Cleaning head-light bulbs

[SiR]

This isn't Civic specific, so if mods feel this belongs elsewhere, pls. move.

Anyway, I accidentally touched my head-light bulbs while doing a bulb swap and need to know what I need to wipe them with? Something like denatured alcohol, right?

Where can I buy the cleaning solution and roughly how much does it cost?

Many thanks. :)

[ECU-MAN]

cleaning wont save it unfortuantly, just use it till it blows

[KB]

I read somewhere that a gental wipe with a tissue and some metho or turps does the trick?

[ECU-MAN]

still shortens bulb life

[edw-R]

use clean cotton or tissue. No worry!!

[PhatSol]

still shortens bulb life
How?

[Sp3rMz]

once its touched you cant go back.

[toE]

The glass used for headlight bulbs are thin and thorugh R&D, have specific temperatures to withstand the heat produced from the light.

So, any grease/oil from fingers that gets placed on the glass will disrupt it's temperature characteristics.

So once any foreign material stains the glass, the bulb won't blow per-say, but rather the glass can melt, causing the bulb to lose its functionality.

Think I did alright in explaining it. :)

[SiR]

Bugger! So even if I clean the bulb with denatured alcohol or whatever, it won't help at all?

Mind you, it's been almost 3.5 years since I touched these bulbs, but that wouldn't matter, right?

[PhatSol]

The glass used for headlight bulbs are thin and thorugh R&D, have specific temperatures to withstand the heat produced from the light.

So, any grease/oil from fingers that gets placed on the glass will disrupt it's temperature characteristics.

So once any foreign material stains the glass, the bulb won't blow per-say, but rather the glass can melt, causing the bulb to lose its functionality.

Think I did alright in explaining it. :)
Yeah but my question is why can't you just clean off the foreign material?

[civiceg9]

Toe explained pretty good.

Wiping it won't be 100% clean as there will be probably small residual on the bulb which we can't see and using other chemicals could make it worst.

I say just wipe with a clean tissue paper and put it back it.

[PhatSol]

I don't see why it would have a shortened life after cleaning with alchy. IMO bulb will be good as new. I have cleaned several halogen bulbs with alchy and suffered no ill effects. I have also seen halogen bulbs totaly melted out of shape because somone touched them and didn't clean it off. Mabey they still have a shortened life after cleaning, but I certanly haven't noticed it.

http://www.ushio.com/support_lampsafety.htm
http://www.teklight.com/FAQ_s/faq_s.html

BTW: I don't see how rubbing it with a tissue would get the oil off?

[SiR]

Ok, PhatSol, so what kind of alcohol did you use to clean the light bulb?

Thanks.

[Limbo]

just try some metho that will prob be alright. Your just trying to get rid of oil anyway. If you wipe it well enough with a tissue you should get more of it off.

next time try wearing some rubber gloves that should stop you getting your hand oils on the bulb

[PhatSol]

Ok, PhatSol, so what kind of alcohol did you use to clean the light bulb?

Thanks.
Just some metho, but i guess if you wanted to get pickey then isopropanol (spelling?) would probably be better.

[A'PEXi]

you like arguing dont you john hahahha