Cleaning foggy headlight lenses - V.2

1. Mask around the headlight. Protect your car's finish with
masking or painting tape. Don't use duct tape as it can ruin or lift the paint
on your car.

2. Clean the headlight lens.

• You can use sandpaper, but remember the sandpaper will leave scratches thus
  requiring more steps to remove these scratches. First wet the sandpaper in a
  bucket or cup of soapy water.
  
• Spray the headlight with a commercial plastic lens cleaner or just soap and
  water (degreaser also works fine). Wash the lens with a clean rag or a shop
  towel.
  

3. Remove oxidation.

• Dip one finger into a plastic polish or a compound designed for plastic.
  With the lens still wet, apply the polish evenly over the entire headlight.
  
• Grab a sanding sponge or a soft hand pad and take out the starting sandpaper
  which you decided earlier, in most cases, the 600-grit sandpaper.
  
• Fold the sandpaper in three around the Soft Hand Pad Or Sanding Sponge.
  
• Dip the sponge and the sandpaper into the soapy water.
  
• Sand, using a side to side motion, applying even pressure, periodically
  wetting the sponge and the sandpaper in the soapy water. (Avoid
  contacting paint and other surrounding surfaces.)
  

4. Sand while keeping the surface wet.

• Continue the sanding process with the finer 1200 grit, then even finer 2000
  grit and finally 2500 grit sandpapers to remove scratches left by the previous
  grit.
  
• Apply the plastic polish/ compound after sanding with the 2500-grit
  sandpaper. This time, let it haze, then buff/wipe off with a shop towel.
  
• Clean the lens with a plastic lens cleaner or soap and water. This is to
  remove any polish residue.
  

5. Apply wax (protectant) to the headlight lens.

• Note, this is a preview of the finished lens, if you are not satisfied up to
  this point you must repeat Steps 1-5 until the lens is clear.
  
• Seal the lens with wax or silicone sealer.
  
• Fold a shop towel into four and squeeze a quarter-sized amount of wax or
  polish onto it and let it soak in for a few seconds.
  
• Apply to the lens using a single stroke going from left to right gradually
  working your way down the entire lens.
  

6. Check for clean headlights. The headlight repair is
complete and you should now have clean headlights that look as good as new and
restored optical clarity for safe night driving.