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Short Summary
Main recommendation: Restore yellowed, oxidized headlight lenses by working a gritty, paste-style toothpaste containing baking soda and peroxide into the lens surface with a toothbrush, then wiping clean and applying wax as a protective layer. The method works when the lens surface is pitted or rough on the outside, not when the yellowing is coming from inside the headlight housing (as shown with the speaker's truck headlights).
Key Points
- The toothpaste acts as a mild abrasive that polishes away the oxidized top layer of the plastic lens.
- It is suited to headlights where the outside feels rough or pitted and shows spots or yellowing on the exterior; smooth-outside headlights yellowing from the inside will not respond.
- A toothpaste-based approach costs about $1, compared with $15 to $20 for a commercial headlight restoration kit, with similar results according to the speaker.
- Repeated application (two or more coats) produces clearer lenses, and the speaker notes the result after a single coat is already noticeably clearer.
Details Worth Noting
- Concrete instructions:
- Choose a toothpaste that is a true paste (not a gel) and has some grit; the speaker's example contains baking soda and peroxide. If the toothpaste is not gritty, add baking soda to it.
- Apply a generous amount of toothpaste over the entire headlight lens.
- Rub it in thoroughly, using a toothbrush for more effective working. The more yellow or old the lens, the longer you brush, and you may need two applications of toothpaste.
- Optional: use a Dremel with a buffing wheel on low speed, 15k RPM or less, to buff the paste in; higher speed can melt the plastic.
- Spray the lens with warm water from a spray bottle, then buff with a paper towel using firm pressure.
- Finish with a clean paper towel, wash the lens completely, then apply wax as a protective layer to slow future yellowing.
- The speaker shows that the toothbrush picks up yellow residue as a sign the method is working.
- The speaker does not use a Dremel because not everyone owns one; the Dremel step is presented as an optional way that may give better results.
- The speaker points viewers to a separate linked video for another headlight clearing method if this one does not work, referenced in the video description.
Bottom Line
Toothpaste with grit and baking soda can cheaply clear pitted, yellowed headlight exteriors, but it will not fix yellowing trapped inside the housing.
