How do you make plastic headlight covers clear again?

You can make plastic headlight covers clear again by removing oxidation and discoloration with a fine polishing compound.

While the provided reference is brief, the general process for restoring clarity to plastic headlight covers involves several steps, which can be summarized as follows:

1. Cleaning: Thoroughly clean the headlight covers with soap and water to remove dirt and grime.

2. Masking: Use masking tape to protect the surrounding paint from accidental damage during sanding and polishing.

3. Sanding (if necessary): If the headlights are severely oxidized, start with a coarser grit sandpaper (e.g., 400-600 grit) to remove the heavy oxidation. Then, progress to finer grits (e.g., 800, 1000, 2000, 3000 grit) to refine the surface. Keep the sandpaper wet while sanding. The sanding stage is omitted if the headlights are only lightly oxidized.

4. Polishing: Apply a polishing compound specifically designed for plastics to a polishing pad attached to a drill or polisher. Polish the headlight covers until the haze is removed and the plastic becomes clear.

5. Wiping: Remove any residue from the polishing compound with a clean, soft cloth.

6. Protection: Apply a UV protectant sealant to the restored headlights to prevent future oxidation and yellowing. This is crucial as removing the factory UV coating makes the plastic more susceptible to damage.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Step	Description
Cleaning	Wash the headlight covers thoroughly to remove any surface dirt or debris.
Masking	Apply masking tape around the headlight covers to protect the surrounding paint.
Sanding	Use progressively finer grits of sandpaper to remove oxidation and imperfections. Keep the sandpaper wet during sanding.
Polishing	Apply a polishing compound to a polishing pad and polish the headlight covers until they become clear.
Residue Removal	Wipe off any remaining residue with a clean, soft cloth.
Protection	Apply a UV protectant sealant to protect the headlights from future oxidation and yellowing.

The reference specifically mentions that the polishing compounds are "soaked" which implies a significant amount being used. The step of removing oxidation and discoloration is crucial to restoring clarity.