[joebxr]

My headlights had water spots from rain and looked a little hazy. So I took alcohol swabs and cleaned them. UGHHHHHHHH. Looking at them after cleaning it appears they still retain some haze and appear to have little scratches. It's not the swabs. The swabs I used are same ones I clean my glasses and my LCD TV's, so I know they don't scratch. I use them on the infotainment screen and no scratches. Plastic headlight lenses should be better quality.

 

[longhornaccord]

I keep mine clear with Novus 2 plastic polish. I just squeeze a bit on a rag and then rub onto a cleaned headlight by hand the polish and then wipe off with a cotton cloth. It has worked well for me.

 

[CRS-Hybrid]

I keep mine clear with Novus 2 plastic polish. I just squeeze a bit on a rag and then rub onto a cleaned headlight by hand the polish and then wipe off with a cotton cloth. It has worked well for me.

Have you tried this product on the piano black plastic trim?

 

[longhornaccord]

Have you tried this product on the piano black plastic trim?

No I haven't, and I do have some of that in my 2015 Accord on the dash and console. But I don't think it would harm it as it's not an abrasive lotion. I really do like it for shining and cleaning plastic.

 

[joebxr]

I keep mine clear with Novus 2 plastic polish. I just squeeze a bit on a rag and then rub onto a cleaned headlight by hand the polish and then wipe off with a cotton cloth. It has worked well for me.

You put it on a cleaned headlight. What do you use to clean them and can you see scratches, swirls, haze B4 you polish?

 

[Accord_Mike]

My headlights had water spots from rain and looked a little hazy. So I took alcohol swabs and cleaned them. UGHHHHHHHH. Looking at them after cleaning it appears they still retain some haze and appear to have little scratches. It's not the swabs. The swabs I used are same ones I clean my glasses and my LCD TV's, so I know they don't scratch. I use them on the infotainment screen and no scratches. Plastic headlight lenses should be better quality.

If the swabs are scratching the headlight lenses, then they are abrasive or it’s the rag you’re using. The headlights have a coating on them, I believe.

I like to use the same products I use on the paint for the headlights. A good wax polish or a light to medium compound if need be. I use a clean microfiber towel or a small foam pad to apply the product.

Also, it might be a good idea to get some PPF like X-pel on the headlights to reduce pitting and the scratches that will form over time.

 

[longhornaccord]

You put it on a cleaned headlight. What do you use to clean them and can you see scratches, swirls, haze B4 you polish?

I just wet a clean cotton cloth like a washcloth or hand towel and wipe the headlight, then dry it with a clean cotton cloth. Then apply the Novus 2 polish as you would car wax and let it dry for a minute or two then wipe off with clean cotton cloth. don't apply in direct sunlight, do it in the shade if possible.

 

[joebxr]

If the swabs are scratching the headlight lenses, then they are abrasive or it’s the rag you’re using. The headlights have a coating on them, I believe.

I like to use the same products I use on the paint for the headlights. A good wax polish or a light to medium compound if need be. I use a clean microfiber towel or a small foam pad to apply the product.

Also, it might be a good idea to get some PPF like X-pel on the headlights to reduce pitting and the scratches that will form over time.

"The swabs I used are same ones I clean my glasses and my LCD TV's with no issues."

 

[Accord_Mike]

"The swabs I used are same ones I clean my glasses and my LCD TV's with no issues."

If they are scratching the headlights, then there must be something wrong with them, either the swabs or the rag or the technique that you’re using. The headlights are not scratching themselves.🤷‍♂️

 

[joebxr]

If they are scratching the headlights, then there must be something wrong with them, either the swaps or the rag or the technique that you’re using. The headlights are not scratching themselves.🤷‍♂️

Whatever. I think I know how to clean. They don't scratch anything else LIKE I SAID. Only use the swabs nothing else. Been using them for years!

 

[Mr.Cannon]

Alcohol isn't great to clean certain plastics or coatings and what you're scratching on the headlight isn't the plastic since it's a brand new car, you're scratching the UV coating. It could be that the coating is subject to failure from the alcohol since the car and the coating is still new or that Honda changed the coating process and is inferior to the past process.

Are the scratches creating a light and hazy effect or is it creating actual grooves?

