Home

How to Clean and restore plastic headlights

Car headlight covered with tape and cloth for protection during maintenance.

In order to clean and restore your headlights, you will need the following materials: razor blades, tape, liquid rubbing compound, and a power polisher.

Tape the area surrounding the headlight. To remove the yellowing film, scrape it with a razor blade. This is an alternative to using sandpaper: sandpaper will take much longer. Scrape it until yellow flakes stop coming off. When white flakes alone are coming off, you are done with this step. It may take approximately 7 minutes per headlight.

Rub liquid polishing compound on the headlight. You might want to place a tarp on the rest of your car, to protect it from splatter. Next, use your power polisher. Polish it until it is clear and shiny.

Apple's iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 updates are packed with new features, and you can try them before almost everyone else. First, check Gadget Hacks' list of supported iPhone and iPad models, then follow the step-by-step guide to install the iOS/iPadOS 26 beta — no paid developer account required.