When buying a new car, all the parts including the lights are always kept clean and shiny, mostly with the aim of maintaining the car's value.
However, after a few months of regular use, the headlights turn foggy such that when turned on, they do not illuminate as far as the did in the first weeks of purchase.
Foggy headlights are a common problem facing motorists. They are dangerous because they reduce the drivers’ vision of the road.
Kenyans.co.ke breaks down four reasons why headlights turn foggy and how to fix them;
Oxidation
According to Glass Doctor, a glass repair and replacement business, the material used to make headlights gets affected negatively due to too much exposure to (Ultraviolet) UV light.
“Acrylic headlights oxidise when exposed to UV light.
“Headlight lenses come with a clear top coat to help prevent this, but eventually, the coating wears off, and sunlight turns the hard plastic yellow,” explains the outlet.
Water Vapour
“Headlights are manufactured with a watertight seal but wear and tear can cause this seal to break.
“Condensation then forms inside the lens where you can’t wipe it away,” explains the company which is run by car part experts.
Water vapour causes the light to disperse the headlights making it ineffective.
Time and Weather
“Although polycarbonate plastic headlights are typically covered using a coating film, exposure to harsh weather conditions over a long time makes the coat peel off,” notes Empire Abrasives, an abrasives solution business.
Due to wear and tear, headlights need to be repaired or replaced from time to time.
Dirt and chemicals
Flying debris, dirt, and corrosive chemicals create a layer that dims the headlights.
Debris causes scratches which negatively affect light dispersion which gives the headlight a cloudy hue.
How to Fix Foggy Headlights
Three ways to fix foggy headlights include:
Cleaning foggy headlights with toothpaste, a common exercise considered a Do It Yourself (DIY) method.
“Apply toothpaste directly to each lens. Scrub with a soft, dry cloth. Rinse the toothpaste away and enjoy the restored appearance of your headlights,” note Glass Doctor.
A second and professional method is to use a non-abrasive polish.
“Use a non-abrasive polishing medium and a microfiber cloth to polish your headlight lenses and remove early signs of yellowing,” Glass Doctor explains.
The third method is to park the car in a shaded area. This is a long-term solution that reduces the impact of UV light on headlights.
“If you don’t have that option, face your headlights away from the sun when parking outside to reduce UV exposure and slow the oxidizing process,” advise Glass Doctor.
