How to restore Headlights | DIY Headlight Restoration

On Todays episode we set out to restore our headlights. We tried many of the hacks including a restore kit!
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00:00 - Opening
00:03 - Video intro
00:19 - Channel Intro
00:25 - Dividing our test samples
00:48 - 1st Test Gojo
01:59 - 2nd Test Baking Soda
03:13 - 3rd Test Comet/Ajax
04:26 - 4th Test Brake Fluid
06:44 - 5th Test Headlight Restore Kit
07:11 - Using Healdlight Kit
07:20 - interior storage space
07:56 - Restoring Both Headlights
09:26 - Teaser Shot
09:30 - Restoring Foglights too!
09:52 - Reinstalling finished headlights
10:04 - finished results
10:36 - Outro

[@alanberry5091]

I've used glass top oven cleaner, works pretty good.

[@markb9051]

I've tried aluminum polish and it works very good. I also tried 3M's kit and I would say it did even better. You need to coat it with a UV protector whatever you do.

[@skaizun]

Clear spray paint with UV added works, too.

[@im2yys4u81]

@@skaizun Meguiar's makes an excellent sealer. I use CeraKote kits that include everything you need. A lot cheaper than Meguiar's as well.

[@laurencemartin2797]

Wow! Thx!

[@Jaydizzle870]

I use Meguiar's Mag Cleaner: Cheap, fast & excellent!!!

[@billmadle1235]

Great video I enjoyed watching your testing

[@robertgums4496]

Regular rubbing compound works well.

[@skaizun]

The key is to keep it moist while working with it. I keep a spray bottle of water and squirt the lens surface every 10 seconds or so.

[@chartmann43]

What’s rubbing compound?

[@hankfollman3149]

I used toothpaste...with a wet sponge. But i let it sit for bout a half hour too. Then just rinse it off with water. It accually works good.

[@dengoodburn5394]

Would have using Power Tools with the other products caused better Results????

[@brunswickflyer]

I use micro-mesh. It has several grades of grit sanding cloth. Start at whatever grit is suitable. I then use the cream lotion that comes with the kit. Perfect every time. I do airplane windows.

[@jmonte5899]

I just use a clean rag and Off bug spray. It gets really sticky if you let it dry, so have some water ready, too. I only do them once or twice a year.

[@patrickbodine1300]

Maybe 5 minutes per lens.

[@georgeschnecker5338]

I came up with mild dish soap in a small spray bottle spray on light spray a napkin put some ciggarette ash on it buff lightly .

[@rodepperson5885]

Rubbng compound will do the trick

[@BradleyRankin]

What can of bugs spray is it??

[@wyomingsky]

Toothpaste on a wet sponge works very easily. It has titanium dioxide in it to polish your teeth and works well and easily on headlamps. Real difficult

[@skaizun]

Not all toothpastes have the same ingredients. A simple, white, toothpaste has baking soda, which, per the vid, didn't do so great.

[@georgefirman3187]

Depending on how bad it is. coarse to find wet paper send the hell out of it. Buy sealer seal it afterwards.

[@skaizun]

That was a lot of effort! I wish you had shown the lights on, before and after.

[@CrookedMustache]

@skaizun I misread your comment at first and then I realized what you meant, for the next one a lights on 💡 before and after is exactly what we’ll do. Cause it’s not just cosmetically that they look better but when they are clouded over the light output is pitiful!

[@thomasstorelli470]

The best way by far wet sand headlights 2000 grit sandpaper spray clear coat on them

[@im2yys4u81]

CeraKote runs circles around Mother's and can be bought at WalMart for $16-$17.00

[@rudly]

how often does clean headlight last?

[@skaizun]

My sister used a pro kit, and it lasted about 6 months. I used a 1,000 grit sandpaper very gently by hand to remove the surface delaminations, then Soft Scrub with a buffing pad drill bit, and sprayed water every 10 seconds or so to keep it moist, adding a little bit of Soft Scrub as needed. I went through half a bottle of SS for one lens, and it did a great job, but, lasted only 3 months, which is fine, because I only needed it to pass annual inspection! BTW, most inspectors don't care about the lens, as long as they can see the light at the end of their bay! (they have devices to test the brightness, but, the vast majority won't bother with that)

[@jimjersey2345]

The question is... How long does it last ???

