Cleaning cloudy headlights can produce one of those deeply satisfying car-care moments. A little scrubbing, some polishing, and suddenly the front of the car looks years younger. Then, a few weeks later, the headlights turn hazy again, as if the car has quietly reversed your work overnight.
The frustrating part is that the cleaning may have worked perfectly. The problem often lies in what happens after the cloudiness disappears. Modern headlights typically use polycarbonate plastic lenses, which can develop oxidation, fine surface damage, and deterioration in their protective coating. Removing the haze does not automatically restore that protection. Without the right finishing step, the freshly polished surface can start looking tired again.
