How To Clean Your Honda Accord Headlights?

By Nick Marchenko, PhD

Updated: July 17, 2023

Over time, the inevitable wear and tear starts to show, and the headlights of your Honda Accord begin to display signs of clouding, losing their pristine clarity.

Several factors contribute to this, including exposure to sunlight, the build-up of dirt and debris, and the gradual degradation of the headlight material that the Accord sports.

Consequently, headlights that were once vibrant and clear take on a yellowish hue or become entirely opaque. This not only lessens their effectiveness but also undermines the overall aesthetics of the car.
Cloudy headlights aren't just unsightly, they also present a potential danger - their reduced brightness due to poorer light transmission can compromise visibility, especially during nocturnal journeys.

You may be thinking: is there a way to clean your Honda Accord's headlights and restore their initial clarity?

The good news is, yes, there is. A range of effective methods and techniques exist that can bring the shine back to your once dimmed headlights.

Read on to discover various options for headlight cleaning. Undoubtedly, you will find a solution that works for you.

How to rejuvenate the dulled headlights of your Honda Accord?

There are myriad ways to refurbish the foggy headlights of your Honda Accord. These range from home remedies and DIY solutions to professional procedures fit for those armed with proper equipment.

In this article, we present a variety of methods to tackle the problem of foggy headlights, listed from the simplest to the most complex. The method you choose will depend on the extent of wear, and if one fails to deliver, there's always another one to try.

DISCLAIMER/CAUTION

All steps taken to restore the luminescence of your headlights should be performed with care. There exists a risk that an improper procedure can result in damage to or breakage of your Honda Accord headlights.

If you're unsure about your own capability, it's safer to leave the job of restoring dim headlights to trained professionals.

Start by Cleaning Your Honda Accord Headlights

The following items will be required:

• Automobile shampoo;
• A bucket of water;
• Microfiber towels.

Quite often, the clouding of the Honda Accord's headlights is not as severe as it seems. It could just be a case of the headlight being covered with an accumulation of dust, dirt, or some other sticky residue.

Before taking more drastic measures, you should thoroughly clean your car. This involves using special foam and a car-specific cloth. Rinse the body of the Accord with water, apply the foam, wipe down with the cloth, and then rinse off the grime with water.

When washing your Honda Accord's headlights, avoid rubbing them when they are completely "dry". If you do, the dust and dirt on them will function as abrasives, leading to scratches on the headlights.

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It May be Necessary to Remove Bugs from Honda Accord Headlights

What items will you need for this:

• Bug and tar remover;
• Water;
• Clean cloth(s).

Tiny bugs and insects that hit your headlight during travel can cause a decrease in visibility. These stubborn contaminants don't wash off easily, requiring specialized cleaning products.

The cleaning process for your Honda Accord headlights goes as follows: rinse your headlights with water, wipe them with a clean cloth, apply the cleaning solution, and gently rub across the entire headlight surface (taking care not to overdo it and cause unintended damage). 

To finish, rinse everything off with a damp cloth. This should leave your headlights free of contaminants.

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Cleaning Honda Accord's Headlights with Toothpaste

What items will you need for this:

• Toothpaste;
• Cloth(s);
• Paper towel(s);
• Microfiber cloth.

First off, dampen your headlights slightly. Then wipe them with a cloth, but don't allow them to dry. A toothpaste that touts whitening or plaque-removal properties is recommended. 

Dab a few drops of toothpaste onto a cloth and, employing circular motions, spread it over the entire surface of the headlight. Let it sit for a while. 

Now, rinse the toothpaste off your Honda Accord headlight. Wipe everything dry to ensure you leave no stains or traces of toothpaste.

Cleaning Honda Accord's Headlights With Vinegar and Baking Soda

What items will you need for this:

• Baking soda;
• Vinegar;
• Water;
• Cloth(s);
• Paper towel(s);
• A glass/ basin or bowl.

Baking soda and vinegar are fantastic and versatile solutions for nearly everything, and this includes cleaning foggy headlights. 

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Grab a glass, basin, bowl, or other suitable container. You need to mix the soda and vinegar in a 1:2 to 1:3 ratio.

Wipe the Honda Accord headlights with a damp cloth. Wash your headlights with the concoction you've prepared. Lastly, ensure they're dried thoroughly to avoid any possible stains.

Polishing Honda Accord's Headlights with Plastic Polish

What items will you need for this:

• Plastic polish;
• Microfiber cloth;
• Cloth(s).

Optional:

• Angle grinder;
• Polishing discs.

Since Honda Accord headlights are plastic, you could give polishing them with plastic polish a shot. To do this, wash the headlight, apply the product to a cloth, and polish the headlight.

Alternatively, you could utilize an angle grinder, if available and you're adept at using it. In this case, you need to choose the appropriate disc and operate with utmost caution to avoid inflicting any damage on the headlight.

Use Sandpaper to Refresh Honda Accord's Foggy Headlights

What items will you need for this:

• Sandpaper (grit: 1500, 2000, 3000);
• Cloth(s);
• Water;
• Polishing compound;
• Silicone spray;
• Clear varnish.

Cleaning Honda Accord headlights with sandpaper is a bit of a step up, ideal for more seasoned petrolheads. It demands patience and a delicate touch to sidestep inflicting any severe scratches on the headlights.

CAUTION! If you're doubtful about your ability to carry this out, it's wiser to give this step a miss to evade any unnecessary damage to the headlight plastic.

Sandpaper comes into play here when the headlight's outer surface is oxidized, and there's a chance to restore it by eradicating the affected layer.

