Headlight cleaning/polishing

Has anyone had any success cleaning or polishing out the plastic headlight covers? Mine are starting to get foggy on the top just under the hood line. I've seen kits advertised to clean up and polish out the fogginess and I'm wondering if they work, or if there is a simpler, cheaper way to get them clear again?
The fogginess is in the plastic itself, not from dirt or moisture or anything like that.
I suppose I COULD just get a set of projector beam headlights with the L.E.D DRLs...*wish wish*

 

Got pictures?

 

I'll try to get some posted shortly. Don't have any really close ones of the headlights right at the moment.J ust this one... and they were wet with dew when I took it.

 

Get some Depo headlights, thats what i did when mine got foggy

 

Pretty much this. Cleaning products work marginally. A set of Depos can be had on Amazon for around 100 bucks.

 

Well, here's what I'm dealing with. Maybe not the best pics, but I hope you can get the idea....

 

Yeah man my wife's headlights are like that and no polishing/cleaning product could clean it up.

I'd look into a replacement set. I'd stay away from the projector style and stick with OEM style reflectors. People have had good success with the Depo brand.

 

Yeah, I've been looking at Amazon, and reading the reviews. I'm thinking a set of Depos, and having a local body shop install them, since I'm kind of a klutz. Maybe a set with the black bezels...
Maybe I'll have them put on while having the fender flares removed so I can get them sprayed black at the local Line-X dealer...

 

I have always waxed mine when I do a wax on the truck and have never had that problem. As for getting them back to clear I would do a Google search there are some home remedies that I heard work .

 

I've polished numerous headlights but I wet sand and use my Flex polisher. Your headlights aren't bad. The headlight kits are similar to what I do but they come with a drill attachment to wet sand and polish the headlight.

 

What irks me is the driver's side has a spot on the chrome above the side marker where it's worn down to the beige plastic. I have NO idea how that could have happened, since it's inside the plastic cover, and I think it might have been like that when I bought the truck. I might try a cleaner/polish first, and if that doesn't help much, I'll get replacement lights. I live off of gravel roads, so I often do have to drive through dusty conditions, with lots of abrasive crap in the air.

 

3m headlight restoration kit +clear coat/wax

 

Cheap way =toothpaste &wax

 

I have some Meguirs polishing compound. I'll try a bit on an inconspicuous spot, and see what happens...

 

x2 - get toothpaste with baking soda in it.

 

Deep woods Off sprayed on a cloth and a lot of arm effort.

 

there's quite a few body shops offering headlight cleaning/polishing as a service these days. Instead of getting a pair of $100 DEPOs why not try that service out? I've been through some DEPO lights in the past and they have this sort of film that covers their lights. Through 2 winters in the northeast and they were useless. Couldn't even polish them.

 

I just ran a fingernail across some of the worst areas, and could actually feel where the plastic seemed for be "crackling". Not too sure that polishing will help, but I'll try it before popping for new lights.

 

There's stuff that they sell in a aerosol can at most stored now for like 20 bucks. You just spray it on and let it set for a few minutes then wipe clean. It sounds like a gimmick, but I've used it and it works great. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

 

Well, I'm interested in getting input from more people that might have experienced the same problem to figure if trying to polish them out would be more of a waste of time then anything else, or to see if I might be able to save a few bucks rather then just dropping $100+ for new headlights.
I've seen the polish kits, but have NO practical experience as to their effectiveness in the real world, so i thought I would see what others have to say.
Never said that I thought that none of the ideas will work. Just want to collect as many alternatives as I can.
The more info I have, the more I feel I can make the right decision.
And yeah, I'm a little AR, and OCD, so I do sometimes over-analyze things a bit.