Cleaned the Polycarbonate Headlights today

Cleaned the polycarbonate headlamps on my Jimny today. Only spent 5 minutes on each and got rid of the yellow tarnish. Haven't done a perfect job cos my visitors were whinging about abandoning them. Mind ya, they hadn't rung before they lobbed and I had planned to do this job.

I used about a half inch of toothpaste on each headlamp. Washed the lamps first with soapy water then spread the paste and rubbed for a couple of minutes, varying the direction of rubbing, sideways then up and down then diagonally. After a couple of minutes each I then wet the rag and wash for another minute then cleaned up with clean water. Very happy with the job, 11 years of yellowing has gone and I can't stare into the lights anymore so they are putting out plenty of light.

Hi, was that the inside or out side you cleaned, as mine are going manky on the inside? Didnt know if you could get the lamps apart to clean the inside?

Most lamps are usually a sealed unit

I did mine with Tcut then a coat of polish. Same as you got them back to clear and no yellowing. Top job.

A must do job for winter.

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Did you do the inside or outside of them? As mine are yellow but looks like its on the inside

Outside. The lights are probably sealed as said.

They're not sealed, they have holes for sidelights and the main/dip beam lamp, but it would be a complete PITA to try and clean them inside with a bottle brush.

If they're stained/misted inside maybe it's time for a 2nd hand set of lights?

Nice tip on the colgate for the headlights, I'll give that a go.

If you need to clean the inside then you may be able to separate the lens from the rest of the light, I have done this on cars previously with a heat gun and have heard it is also possible to do my placing them in the oven, both ways will soften the sealant holding on the lens. Putting the lens in the dishwasher will give then a good clean before using the toothpaste trick.

Just be sure to seal them up again especially if you do any wading. One light on a previous car would get fogged of on the inside on occasions where I did not get a good seal. I have not done this on a Jimny before but can’t see there being much difference.