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I have a 2006 Harley Electraglide and the inside of the headlight lens is smoky looking. Any ideas on how to clean it? The back of the headlight is plastic, so I guess solvents are a no no.

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Headlights are generally acrylic plastic so solvents aren't a good idea as you rightly say. A smoky/foggy headlight can often be polished back to clear. There are purpose made plastic polishing compounds, they don't cost much and in my limited experience they work well. I've also heard that you can polish with a baking soda paste or toothpaste, of those 2 toothpaste makes more sense to me as it is actually a polishing compound. Plus, your headlight will be minty fresh!

Before you polish clean the headlight surface thoroughly with soapy water, you may want to soak it in vinegar for a few hours as well as that will dissolve some of the crud without damaging the plastic.

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  • The lens itself is glass, the back of the headlight is plastic, it is smoky on the inside.
    – user58670
    Commented Jan 15, 2021 at 12:46
  • So you are saying the smoky bit is plastic, right?
    – GdD
    Commented Jan 15, 2021 at 12:47
  • No, it is on the inside of the glass, and the chrome reflector (which I guess is chrome plated plastic). It is hazy, like a slight layer of smoke.
    – user58670
    Commented Jan 15, 2021 at 12:51
  • Solvents won't damage glass, but I'd still follow the steps in my answer, they'll work for glass as well.
    – GdD
    Commented Jan 15, 2021 at 12:55
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    That is apparent @slick56, the suggestions I gave are ways to clean the inside of a headlight by cleaning, rinsing and polishing. If there's something you feel this doesn't cover please be specific as to why, repeating it's on the inside doesn't help me help you.
    – GdD
    Commented Jan 17, 2021 at 10:26

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