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Prior to brandishing the sandpaper, it's advised to wash all the grime off the headlight. Utilize adhesive tape to cordon off the area around the headlight; this will keep the body paint safe while you're going about the polishing process.

If feasible, detach the headlight from the Honda Accord - you'll find it much easier to get to every angle without worrying about harming the body paint.

Next, get your sandpaper ready. Depending on the level of headlight wear, start with either 1500 or 2000 grit (If the headlight is particularly cloudy, start with 1500 grit. If it's not that foggy, opt for 2000 grit).

NOTE! Rinse the sandpaper before you use it on the Honda Accord headlight. Wipe every surface and corner meticulously. It's important to maintain one direction while wiping: keep your hand movements horizontal, from left to right or vice versa, for no more than 4 minutes per headlight.

Repeat the procedure for the second headlight. Then grab your 3000 grit sandpaper, wet it and use vertical strokes to gently wipe every surface and corner of each headlight (from top to bottom; again, no more than 4 minutes per headlight).

Next, rinse off the remains of the abrasive and anything that's been sanded off the headlights with some water. After that, your headlights should appear more transparent and clean.

However, having done this, you now need to replace the layer you've stripped off the headlight. There are three ways to achieve this:

Polishing Compound - apply a small amount onto a cloth and gently wipe it over the headlight;

Silicone spray - apply an even layer over the headlight;

Clear varnish - apply a thin, even layer over the surface of the headlight.

Revive Your Lights with a Headlight Restorer

What items will you need for this:

• Headlight restorer;
• Cloth(s).

You can pick up a comprehensive Honda Accord headlight restoration kit at a local auto supply shop or even your neighbourhood supermarket. Typically, it's a concoction of chemicals that comes packed with all the necessary rags and abrasives.

In most scenarios, all it takes is a few dollops of the headlight restorer on your sparkling clean headlight, a bit of elbow grease, and a period of waiting for the magic to happen. After that, you wash it all off and revel in the new-found clarity of your headlights.

When buying a headlight restorer for your Honda Accord headlights, do ensure to read the instructions carefully and follow them to the letter.

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Hand Your Honda Accord Over to the Experts

What items will you need for this: Cash.

The tried and tested approach is to leave the task of Honda Accord headlight polishing to the wizards who've got the know-how. Plenty of outfits provide professional Honda Accord headlight polishing services. Sure, it could set you back a bit, but it's the surefire way to revitalise even the most downtrodden headlights.

Consider Swapping Out the Headlight Assembly

What items do you need for this: A new headlight assembly.

Over time, the Honda Accord headlights might dim to such an extent that none of the aforementioned methods cut the mustard. 

Furthermore, other signs of wear may present themselves on the headlights, such as cracks, chips, scorched areas (if the headlight bulbs are improperly inserted or overheat to the point where they melt the interior of the headlight), or a burnt-out or damaged reflector or lens.

In this situation, it might be best to avoid the fuss of repairs and swap out the tired Honda Accord headlight for a fresh one. There's no shortage of choices on the market, so finding the perfect fit for your needs should be a breeze.

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Other Troubles That Can Befall Accord's Headlights

Headlight fogging

Moisture can accumulate inside the Honda Accord's headlight itself, resulting in the headlight fogging up, which adversely affects the light's visibility. This usually stems from a breach in the headlight's seal - water simply infiltrates through the resulting crack or cracks.

Over time, the water evaporates, leading to the creation of fog. To rectify this issue, you'll need to detach the headlight from the Accord, meticulously disassemble its casing, locate the culprit allowing water entry, and patch it up.

Burnt headlight

Another culprit behind dimming Honda Accord headlights could be the humble light bulb. Incorrect installation of the bulb or overheating during use can cause the plastic to begin to melt. This leads to the aforementioned unpleasant outcomes.

The antidote to this problem involves swapping out the glass/plastic on the headlight or switching the bulb for a cooler-running alternative or one with superior cooling capabilities.

Could it be an issue with your Honda Accord's headlight bulbs?

If the headlights are spotless, far from dull, and devoid of any damage or signs of wear and tear, yet the illumination is still subpar, then the problem likely lies with the bulbs. 

Honda Accord headlight bulbs may depreciate over time, so dim lighting could be a telltale sign. The remedy here involves replacing old or worn bulbs with new ones or contemplating the installation of brighter headlight bulbs.
 

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How to Safeguard Your Honda Accord's Headlights?

Dim headlights not only mar the aesthetic appeal of your Honda Accord but can significantly hamper night-time driving. Hazy plastic scatters the beam, creating a clouded patchwork of light that impairs road visibility.

To stave off dullness, dimming, or a yellowing effect on your Accord’s headlights, you can undertake the following measures:

• Regular headlight maintenance: Schedule frequent cleaning sessions for your headlights to retain their pristine and clear facade. Use specialised tools and solutions, or entrust this chore to the experts.
• Parking in shade: The relentless heat of the direct sun is the culprit behind your plastic headlights discoloring from their original white to a yellowish hue. UV radiation permeates the headlight plastic and degrades its structure. Reserve a spot for your cherished Honda Accord in a shady spot or a garage.

In Summary

Clean and transparent Honda Accord headlights facilitate efficient, extensive road visibility under any circumstances. If you detect a decline in the clarity of your headlights, prompt intervention is crucial.

Adopting the right methods and techniques for Accord headlight cleaning can help you rejuvenate their customary transparency and clarity, thereby enhancing your driving experience.

If you harbor doubts about your ability to clean your Honda Accord’s headlights independently, consider delegating this task to professional services. Sure, it comes with a price tag, but the peace of mind knowing the headlight cleaning-restoration job has been handled expertly is priceless.