Cloudy headlight: how to restore the lens clarity

A hazy plastic lens scatters light, so the beam is weaker than it should be. In autumn, when it gets dark early, you notice it straight away.

• Wash the headlight with water and bike shampoo, then inspect the lens: if there are cracks or moisture inside, polishing won't fix it.
• Mask the bodywork around the headlight with painter's tape to protect the paint.
• If the surface is rough, wet-sand from P800 up to P2000 without skipping grits. Keep the surface wet and use even strokes.
• Rinse off the slurry, dry the lens and polish it with a plastic polish until it's clear.
• Apply a UV-protective headlight clear coat or a polish with a protective layer. Without it the plastic will haze over again within months.
• Let the coating cure fully as the package says and keep the headlight away from washing for a few days.