You know what happened to me last time at the roadworthiness test? They flunked my car for having “opaque headlights”! Well, they were dirty and yellowed because they hadn’t been cleaned for a long time. The technician told me that they had lost 30% of their illumination, which could be dangerous. As a result, I had to go in for a second inspection and, above all, I had to get my headlights back in good condition.

Check out these 3 grandma’s methods and tricks for cleaning opaque headlights from your car

  1. Clean your opaque headlights with toothpaste and a toothbrush

One of the best tricks for getting your headlights shiny again is to use toothpaste. It may sound a bit far-fetched, but toothpaste is highly effective on car headlights. Just choose a non-gel toothpaste that whitens if possible. Next, apply a small amount of toothpaste to a soft cloth. Wipe the headlight in circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry. A single coat of toothpaste should be enough to restore the headlight to its original condition. If not, repeat the process. If you wish, you can also take a swipe with a toothbrush directly over the headlight.

  1. Renovate your opaque headlights with baking soda and white vinegar

Another cleaning method renowned for its effectiveness is to use baking soda and white vinegar. This explosive cocktail easily replaces commercially available optical restorers. What’s more, these products are really inexpensive.

  • A bottle of white vinegar costs less than 1 dollar per quart.
  • Mix half a glass of bicarbonate of soda with 3 fl oz of white vinegar to form a paste.
  • Apply the paste to the surface of the lighthouse. Rub gently with a clean cloth or sponge.
  • Rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry. You’ll be amazed at the results: your car’s headlights are super shiny again.

  1. Clean opaque headlights with lemon

The acidity of lemon juice also works wonders on opaque headlights:

  • Squeeze a lemon to obtain its juice. Apply the lemon juice directly to the surface of the headlight.
  • Leave for at least 5 minutes. Rub gently with a clean cloth.
  • Rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry. Alternatively, cut a lemon in 2 and sprinkle baking soda over it.
  • Apply the lemon directly to the headlight, using circular movements. No more opaque headlights thanks to these natural tricks!

And there you have it; now you know how to renovate your opaque headlights with these grandmotherly tricks. They’re easy to use and, above all, inexpensive. Once you’ve used one of the 3 solutions above, you’re ready to hit the road again. I would remind you, however, that these tips only work if the opacity is not too pronounced. If the headlight components are too opaque, professional equipment and methods may be required.

Poor lighting can sometimes be due to a leaking or damaged headlight. In this case, cleaning your headlight is not the solution. You need to replace them completely! Why renovate opaque or yellowed headlights? Headlights play a crucial role in the safety of motorists, passengers and, of course, the driver. They provide good visibility at night, in fog and in adverse weather conditions. Driving with faulty headlights is a serious offence.  And as I said, headlights that have become opaque can fail the roadworthiness test. This means a chargeable inspection. Anticipating headlight maintenance is therefore essential, especially if you plan to sell your vehicle. A failed inspection can complicate the sale and make potential buyers wary. No matter what technology your headlights use (halogen, xenon, LED), they need to be serviced to maintain their performance.