WD 40 to Clean Headlights
Using WD 40 to clean headlights may not be the most common and conventional way in cleaning headlights but there is a hack that would get the job done without needing a lot of money and saves you half the effort.
Can you still remember the time when your car headlights were still in their pristine condition? When it is still in its clean moments and its light is illuminating clearly? It’s those moments when your headlights did not have that annoying blurry haze, which usually has a bit of a yellow hue that makes it look dingy. Well, don’t worry because this happens to every car owner.
This is a problem that a usual run to a car wash will not be able to solve. And immediately replacing these headlights just for that problem will be absurd and having it professionally restored by car detailers will surely be costly.
While other options may be explored, these might take time. But why would you spend both time and money for all the hassles when there is a much cheaper option by using WD 40 to clean headlights, a product that is easily available in your go-to auto spare part shop and your local market and it might also already be present in your D-I-Y cabinet.
Uses of WD 40 & Why It Should Be on Your D-I-Y Kit
Although WD 40 stands for water displacement with the 40th formula and meaning it displaces moisture, this is a product that has multiple uses having ingredients that can protect the metal from rust and corrosion, loosens and penetrates rusted or stuck parts on tools and machinery, can displace moisture, and lubricates almost anything.
You may usually see WD 40 on the automotive sections of car parts stores, but it is now becoming a must-have on household sections too. It can remove grease, grime, and dirt from most surfaces, and yes, including car headlights. It can also remove inks from fabrics as well as sticky junks that got stuck on walls and floors.
Possible Causes of Cloudy Headlights
Before we explore how you can use WD 40 to clean headlights, you must first know the factors causing the headlight to have that yellow hue and the build-up of grime. In the early 1980s when the car manufacturers still used glass for headlights, the issue of yellowed hazy headlights did not occur. But the manufacturers decided to change it to polycarbonate glass or plastic fiber in replacement to the glass that can be broken easily.
Polycarbonate glass goes through oxidation when exposed to ultraviolet rays (UV rays), causing it to lose its clarity over prolonged exposure to UV rays. In the case of headlights, cars are exposed to the sun and extreme temperatures most of the time which causes the headlights to oxidize and turn yellow. Air pollution and acid rain can also contribute to the problem.
Signs of dirt and wearing should not be surprising on headlights. These are located in the front, first to face all those dirt, bugs, and other road debris you encounter while on the road. Having oxidized headlights is not only an unpleasant view of a car but, in addition, it can also cause a threat to the safety of the one driving the vehicle and the safety of other drivers on the road. Instead of casting a tight beam when in use in front of the car as a headlight is supposedly designed, foggy and oxidized headlights can scatter light that can affect the other driver’s visibility. To prevent this from happening, listed below is the quick and step-by-step guide to using WD 40 to clean headlights.
Steps on Using WD 40 to Clean Headlights:
- Before starting, you need to make sure that the area to be cleaned is free from any surface dirt (waxy deposits that stick on the surface) that might scratch the headlight. Remove the dirt on the surface and muck on the headlights by rinsing with water and using a water hose is a good option. You can also wipe them with a damp cloth but do it carefully. The last thing you need is to add more scratches to the lens.
5. Take a soft and clean cloth then use it to scrub the headlights slowly and gently in the same direction, and a circular motion. You will now notice the change in the headlight’s appearance while rubbing.
You can repeat steps 4 and 5 if necessary.
6. Finally, just wipe the headlights with a clean cloth. Now you are done, you will see your headlights looking like new once again, or if not, looking significantly better.
Although it occurs on the outside more often, oxidation and dirt can also build up in the inside of headlights. If necessary, you can remove the headlight lens. You can work on the inside as you did on the outside.
Fortunately, using WD 40 to clean headlights does not just help in giving your car headlights a brand-new shine but it also makes the shine last much longer because it gives an added protective coating over the lens.
Tips When Using WD 40 to Clean Headlights
As much as we want to save money by using WD 40 to clean headlights, we would not want you to compromise the quality of your headlights. So, we listed these two important things we need to keep in mind while we D-I-Y our headlights close to their original clarity:
- Take extra care not to leak the WD 40 into your actual headlight or headlight bulb. This may cause the headlight bulb to blur.
- It is suggested to clean oxidized headlights at least two times a year.
