The household items you can use to defog your headlights

Dim headlights are not only annoying but they can also be incredibly dangerous for night-time driving. And although defogging your car’s lights is probably one of those tedious jobs that you just keep putting off, doing it yourself actually isn’t as hard as you might think!

In fact, with a just a few easy household ingredients, you could be driving around with brighter headlights and a fresher looking car in no time at all. And if the method sounds a bit unusual, when you see the incredible before and after photos, you won’t need anymore convincing!

Toothpaste

Recently, one Australian woman went viral after using a combination of toothpaste and baking powder to clean her headlights. According to the Daily Mail, she turned the mixture into a paste and rubbed it thoroughly on her headlights before rinsing it off for a sparkling new look.

The woman said that she first used a paper towel to apply the mixture over the entire headlight before using her fingers to rub it in further. The mild abrasive in the toothpaste is used to buff out the surface for a smoother feel and a cleaner look.

Bug spray

Other people have suggested that bug spray with DEET also works. Simply spray it on a cloth (not directly on the headlights as it will damage your car’s paintwork) and rub it on the cloudy headlights to remove some of the dirt and UV-damaged plastic from the surface. The only downside however is that it might need to be redone a few months down the track as it is not guaranteed to be long lasting.

WD40

This household must-have is one of those products that really can be used in every corner of the home, including the car. Simply wash the headlights with soap and water, shake up the can of WD40 and spray onto the whole headlight. Wipe it off with a clean rag and enjoy the fresh new light!

Vinegar

This is one of the cheaper options but it’s a bit more labour-intensive considering you have to remove the headlight if you want it done right. First, you fill a bucket with vinegar, remove the plastic headlight cover and then leave it in the bucket for at least an hour to get optimum results.

Go professional

If all else fails and you still can’t achieve that brand-new look and feel when doing it yourself, then it might be worth dropping into your local body shop or detailer to have your lights professionally restored. This involves sanding or polishing the lights to remove the surface plastic and scratches.

You can also buy a DIY headlight cleaning kit that comes in a variety of prices and levels of quality. While it’s considered the most effective at-home solution to cloudy headlights, it takes some time and is probably better suited for someone with experience in using tools.