlights, a small amount of sealant may remain on the plastic. It does not affect the operation of the device, but spoils the appearance of the car. To remove the sealant, it must first be softened.
But how exactly to soften it is a big question. The fact is that different compounds are removed using different substances. Unfortunately, you hardly know what type of sealant was used at the factory. In this case, you will have to try all these means one by one.
Very often, the remains of the substance can be dissolved with ordinary vinegar. If vinegar doesn't work, try White Spirit. In some cases, treatment with gasoline, alcohol, oil, and even very hot water helps.
If none of the products gives the desired effect, heat the contaminated area with a regular hair dryer. Under the influence of heat, the sealant will become a little softer, which means it will be easier to move away.
In some cases, the headlight can be cleaned with a special silicone remover. You can buy it in almost any store with automotive cosmetics. However, this tool is not universal and is suitable, as you might guess, for silicone formulations.
When you manage to soften the sealant, take a straight screwdriver and wrap it with a cloth soaked in the softening compound. Centimeter by centimeter clean the desired area. Then wipe the headlight with a clean cloth and enjoy its appearance.
Video: how to remove sealant with sunflower oil
Use WD-40 to remove any glue or varnish from the headlight. Most likely it will be able to solve your problem. Acetone-free nail polish remover is also suitable for removing glue.
Don't use acetone if your headlights are made of plastic! It will corrode the outer layer, and only polishing the headlights in specialized salons can help you.
Skillful hands can remove any dirt, up to bitumen residues. The main thing, when cleaning the headlights with your own hands inside and out, is to follow the basic rules: do not use alcohol for the reflector and acetone for plastic. If you have tried all means, and the pollution still remains, try contacting a car repair shop with this problem. Experienced specialists will do all the work, and at the same time they will suggest an effective cleansing method that you can successfully use in the future on your own.
