Headlights cleaned.

[McGoats]

I will try to find the original article I read, but the gist of it was that bug spray (Off, Repel, etc) containing DEET could be used to clean a dingy or murky headlight.

Given that most of us have a container of the stuff somewhere. Figured it was worth a shot.


This was before, not bad but worse than i'd like. Also has some sharpie from the local yard gnomes.


And the results after a light wipe down with Repel.
Now for the wait to test the longevity of method!

 

[rolling rock]

FYI. This has been posted on the detail forums.....

That stuff he is using in the video contains DEET, which works a neurotoxin against insects, along with other mechanisms. I wouldn't spray that stuff on my skin - no less on my car; regardless of what the FDA says. Exposure to DEET has been known to cause mood changes and insomnia, along with various other ailments.

DEET works as a solvent and there is oil in the preparation as a pharmaceutical vehicle. The oil acts as a base and helps it stick to the skin. I believe two things are going on here:

1. DEET can act as a solvent and dissolve plastics and other synthetic materials to some extent. So, it may be dissolving some of the oxidation or crud on the headlight plastic.

2. The preparation itself contains oil - which will temporarily "fill" the defects in the headlights and make them look clearer. If you don't believe me, just spray some jacked up headlights down with some water. The water will fill the defects to an extent and make them look better until they dry. Any filling that is going on is just a temporary fix.

IMHO this is not a professional/quality way to restore headlights, no more than using toothpaste and whatever old rag you find laying around. Using a polish/compound (+/- proceeded by wet sanding) with a high quality abrasive is the way to go for consistent results.

Since DEET can dissolve plastics - the possibility exists it could damage or make certain headlights worse - since we know all plastics are not the same and do not react the same to certain chemical agents.

 

[Diadaga]

I tried this out and after a few days they had started to cloud over. Not the same yellow look just a white haze on the plastic.

 

[TJTJ]

The problem is simply that the UV protective coating they put on the headlights at the factory wears off due to abrasion with airborne particles/erosion and UV light itself combined with ozone, etc.

The old glass lights did not have this problem, they stayed clear until a rock cracked them, etc.

Once the light has clouded over/hazed due to the UV protection being worn out, nothing you do will be more than a bandaid, as the plastic will ACCELERATE its decomposition as its now naked, and all you are doing is taking off more and more of the surface plastic, which will yellow, etc, even faster now.

The only (ONLY) solutions involve replacing them (Which, as the OEM only last about 5 years lately...is not permanent), or, a once a month or so polishing. And, toothpaste or other fine particulate can work for this.....BUT - They sell plastic polish for the rear windows of convertibles, which seems to be the best solution as far as bandaids go, as they typically restore some of the plasticizers as well as some of the UV resistance when applied.

The use of solvent based cleaners such as bug spray, etc, will migrate out the plasticizers and actually further damage the lights...by deepening the damage, to below the surface, so that surface polishing becomes even more difficult to overcome, etc.

 

[McGoats]

Thanks for the input everyone. Mine are still clear and havent noticed any ill effects. Figured it was at least worth a shot. Trial and error.