suggestions for headlight cleaning (not yellow/foggy)

[04lss]

Hi all,

I have 2 newer cars, im about to "winterize" their paint while its still warm enough.

The plan is to do a wash, clay, polish (meguiars 205) ,surface clense (gyeon) and Chemical guys ceramic coating (2 coats) on the paint. I also plain to polish and rainx the windows, and use Griots ceramic 3 in 1 spray for the trim and headlights.

Before i do the headlights, id like to get them extra clean. They arent foggy, or hazy, like headlights that need to be restored, but they do have some extra dirt that doesnt seem to come off during a wash.
I want to get them extra clean before i apply the ceramic spray coating. any suggestions on what to use? I have a griots G8 3" polisher, i was thinking of hitting it with some meguirs 205 polish.

[DeadlySheds]

A finish polish would probably clean them right up. Just did this to my wife's car. Sje had a headlight replacement last fall and the old one looked dull. Quick polish and good as new.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201013/9377d7ff37826f465d950c5036165c0d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201013/df03f4035f4654ce4e176e045f5b8bb8.jpg

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[04lss]

A finish polish would probably clean them right up. Just did this to my wife's car. Sje had a headlight replacement last fall and the old one looked dull. Quick polish and good as new.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201013/9377d7ff37826f465d950c5036165c0d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201013/df03f4035f4654ce4e176e045f5b8bb8.jpg

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Is there any risk at accelerating the rate at which they will yellow?

[DeadlySheds]

I have no idea but a light polish would just remove the ground in dirt and light haze. Her car is a 2012 so any stock protection is probably gone at this point anyhow. I also keep a product on them throughout the year which should help.

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[IH8SPM]

Once cleaned and prepped you can use a UV protectant on them. I did a set a year go and they were looking good at the year mark but we redid them to be consistent.

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[mc2hill]

If they are just 'cloudy' clay them and polish over them when you do the rest of the car. Then apply whatever LSP you prefer. But know they can rehaze in 6 months or so.

If you want to use a coating to get it to work the best you will have to sand off the factory coating before applying something else.

I polish the headlights on my truck about every 6 months, then apply a headlight protection spray. On our older Accord, I sanded them and applied DLux, and that lasts 12+ months.

[Desertnate]

Is there any risk at accelerating the rate at which they will yellow?

Polishing them will accelerate the yellowing/fogging because it will remove the factory UV coating which actually prevents that from happening. If they are not yellow/foggy now, I would not polish them. if you've got some grime that won't come off you can try using the clay bar or gently polish them by hand if it really bothers you.

As for protecting them, I'd just hit them with the coating like you are doing the paint. No need for a separate product. When I coat a car, I'll do the paint, painted trim (not rubber/exposed plastic), the headlights and the tail lights. It really helps them stay clean since the water will just fly off of them just like it does the paint.

[PA DETAILER]

Meguiars Plastx Clear Plastic Cleaner & Polish - clean & polish all clear plastic panels and convertible top windows. (https://www.autogeek.net/meplclplclpo.html)