How To Clean The Inside Of A Headlight - Instructables

Introduction: How to Clean the Inside of a Headlight

By CHARLESCRANFORDFollow More by the author: About: Professionally I have been a summer camp counselor, a Draftsman/designer, salesperson, bicycle mechanic, laminate flooring machine mechanic, teacher, and designer of the OP Loftbed. Personally I am a human tha… More About CHARLESCRANFORD »

The last time I cleaned my headlights, they still looked a little dirty. I had seen a magnet cleaning tool for inside fish tanks and thought I could make a couple of versions to help clean the inside of my headlights. Headlights are not airtight. They have a special vent that allows them to breath. When they get hot, the vent lets air out and when they get cold, the vent lets air in. If there is moisture and/or dust in that air, it can get into the headlight. This simple and easy to make tool can make it easy to clean the inside of your headlight.

Step 1: Tools and Materials

I made two versions of the cleaning tool. One out of some old t-shirt material and one out of a sponge. You will also need two strong magnets. I bought mine from an arts and crafts store but you could also use the magnets from a computer hard drive. I sewed them shut with needle and thread but they could also be held together with hot glue. I used a multi-tool for my scissors and knife. I found that using one of those grippy tools worked best for putting the magnet cleaning tool into and out of the headlight. I thought I could just drop it in and pull it out, but there was a metal piece just inside the headlight that the magnet would catch on.

Step 2: Cutting, Inserting the Magnets, and Sewing Them Up

Cut two small pieces of t-shirt and two small pieces of sponge. The magnet can be folded up in the t-shirt material and sewn shut. For the sponges, I cut a pocket, for the magnet, put the magnet in, and sewed it shut.

Step 3: Using the Cleaner Magnets

I used the grippy tool to place the magnet cleaning tool into the headlight. I then placed the second magnet cleaning tool on the outside. The two attracted each other and made it easy to scrub the inside of the headlight. This got rid of all the dust and grime and made My headlights look new again. I was able to just use the magnet cleaning tools without any cleaning agent. If you are going to use a cleaning agent, I would test it on a hidden portion on the outside of the headlight first, to make sure it does not have an adverse effect on the headlight.

Step 4: Video

Here is a video I made of the process.

As always,

Thanks for watching and enjoy.