Topic: Cheap way to clean foggy plastic headlights

[74cb750]

Hi All,
 a friend of mine showed me this:

Just take a rag, soak it with brake cleaner and whip on the headlight plastic.
My lights came out better than when I used the expensive sandpaper and buffer kit.

huh, I guess when you're a mechanic for 35 years you learn a few things.

peace,
michel

anyone else try this?
I know some fairings have the cheap clear plastic if front of the headlight. Wonder if it does any damage.

[Gordon]

I've always used automotive finish polish.  It does basically the same thing as wet-sanding but removes less material and leaves a very smooth finish.  I've used it on countless plastic car headlight covers and a few clouded motorcycle fairings and helmet visors with very good results.  I've never tried brake cleaner, but if it works by dissolving the top layer of plastic it might also be weakening the remaining plastic, too.   

[brooze72]

Yea I would worry about what it does to the plastic.  You know what that stuff does to paint..!

[Magpie]

I used Blue Magic metal polish and a Mother's mini Powerball in my drill on a Jeep Grand Cherokee's headlights and they came out fine. I think you may have to careful about generating too much heat though. Cliff.

[nancy]

Got advice on this today by coincidence from a customer of mine who is a mirror manufacturer. He was looking at my bike (Triumph Sprint) parked in his shop yard and I have a plastic headlight guard over the glass..he said - to clean this, use SILVO..not BRASSO......SILVO. Industry trick so he reckons for cleaning plastic without scratching..

[demon78]

Yeah less abrasive in Silvo and finer grit, when it was time to polish our brass, start off with Brasso and final with Silvo.
Bill the demon.

[nccb]

baking powder and toothpaste

[BobbyR]

I truly dislike plastic headlights. Cheap crap in my opinion. Great tip!  Thanks