Whatever. I think I know how to clean. They don't scratch anything else LIKE I SAID. Only use the swabs nothing else. Been using them for years!

 

[joebxr]

Alcohol isn't great to clean certain plastics or coatings and what you're scratching on the headlight isn't the plastic since it's a brand new car, you're scratching the UV coating. It could be that the coating is subject to failure from the alcohol since the car and the coating is still new or that Honda changed the coating process and is inferior to the past process.

Are the scratches creating a light and hazy effect or is it creating actual grooves?

Makes sense. Can't feel the scratches, but they're visible (light hazy like you say). Guess I'll switch to soft cotton and maybe just water. Not going to fix scratches, but hopefully eliminate new ones. THANKS!

 

[Accord_Mike]

Whatever. I think I know how to clean. They don't scratch anything else LIKE I SAID. Only use the swabs nothing else. Been using them for years!

It’s rather obvious you don’t know how to clean them if you’re getting scratches when trying to clean the headlights.

 

[longhornaccord]

Makes sense. Can't feel the scratches, but they're visible (light hazy like you say). Guess I'll switch to soft cotton and maybe just water. Not going to fix scratches, but hopefully eliminate new ones. THANKS!

Try polishing the headlights with the Novus 2 plastic polish as I described. I've used it for years on all types of plastics and it not only shines but removes small, fine scratches. In addition to my vehicle headlights, I use it on old antique tube radios that come in a variety of plastics such as phenol, polystyrene and bakelite. The polish works very well and makes the plastics look almost new again.

 

[joebxr]

Try polishing the headlights with the Novus 2 plastic polish as I described. I've used it for years on all types of plastics and it not only shines but removes small, fine scratches. In addition to my vehicle headlights, I use it on old antique tube radios that come in a variety of plastics such as phenol, polystyrene and bakelite. The polish works very well and makes the plastics look almost new again.

AMAZING stuff. Finally arrived yesterday. I did both headlights just now and no more scratches/swirls/haze. That stuff is awesome. Thank you for being a contributor unlike the forum troll. Thank you again. Going to go polish them now.

 

[longhornaccord]

AMAZING stuff. Finally arrived yesterday. I did both headlights just now and no more scratches/swirls/haze. That stuff is awesome. Thank you for being a contributor unlike the forum troll. Thank you again. Going to go polish them now.

Joebxr, glad you like it! If your car sits outside a lot, you’ll need to repolish them about once per quarter. If my car is to be parked in one spot most of the day, I try to park where the front end only gets the morning sun and so the western afternoon sun hits the back end. Also park in shade whenever possible.

 

[Aixelsyd]

My headlights had water spots from rain and looked a little hazy. So I took alcohol swabs and cleaned them. UGHHHHHHHH. Looking at them after cleaning it appears they still retain some haze and appear to have little scratches. It's not the swabs. The swabs I used are same ones I clean my glasses and my LCD TV's, so I know they don't scratch. I use them on the infotainment screen and no scratches. Plastic headlight lenses should be better quality.

most likely its the Alcohol that is the issue ruining the finish of the UV protective coating on them and not the swabs used. Get some polished & work out those scratches and they should look good as new. And if you really want to stop the issue in the future & protect them from sun damage long term buy a set of the precut clear UV protective film for the car and put it on them both.

 

[joebxr]

I used the NOVUS 2 products that were suggested, and they worked great, fixed the issue and protected.

 

[Aixelsyd]

Nice .... I'd still put clear film on them if you truly want them protected long term. Over time they'll still get hazy & end up with scratches on them. No amount of polished, wax or even ceramic coating will stop them from getting scratched of hazy or worst yet get that yellow oxidation look.

 

[longhornaccord]

Nice .... I'd still put clear film on them if you truly want them protected long term. Over time they'll still get hazy & end up with scratches on them. No amount of polished, wax or even ceramic coating will stop them from getting scratched of hazy or worst yet get that yellow oxidation look.

Where can I buy precut clear UV protection films? I don't need them for my Accord as it sits in the garage most of the time. But I have a Nissan Frontier that sits outside and while I do use Novus 2 about once per quarter to keep them clear, I might want to look into the UV film protection also.