A headlight lens can develop a film that causes it to appear yellow or cloudy. The quality of light emitted by your headlights will be diminished, meaning it will be harder for you to see at night and harder for others to see you coming. While you could replace the headlight lens to remedy the issue, a better and less expensive option can be accomplished in your driveway or garage with household materials.
Wash the lens thoroughly. Use a garden hose, dish detergent and a clean rag to scrub the lens clean of all dirt and grime.
Dip the corner of a clean rag in denatured alcohol and rub this onto the lens. The alcohol will help to break down the yellow film covering an older headlight lens.
Soak a piece of 1,000-grit wet/dry sandpaper in a bucket of clean water. Sand the headlight lens with the paper using short circular motions for about a minute. The high grit will eliminate any surface scratches as well as completely remove film on the plastic. Be sure to keep the paper wet during sanding.
Apply a coat of car wax to the lens to protect against future damage. Apply the wax with a clean rag and let it sit for one minute before buffing.
