cleaning headlights lenses

whats the best thing for cleaning up headlight lenses that have a good amount of gruff on them?

and here's a question to the mods, do you think a maintenance/cleaning section would be good? just a suggestion

For just dust and stuff, mine seem to get cleaned up nice when I wash my car. If it's that built up scum and oxidation, I've heard that you can wet sand them (really really really carefully I presume) to bring back the "spankin' new" shine and clarity. Also, Meguiar's makes a special plastic lense cleaner that is meant to polish out dullness and tiny scratches (it's a pretty much a toned down polishing compound from what I gathered). There's info about it on the Meguiar's site.

[quote=firelizard ]
For just dust and stuff, mine seem to get cleaned up nice when I wash my car. If it's that built up scum and oxidation, I've heard that you can wet sand them (really really really carefully I presume) to bring back the "spankin' new" shine and clarity. Also, Meguiar's makes a special plastic lense cleaner that is meant to polish out dullness and tiny scratches (it's a pretty much a toned down polishing compound from what I gathered). There's info about it on the Meguiar's site.
[/quote]

thanks dude! ill try that!

use meguires scratch X remover, and a polishing tool, after you clean it off. works great!

I will suggest it.

also conquered use the meguires scratch X works wonders 

also try umm this cleaner by Plexus Plastic Cleaner 

works wonders [url]http://www.properautocare.com/plexus.html[/url]

that Plexus Plastic Cleaner looks great. any downside of using it?

uhh lol the smell isnt too consumer friendly i tend to not smell it alot...

its got a rubber type smell to it i dunno but other then that its pretty 

darn good i must say the website doesnt deflate facts i was impressed

Use Metal Polish ... trust me

where can i get that plexus stuff?
K-mart?

for really bad lights i wet sand and buff like its a paint job

we now have a section called "Exterior" so i'll just move this thread there. Maybe you'll get more help there. :)

hehe. duh. thanks!

i usually use the meguires plastix cleaner and polisher, advanced and places like that sell it in a small squeeze "bag"/"pouch"

Meguires Cleaner and Black Magic Seem to do the trick, if you want to go further then a regular wash
of your car. I also recommend wet sanding and buff that works to as stated above.

Wet sand carefully with 2000 grit and then polish with Meguiar's Scratch-X and buff off. Works like a charm.

I have not used this kit personally but I hear that this kit works better than regular buffing compounds. Especially if the buffing compound is meant for metals.

[url]http://www.eastwood.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1&itemID=11167&keyword=52286[/url]

If you do use it, please let us know how it works.

There is also a kit for scratch removal from glass.

[url]http://www.eastwood.com/shopping/search/searchresultsmain.jsp?fresh=1&searchType=advanced&iMainCat=0&iSubCat=0&attribute14=0&attribute15=0&attribute16=0&RS=1&keyword=40030[/url]

[quote=DORIMON ]
Wet sand carefully with 2000 grit and then polish with Meguiar's Scratch-X and buff off. Works like a charm.
[/quote]

I've have good results with this as well :).

[quote=TSF_PJ ]
I've have good results with this as well :).
[/quote]Hahahaha! You should know, you taught me this method, and it works. :) I was at Autozone yesterday and noticed that Meguiars makes a plastic polish recommended for headlight swirls, I wonder if using that would make any difference. 

[url]http://meguiars.com/rx/rxproduct_detail.cfm?parentURL=../rx/rx_main.asp&sku=G-123[/url]

Ok, I just used the Meguiars plastic polish and it does the job. I had a slight haze that no matter how many times I try, the Meguiars Scratch-X swirl remover couldn't get out, but the Meguiars Plast-X plastic polish did the job, so I say, wet sand carefully with 2000 grit and then polish with Meguiar's Plast-X and buff off. It works so good, I started polishing the tails, interior dash trim, and the gauge cluster. :)

[url]http://meguiars.com/rx/rxproduct_detail.cfm?parentURL=../rx/rx_main.asp&sku=G-123[/url]

my lights were bady damaged from UV rays, i had to sand with 600grit, then work it down to 1000, then 2000, then i finished with meguires plastic x. I talked to a body shop guy after i did it and he said the plastic x was a peice of crap, it might not last long, but if i used some real plastic polish and a buffer and buffed for a good half hour, they would last a long time. I never found out as i just bought new ones anyway. Just make sure u sand A LOT and polish A LOT it took me the better part of 3 hours.

[quote=lowdub ]
my lights were bady damaged from UV rays, i had to sand with 600grit, then work it down to 1000, then 2000, then i finished with meguires plastic x. I talked to a body shop guy after i did it and he said the plastic x was a peice of crap, it might not last long, but if i used some real plastic polish and a buffer and buffed for a good half hour, they would last a long time. I never found out as i just bought new ones anyway. Just make sure u sand A LOT and polish A LOT it took me the better part of 3 hours.
[/quote]Yea, I'm beginning to realize the Meguiar's plastic polish doesn't last too long, so I just wipe them down every now and then to refresh the clarity.

novus scratch remover/polisher, i believe you can buy it on ebay, its a 3 step process/3 bottles of stuff. works friggin awesome!

[quote=VIPete ]
Use Metal Polish ... trust me
[/quote]
really?!?!? what kind? i dont know if im using it wrong, but it seems like meguires "plastix" dont work

plastic x is for very fine scratches, whats left behind by wet sanding with 2000grit sand paper. Ive heard of using metal polish for the clear on faded carbon fiber hoods, never tried it on plastic though, i guess if its safe for clear coat you shouldnt have a problem with plastic.