Okay guys heres the deal... I had some really nasty stuff on my headlights. I was using automotive goo-gone for some bugs and junk on the hood and accidentally let it dry on the headlights. That stuff was a real PITA and would not come off. I tried half a dozen different cleaners and nothing would remove it.

Heres where it gets good. I got it all clean using.... Brasso! Go figure... I dont even remember where I read that it would work but it did. I poured some brasso on a rag and wiped it all over the headlights. It removed everything right away very easily. Buffed it off and they look good as new.

That stuff was $4 for a bottle and I have tons of it left. Who would have figured that metal polish works for cleaning headlights... go figure.

 

Wonder if this really works, might try it out...

 

yes it works...
10 min headlight cleaning

as a detailer for over a decade i've used it with great success as well as alum/mag wheel polish. Polish is a bit safer around the paint as the Brasso will take your paint right off so tape it off well and take your time.

 

Where do you buy this? local store?

 

well... I bought it at canadian tire, which you obviously wouldnt have. I know they sell it at regular grocery stores and whatnot try safeway, vons, whatever is in your area. Its in a very small brass colored bottle.

LOL thanks for the tip about the paint! I didnt tape anything off but I was careful not to let it touch anything else. You can smell how corrosive it is because it kinda burns in your nostrils.

 

Hey can I use it on my 02 SE stock rims? The are not really shiney but more of a flat kind of silver/gray color... or do they have paint that would get ruined?

 

Stock wheels are powdercoated with a silver/gray coating.

treat them just like you would your car's paint.

For the headlights, a 4-6" foam buffing pad used at slow/medium speed on a drill using any polishing compound will do the trick quickly and safely. (I use Mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish myself).
When you're done, follow up with a coat of clear lacquer or a few coats of car wax to help prevent the plastic from oxidizing again.

As for the Brasso, it contains acids to remove the tarnish/oxidation on metals like silver and brass. The acid is somewhat mild, but will damage paint if left on there.

 

Hmm never thought of using Brasso

 

I got it at WalMart.

 

I've seen it at Home Depot

 

I've been using this for over a year now, I usually just put some Brasso on an applicator pad and scrub for a few minutes, wash and dry, and then follow up with a coat or two of wax. It usually lasts for a few months before I need to do them again.

 

yea ive heard nothing but good things about brasso.

i used turtle wax's headlight restore kit and finished it with meguire's pastX polish, and it worked wonderfully. but mine were only oxidized, i dont know about getting goo gone off.

best part is, after using the restore kit, its been probably about 6 months now and theres no signs of needing to do it again yet. guess well have to see what the winter brings

 

Nice, I have this problem on my headlights and need to give this a try. Thanks!