Cleaning Light Lenses

bluesuedetruck · #1 (**permalink**) 02-28-2006, 04:47 PM

Can you clean up plastic light lenses? Mine are "frosted" by age and I wonder if it's easy to clean them or should I buy new ones? Thanks

tjc transport · #2 (**permalink**) 02-28-2006, 08:02 PM

i use 3M imperial hand glaze. it is a polishing compound used in the auto body industry as a finish rub after buffing to get swirl marks out. it has a very fine abrasive in it, and will make a cloudy milky lens clear again. a coat of wax, and it is good for about 1 year. after seeing how good it worked on the light bar lenses, i started using it on the headlights 2 years ago.

bigwobbely · #3 (**permalink**) 03-04-2006, 07:15 PM

mcguires sells stuff just 4 that, at the parts store i worked at it was by the head lights!!

bigdaddyII · #4 (**permalink**) 03-05-2006, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigwobbely

mcguires sells stuff just 4 that, at the parts store i worked at it was by the head lights!!

That stuff is called Plast-X. It costs about $5.00 a bottle, I bought one the other day for my truck, if you take a look in my gallery you can see how bad my headlights were. The Plast-X cleaned them up a lot, not a clear as new but I didnt expect that anyway, I just wanted them cleaned up enough so that I could see and I was surprised at the results. I will try and get another gallery pic up to compare.

Okay, went outside and got pics. up:
Before
After shot #1
After shot #2
This is the stuff.

I could probably get them a little better, but this is the result of only 10 minutes of work. I did take TJCs advise and wax them after though.

newtuner · #5 (**permalink**) 03-05-2006, 03:34 PM

i have heard tooth paste works to to clear up lenses. doesn't hurt to try.

bluesuedetruck · #6 (**permalink**) 03-05-2006, 04:58 PM

BIGDADDYII...thanks for the links on the clean up I'll look for the stuff. Thanks to the rest of you guys for your opinions.

newtuner · #7 (**permalink**) 03-05-2006, 05:00 PM

What not a fan of smearing tooth paste all over your ride? ha ha

bigdaddyII · #8 (**permalink**) 03-06-2006, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newtuner

What not a fan of smearing tooth paste all over your ride? ha ha

Next time the problem arises I will try toothpaste and try to keep all the chicks from trying to kiss my truck with its minty fresh breath.

Dutch1134 · #9 (**permalink**) 03-09-2006, 01:11 PM

If you guys want to solve the "cloudy lens" issue over the long term, try Xpel.com. They sell 3M headlight film that covers the original lens and is warrantied for 5 years. I had the same problem as you but after cleaning them, had the local Xpel dealer install the covers. Made the lights look like new. Cost was 35 bones for the cleaning, then another 65 for the covers and installation. Found this while looking to protect the paint on my wife's caddy last year. 10K miles on the car and not a mark on the paint.