When driving in low visibility conditions, such as in a rainstorm or at night, it’s important to have clear headlights. Over time, headlights can become foggy, and this can greatly reduce visibility while driving. Luckily, headlight restoration is a process that can improve the clarity of your headlight lenses and restore visibility while driving. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what causes dull headlights and how headlight restoration can improve visibility when driving.
1. What are the benefits of headlight restoration?
Improve visibility while driving
The obvious thing to note is the improved visibility while driving. Headlight restoration can improve your safety by providing clearer headlights. Not only will this allow you to see the road better, but it will also make your car more visible to other drivers. We’ll get more into this in just a moment.
Restore headlight clarity
Over time, plastic headlight lenses can become dull and yellowed from exposure to the elements. Headlight restoration will remove the haze and restore the clarity of your headlights.
Save money by not having to replace headlights as often
Headlight restoration is a much cheaper alternative to buying new headlight assemblies. New headlight assemblies can cost hundreds of dollars, while headlight restoration typically costs less than $100.
Feel safer while driving in low visibility conditions
When your headlight lenses are foggy, it can be difficult to see the road ahead of you which can lead to decreased reaction times and increase your chances of being in an accident. Headlight restoration will help you feel safer while driving in low visibility conditions by providing clearer headlights.
Enjoy the improved appearance of your car’s headlights
In addition to improving visibility while driving, headlight restoration will also improve the appearance of your car’s headlights. This will help you feel proud of your car and maintain its resale value.
2. How do headlights fog over time?
Exposure to the sun and other elements
The headlight lens material can break down and deteriorate from exposure to the sun and other elements. This can cause the headlight to become yellowed, hazy, or even cracked.
Road grime, bugs, and other debris
The build-up of road grime, bugs, and other debris can cause the headlight lens to become cloudy and difficult to see through.
3. Why does headlight restoration improve visibility while driving?
Headlight restoration removes the build-up of grime and debris from the clouded headlights. This process can also remove any yellowing, hazing, or scratches from the headlight. Headlight restoration will not only improve your safety while driving, but it will also make your car more visible to other drivers.
4. The process of headlight restoration
The headlight restoration process can vary depending on the headlight restoration service you choose. However, most headlight restoration services use a three-step process to clean and restore headlight lenses.
Step 1: Remove any build-up
First, the expert will use a polishing compound to remove any build-up of filth and debris from the cloudy headlight.
Step 2: Sand the headlight lens
Sanding the lens removes the basic layer of headlight oxidation that has occurred.
Step 3: Apply a clear sealant to the lens
Lastly, the expert will apply a clear headlight sealant to the headlight lens. This will protect the headlight from future build-up of grime and debris and will also improve the clarity of the headlight lens.
4. How to care for your headlight lenses to prevent fogging
Stay up to date with headlight maintenance
It’s important to stay up to date with headlight maintenance in order to prevent your headlight lenses from fogging over time. This includes regularly cleaning your headlight lenses and making sure they are free of any build-up of dirt or contaminants. You should also check for any cracks, yellowing, or hazing on the headlight.
Apply a headlight lens sealant to the headlight lenses
This will protect the plastic lens from future build-ups and moreover, it will also improve the clarity of the headlights.
Final Thoughts
Headlight restoration can be an endeavor that takes a little elbow grease, but it’s one that is well worth the effort. Not only will you enjoy improved visibility while driving, but you’ll also be doing your part to help keep yourself and other drivers safe on the road. If you’re not sure how to go about restoring your headlights or just don’t have the time, we’d love to come do it for you. If you’re in the Charlotte area, we’ll provide service wherever you are! Contact us today and let us know what we can do to help make your drive safer!