WD 40 to Clean Motorcycle Chain
While you are in the process of cleaning your vehicle, might as well use the WD 40 to clean motorcycle chain. This is another addition to the list of where this multi-use product can be of use. WD 40 is designed to provide lubrication while penetrating through grease and grimes in vehicle parts.
In using WD 40 to clean motorcycle chain, you just need a cleaning brush and a clean cloth or towel.
Check if the rear motorcycle wheel is turning freely. You can place the motorcycle on a suitable stand so you can work without restrictions.
Next, place a tray under the motorcycle chain. This tray will collect any dirt or excess liquid.
Apply WD 40 to clean motorcycle chain by spraying generously onto the chain and then allow the liquid to soak up the chain for at least five minutes.
Dirt, grease, and grime can build up on a motorcycle chain so you need to use a brush and brush incessantly to speed up grime removal.
Lastly, dry the area with a clean cloth or towel.
Using WD 40 to clean motorcycle chain lessens wear and tear caused by the grinding of dirt particles, helping to maintain the quality of the chain’s metal parts.
Using WD 40 to Clean Shower Doors
Watermarks and stains tend to build up in shower glass doors and stripping these off can be a tedious task. Here is a tip you can use to save you from this tiresome activity.
Aside from cleaning vehicle-related materials, you can also use WD 40 to clean shower doors. Since WD 40 can displace water, this makes this product suitable for cleaning shower doors. The ingredient in this product will break down hard-to-remove water stains without corroding the material as WD 40 also has anti-corrosion agents.
Use WD 40 to clean shower doors with these easy steps:
First, take proper precautions before applying any cleaning agent. Ensure you have enough ventilation. Things can get pretty messy in cleaning shower rooms that is why it is better to wear gloves as protection.
Next, apply a fair layer of WD-40 over the stained area on your shower door. The product will work on its contact so make sure to cover every spot that you need to cover.
After spraying on the stained area, let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes. The product will break through hard water stains and grime build-ups. If there are still some hard-to-remove stains, you can use a scrubbing brush and gently brush away some of the stubborn stains to speed up the cleaning process.
For added neatness, you can reapply the product and scrub again if needed. Next, you will need a clean microfiber cloth to clean and dry the area.
Finally, wash the shower door. You can use a water hose or a bucket of clean water to rinse the shower door. If you are already satisfied with the result, use a dry towel to dry out the shower door.
Applying WD 40 to Clean Windows
Because our windows and other glass planes are usually exposed to air, it becomes an open surface for dirt to cling onto even if you clean them regularly. Sometimes, just wiping the window clean will not do the trick. But as established in the first part of this blog, WD 40 is a highly efficient product that has multiple uses that include removing grease, grime, and dirt from most surfaces, so it is just fitting to also use WD 40 to clean windows.
To remove dirt from windows, here are the steps in using WD 40 to clean windows:
The first step, cover the surrounding of the window. If your windowsill is made of wood, WD 40 can be damaging to the wood so make sure to cover this before using the cleaning product.
Second, spray the WD 40 on the window and be sure to spray the entire window. You can also spray the product on a clean microfiber cloth and wipe it gently on the window surface. Use circular strokes in wiping and rubbing the window to take away all the sticky residues.
To finish, wipe the window with a cloth in horizontal and vertical strokes to completely wipe the glass clear and make it shine.
Important Things to Keep in Mind When Using WD 40
If your skin is sensitive to chemicals, make sure you use proper protective clothing such as gloves, and a mask to prevent inhaling toxic fumes.
Ensure proper ventilation when dealing with chemicals.
To minimize the odor in your household, you can choose the low odor version of WD 40.
WD 40 has a shelf life of 5 years from the date of production. Make sure to use a product not past its shelf life so as not to compromise its effectiveness.
In wiping surfaces, it is better to use a microfiber cloth instead of a usual cloth or rag. Using a common cloth will leave noticeable wipe streaks.
For a streak-free shine, use up-and-down wiping motions to finish off the glass, while making sure the surface is completely dry.
Conclusion:
Now, we have established some of the many uses of WD 40 as a cleaning tool – WD 40 to clean headlights, WD 40 to clean motorcycle chain, WD 40 to clean shower doors, and applying WD 40 to clean windows. We hope that these tips will save you half the effort of cleaning tasks. You can now proceed to the much-needed cleaning of your vehicle or household and let the results impress you.
As a last reminder, always take time to read any warnings printed on the product packaging before using WD 40 to clean headlights and other vehicle parts including glass surfaces and other metal objects.
