For over 15 years plastic headlight covers have allowed the automotive industry to create sleek front-end designs for a fraction of the cost of using traditional materials such as glass. However, with time the covers can become worn, foggy and yellowed in appearance due to UV exposure from the sun and road grime. At the very least, dull, yellowed covers are unattractive. Worse, they may even pose a potential hazard by reducing the amount of light they transmit. Fortunately, depending upon the extent of damage, it’s possible to restore the clarity of most plastic covers to near new condition with minimal cost and effort if the lenses are not overly hardened or brittle. Begin by cleaning the covers thoroughly with warm soapy water. Next, you’ll need to remove the outer layers of worn plastic with very fine grit sandpaper. Start with a good quality 600 to 800 grit wet/dry paper which can be acquired from a home improvement or discount store (check the automotive department for finer grit paper). While keeping the cover wet, gently sand down all noticable defects. Expect to spend at least 10 minutes per lens. Once you’ve removed the worst of the damage, move up to a finer paper such as 1000 to 1500 grit. Repeat the wet-sanding process until the lens is smooth and the effects of the coarser grit paper are eliminated. Once complete, as the lens dries you’ll notice a uniform, gray haze created by the sandpaper scratch marks. The effects of the sandpaper can be removed by buffing the lens with a soft cloth and a polishing compound which is safe for plastics. You can expect to achieve the best results using a clear plastic lens polish such as that manufactured by 3M or Meguiar’s. These can usually be found at an automotive supply shop or you may order them online for a few dollars. Be patient — it make take considerable buffing to achieve the results you expect but for the price of the sandpaper and polish, you may be able save hundreds of dollars in repair costs! Category:Home › Autos • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 2 • You should never use after-market auto parts when maintaining or fixing your car • Should a new car be rust-proofed? • Will the trend toward economy-size car models lead Americans back to buying smaller-sized cars? — part 1 • Five safest cars in North America • How to ensure your teen drives safely after getting a license • Pros and cons of using an hydrogen generator for your car • DIY automotive maintenance: How to change the oil