Not everyone knows this secret! Mix Toothpaste with Vaselineš±Tips to make headlights shine like new, by Brain Inventor on YouTube. 2 min 59 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 59 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Wash the headlight with soapy water and dry it fully so grit and bugs do not scratch the plastic while you work.
Stick masking tape around the edges of the headlight so the paste and sanding do not touch the painted bodywork.
Mix a spoon of white toothpaste with a small blob of Vaseline in a bowl until you get a smooth paste.
Rub the paste over the whole lens with a cloth in small circles for a few minutes, then wipe it off.
Wet the lens with water and sand it with 800 grit paper, keeping the surface wet and moving in one direction.
Repeat with 1500 grit, then 2000 grit, sanding at right angles to the previous pass until the plastic looks even and milky.
Rinse away all the sanding slurry with clean water and dry the lens with a microfiber cloth.
Polish the lens with a thin coat of toothpaste or plastic polish and buff until it looks clear and glossy.
Peel off the tape and check the light output at night, adjusting the aim if the beam looks off.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep the sandpaper wet at all times, since dry sanding clogs the paper and can burn the plastic.
Do not use heat or a flame on the lens, as plastic headlights warp and crack easily.
Use plain white toothpaste, because gel types have no mild abrasive to cut the oxidation.
Seal the finished lens with a UV clear coat or wax, or it will yellow again within months.
Questions
Does toothpaste really clear yellow headlights?
The mild abrasive in white toothpaste can lift light oxidation, but badly yellowed lenses need wet sanding and polishing to look clear again.
Can I skip the sandpaper and just use the paste?
Yes, but expect only a small improvement. The paste works best as a polish after the oxidized layer has been sanded away.
How long does the result last?
Usually a few months to a year. A UV protective clear coat or regular waxing helps the clarity last longer.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
