Hello hello. I just wanted to put up a post because 1) this little trick is awesome and 2) My new camera is pretty wonderful!

My stepdad, being the mechanic that he is, of course has a special kit for plastic headlights, with a 3-step process and buffing and the works. I love borrowing it, but in the meantime I wanted to show you a trick that works pretty beautifully, too.

Here is my headlight before:

Ewww! Bug guts and dirt and…I need to wash my car soon.

Anyway, here’s WHAT YOU NEED:

-Toothbrush you don’t use for teeth. Is it just me and my family, or does everyone have that toothbrush that’s used for scrubbing grout, cleaning plant pots, and (apparently) washing headlights?

– Spray bottle or hose

-Toothpaste*

WHAT YOU DO:

Spray your headlight with just a little water, something to create a little movement for the toothpaste. Put just a little amount of toothpaste on your brush, maybe a quarter of the bristles. Starting from the top and working your way down in a soft, circular motion – kind of like brushing your teeth! – completely cover your headlight in toothpaste. Feel free to add more toothpaste or spray more water, as needed.

Then rinse your brush, sray the headlight with water to get most of it off. If you see places you missed, work on it.

Give the light another once over with the brush to get remnant paste.

AFTER SHOT:

Bee-you-tee-ful! I couldn’t have been more surprised with the outcome!

Note: once completely dry, you may notice a fogginess again. It’s the toothpaste film! Get a wet paper towel and wipe well. Shiny new headlight again.

*I used Aquafresh (paste, not gel) toothpaste, so that is the only frame of toothpaste reference I can offer.