Future floor wax on foggy headlights

[dnastrau]

Greetings:

Out of curiosity I tried Future floor wax (now made by Pledge)on my worn '91 Volvo plastic headlight lenses with great results. This stuff has some kind of acrylic in it and is very durable. I painted it on with a foam brush to get a uniform coat and let it dry for a couple of hours before driving the car. The cloudiness is gone and they look shiny again. The coating appears to be very hard and it will be interesting to see how it holds up. At any rate, $6.00 for a bottle was better than $400 for new headlights.

If you have cloudy headlights this is worth a try. If you don't like the results you can remove it with some straight ammonia on a rag. I put some on my wife's Jeep even though those headlights aren't cloudy yet in the hope that it will act as a protectant.

Andrew s.

 

[Jimmy9190]

Interesting. Sometimes the best things are discovered purelyby accident or someone having a hunch and trying something to see if it works. Glad it worked for you.

A good yellow carnauba wax like Meguiars Deep Crystal Step 3 will protect the lights from sun damage and oxidation. It doesn't hurt to wax the lights every time you wash the car.

 

[parimento1]

cant you polish that out?

 

[dnastrau]

I tried Brasso and several plastic polishes (PlastX, etc.)numerous times. It would improve the appearance quite a bit but the dull look would come back after a short while. This yielded better results for me with a lot less work. We'll see how well it holds up.

Andrew S.

 

[jcwit]

Just got around to coating my headlight lenses with the Pledge Future floor wax. Mine were not real bad as I had polished them this last summer, but WOW, this made them just like showroom brand new. Even on a 2001 Ford Escort that has always sat outside, even if it doesn't last a long time its a 5 min. job for both lenses.

BTW clean the lenses first to get the dirt off and use a foam brush.

 

[97tbird]

is this it?
http://www.floorcareproducts.com/floor-finish/index.asp

 

[G-MAN]

Originally Posted By: jcwit
Just got around to coating my headlight lenses with the Pledge Future floor wax. Mine were not real bad as I had polished them this last summer, but WOW, this made them just like showroom brand new. Even on a 2001 Ford Escort that has always sat outside, even if it doesn't last a long time its a 5 min. job for both lenses.


Post back and let us know how well the Future holds up after driving for several miles in the pouring rain.

 

[jcwit]

97tbird, yes thats the stuff.

G-MAN, sure will. In the liquid state, as in just out of the bottle it cleans up with water, but I imagine it drys water proof, a floor finish wouldn't be much good for spills if it wasn't waterproof. Whether or no I'll post letting you'al know just how it works out. Supposed to rain here the next 3 days and monday I have a couple hundred mile drive that should test it pretty good.

 

[sciphi]

Hmm, off to Wally's tomorrow to test this stuff out. I hate having to reapply Plast-X every few weeks.

 

[G-MAN]

Originally Posted By: jcwit
97tbird, yes thats the stuff.

G-MAN, sure will. In the liquid state, as in just out of the bottle it cleans up with water, but I imagine it drys water proof, a floor finish wouldn't be much good for spills if it wasn't waterproof. Whether or no I'll post letting you'al know just how it works out. Supposed to rain here the next 3 days and monday I have a couple hundred mile drive that should test it pretty good.


You typically clean a spill up rather quickly. I'm thinking prolonged driving in the rain, or going through a car wash, is going to break this stuff down and make it cloudy and then eventually wash it off.

 

[jcwit]

Well we'll see is all I can say. It doesn't cloud up on the floor that I've noticed but will let you all know.

Think positive--don't be so pessimistic.
Good vibs.

 

[jcwit]

Originally Posted By: G-MAN
Originally Posted By: jcwit
97tbird, yes thats the stuff.

G-MAN, sure will. In the liquid state, as in just out of the bottle it cleans up with water, but I imagine it drys water proof, a floor finish wouldn't be much good for spills if it wasn't waterproof. Whether or no I'll post letting you'al know just how it works out. Supposed to rain here the next 3 days and monday I have a couple hundred mile drive that should test it pretty good.


You typically clean a spill up rather quickly. I'm thinking prolonged driving in the rain, or going through a car wash, is going to break this stuff down and make it cloudy and then eventually wash it off.


Well it started raining about 2 am this morning and has been raining all day here. Went out and checked and they haven't turned cloudy yet. So far so good.

 

[97tbird]

Hmmm... 2 of the non-typical products that I have in mind for headlight cleaning are:

1) Future Floor wax as suggested here
2) Weiman glass stove top cleaner (has anyone ever tried this, i wonder...)
http://www.weiman.com/products/smooth/cleaner.php

 

[97tbird]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Hmm, off to Wally's tomorrow to test this stuff out. I hate having to reapply Plast-X every few weeks.


hey will you post where in WM you find it and also before/after pics, please?

 

[PRND3L]

I looked today and found where they keep it -- in the groceries aisle with the bathroom cleaners, etc. They were out of stock however, musta been a BITOG run on it, LOL!

 

[jcwit]

Well we now have 200 plus miles on the treated headlights, all in the rain, most at 70 to 75 MPH. No cloudiness or fogging, or coming off that I can see. So I give it a thunbs up as to working.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Just bought a bottle at WM for $5.xx, will try it on the headlight cover of '00 E430 this weekend.

jcwit, how did you apply this Pledge Future Floor Wax on the headlight cover ? Using a damp towel ?

 

[jcwit]

Used a small "3/4 inch" foam brush. Caution as its thin and will run but can be wiped of with a rag or paper towel. Wouldn't really hurt but you'd see the run on the paint. So far with my experience I'm going to give mine another coat for added protection if it ever stops raining.

BTW let us know what you think also, frankly I am impressed with something so simple.

 

[97tbird]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Just bought a bottle at WM for $5.xx, will try it on the headlight cover of '00 E430 this weekend.


PLEASE can you take a few before and after pics and post them?

 

[jcwit]

Originally Posted By: 97tbird
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Just bought a bottle at WM for $5.xx, will try it on the headlight cover of '00 E430 this weekend.


PLEASE can you take a few before and after pics and post them?



You can't believe how much I would love to do this. I have a Digi Camera and all the hook ups. But no knowledge on how to do it. One of the minor faults of being old, I just donot understand these electronics. Hopefully one of the other guys will do this.