[@ClaymateDesigner]

Anyone considered finishing with a coat of clear varnish ?

[@skaizun]

Varnish will disintegrate over a very short period of time. Clear coat spray paint with UV is the better way to go; not indestructible, of course, but, it won't leave a mess or discolor as it ages/erodes.

[@justincase1575]

You need to uv coat it.

[@HoosierRooster]

Ceracote is the best

[@patrickbodine1300]

I just use Off bug spray. Spray it on a rag, rub the lens. It works. I know it works. You are welcome.

[@WhyKnot-lr1kk]

Rubbing compound works. Put it on a little sick, lotta dry totally. Then scrub off. Nothing will make them look like new but this works pretty well.

[@edgarvelez6302]

In my garage where I don't see it can you find it for me

[@dalehood1846]

@edgarvelez,. It's on the back shelf on the right side, near the bottom, behind some stuff.

[@Alvc4go]

None of these last more than 6months, and you can do it again.

[@CrookedMustache]

Sadly correct, once the initial layers of clear on the headlight begin to break down it’s a repetitive cycle until you completely refinish the headlights to include a layer of clear coat

[@ikarooz]

"I'm not gonna lie." OK, let us know when you are.

[@sunilphalakdhari3869]

Definitely NO brakefluid. Mothers are amazing products, no contest. But to be fair, all the other methods did not get the full treatment as the retail product got, polisher, etc. So not a very compatible fair test

[@davea5150]

ACETONE WORKS GREAT!! PUT IT ON AND LET IT SIT FOR AN HOUR. THEN RINSE WITH GASOLINE.

[@skaizun]

Most lenses are plastic or acrylic. Acetone dissolves them. Really bad idea, never mind the gasoline.

[@user-fg8ee5pg4v]

Head light resto with uncle rob lol

[@CrookedMustache]

I have heard of Acetone vapor, like what they do to smooth out the surfaces of 3D printing models….idea 💡

[@reelmodzz1709]

Who was getting chased by the cops. You can hear the sirens in the background 🤦🏻🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 should have edit that. 👮‍♂️ 🚨

[@donwest5387]

tooth paste, plastic polish

[@SiervaDeDiosyBendecida7]

Why doing hands

[@beatrixbrennan1545]

Scotty Kilmer told me not to bother with kits. Unnecessary.

[@eastsideclassicgaragemarin5256]

Imagine mixing all cleaners together??

[@skaizun]

NEVER do such!!! There is no telling what the chemical reactions can do to the surface or you, for that matter!

[@dalehood1846]

Correct! Just asking for trouble.

[@eastsideclassicgaragemarin5256]

Actually the 3 products I used worked perfectly. HiGrit rubbing compound my Craftsman sander/buffer, and rattle can Acrilic enamel clear coat

[@edmooi]

What is Gojo, did not even say what it is for ? Nobody use this ! Not found in the market !!!

[@CrookedMustache]

Gojo is an abrasive hand cleaner, it’s for oil and grease, typically used by mechanics. Here it was a stand in toothpaste which is another “home remedy” headlight cleaner

[@hippieJOSH420]

You must never do your own mechanical work

[@user-gm5xj6ne2k]

It's in a auto parts store

[@user-mm1se7gy7e]

You don't clean your hands ?

[@vancepozon7894]

WD40 is the fastest way, but will not last long.

[@skaizun]

It can leave a residue, which will be difficult to remove. Also, it works only a the top surface layer, so, you'd have to work very hard to get it to do anything like lens restoration. Not advisable.

[@DennyShannon-ow1ui]

Nothing works ALL HYPE SAVE YOUR MONEY

[@user-mm1se7gy7e]

Wrong , the 3M works pretty damn good , I've done several , unless the headlights are oxidized on the inside of the lens , then nothing works .

[@BradleyRankin]

What can of bugs spray is it??

[@dalehood1846]

Forget the bug spray. It will lighten it a little, then clouds OVER AGAIN!

[@BradleyRankin]

What can of bugs spray is it??

[@patrickbodine1300]

Off.