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Headlight Restoration using toothpaste, Fact or Fiction

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Old 3/31/14 | 01:21 AM
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Headlight Restoration using toothpaste, Fact or Fiction

Anyone here ever try removing that nasty yellow oxidation covering their headlights with toothpaste. They got you tube videos showing that toothpaste actually removes the oxidation and makes the lenses nice and clear!

Apparently the toothpaste that has plaque removing additives works best because the oxidation is like plaque. Anyone try this method and what were your results? The you tube videos looked legit and not cutting when the demonstration was being done with the toothpaste trick.

Fact or Crap? Many people swear by this process. Basically, clean off the oxidized headlight lens so its free of dirt and debre. Place two to three lines maybe 3 inches wide on the headlights. Use DA polisher and just move toothpaste around the lens prior to buffing. Turn DA polisher on and move around slowly until oxidation is gone.
Old 3/31/14 | 06:37 AM
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I've heard this but never tried it. I usually use one of those headlight restoration kits and a drill. Then I put a thin coat of wax on them as well.
Old 3/31/14 | 07:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Ethanjbeau
I've heard this but never tried it. I usually use one of those headlight restoration kits and a drill. Then I put a thin coat of wax on them as well.
Thanks bro. The kits do an amazing job on removing the oxidation. Lol. Some people swear by using toothpaste , Any type of toothpaste but plaque fighting works awesome. So people claim and watching you tube videos it works.
Old 3/31/14 | 08:41 PM
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There is truth to the toothpaste, but only as the abrasive bit. The plaque fighting part... eh, I dunno.

The 'restoration' of the headlamp is nothing more than the removal of the top yellowed layer of coating. Or all of it, in some cases. Which doesn't really 'restore' it, unless you reapply some coating, which is where the two bottle stuff comes in.

Even clear coat paint would suffice, my dad did that to his '90 Mustang headlamps. Used 1500 grit on the faces of 'em, got the yellow gone, then shot 'em with clear paint. Looked brand dang new.

Anyway... SO lookin' forward to doin' this on Awesome..
Old 3/31/14 | 08:44 PM
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Plastic polish can be had for only a couple bucks... I'd pass on the toothpaste, regardless of it's effectiveness (it's a pain to clean off).
Old 4/2/14 | 12:12 PM
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My uncles 90s camry's headlights were getting pretty bad last summer so me and my (while plastidipping his wheels) decided to give the toothpaste a try. Barely used any (maybe 5-6 toothbrushing servings i guess) and it was a pretty big difference.

They didn't look brand spankin new in the way the $20 kits do, but they weren't yellow and it was definitely much clearer than before. For essentially less than $1 worth of materials, its worth a try.

Plus everyone knows that minty headlights add like 4rwhp
Old 4/2/14 | 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by future9er24
My uncles 90s camry's headlights were getting pretty bad last summer so me and my (while plastidipping his wheels) decided to give the toothpaste a try. Barely used any (maybe 5-6 toothbrushing servings i guess) and it was a pretty big difference.

They didn't look brand spankin new in the way the $20 kits do, but they weren't yellow and it was definitely much clearer than before. For essentially less than $1 worth of materials, its worth a try.

Plus everyone knows that minty headlights add like 4rwhp
I thought it was 7 rwhp. Ha ha ha
Old 4/2/14 | 01:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Ethanjbeau
Then I put a thin coat of wax on them as well.
I put WeatherTech's LampGard on the lenses when the HID's were new. They're still like new.
Old 4/2/14 | 02:27 PM
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Originally Posted by 2011 Kona Blue
I thought it was 7 rwhp. Ha ha ha
only if you spring for the extra whitening agents
Old 4/2/14 | 05:10 PM
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Originally Posted by cdynaco
I put WeatherTech's LampGard on the lenses when the HID's were new. They're still like new.
Gotta get me some of that.
Old 4/2/14 | 08:21 PM
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Originally Posted by future9er24
only if you spring for the extra whitening agents
Then what's the baking soda ingredient add. Ha ha ha
Old 4/2/14 | 10:21 PM
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Originally Posted by 2011 Kona Blue
Then what's the baking soda ingredient add. Ha ha ha
the special turbulence created by the residue leads to a mild reduction in the coefficient of drag

Last edited by future9er24; 4/2/14 at 10:23 PM.
Old 4/4/14 | 09:53 AM
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Moving to 'Car Care' section, but will leave a link for a few hours . .
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