How to clean the inside of a vehicle's taillights

You may have thoroughly cleaned the truck body, but if the taillights look foggy, the whole vehicle will still look dirty. You might think a simple cleaning will solve the problem, but in reality, dirt and dust can accumulate inside the taillights, making cleaning much more difficult.

You might wonder why the inside of your taillights gets dirty, especially since they're not exposed to the outside environment. Actually, over time, condensation seeps into the taillights. If this condensation remains inside for a long time, it will eventually turn into a thick layer of grime, making the taillights look foggy. However, you can easily solve this problem by following these steps.

Tools needed to clean the inside of the taillight: Hot air blower or hair dryer; silicone sealant, butyl sealant, or weatherstripping adhesive; screwdriver; wrench; cotton cloth.

Step 1: Remove the taillight assembly

Before removing the taillights from the vehicle body, be sure to remove the bulbs and power socket. Additionally, before heating and drying any condensation, shake off any excess water from the taillights.

Step 2: Dry the taillights with a hairdryer

Use a heat gun or hairdryer to blow air into the socket on the back of the taillight assembly. Heating will accelerate moisture evaporation. However, if there is excessive water inside the taillights, ensure all liquid and moisture have been completely removed before using a hairdryer. Also, never point a hairdryer directly at the taillight cover, as high temperatures can cause the cover to warp.

Step 3: Check the Taillight Housing's Sealing

Your taillight may have accumulated a lot of moisture or water due to a deformed or damaged weatherstripping. Therefore, you need to check the surrounding area to ensure that all water ingress points are properly sealed. We recommend purchasing tube-packaged sealant for easy application. Simply follow the instructions on the packaging and allow the sealant to dry for at least 30 minutes.

Step 4: Reinstall the taillight assembly on the vehicle body

After removing condensation and all moisture, you can reinstall the taillights. Align the taillight assembly with the vehicle body and tighten it with nuts or screws to secure the taillight housing. Of course, don't forget to install the bulbs and sockets.