Hella spot light cleaning

Both spotlights of mine are looking rather hazy and dull even with new bulbs in. I have taken them off and washed them in soapy water and also used a baby's bottle wire brush cleaner to try and get in there but it hasn't made much difference. Anyone had any better experiences or is it a lost cause?
cheers

I cleaned mine by putting them in the dishwasher, but it was a very nerve racking experience - they did come out better, but I should have rinsed them out with distilled water as there are a few white water spot marks, but to be honest as mine are fogs, the ribbed glass hides it.

To be honest having realised how rare the fogs were I was a bit daft to risk it, but if it was a case of spots which are much more common, and I was prepared to replace them if it didn't work I would give it a go, unles anyone has some better tips. Must say though, I now have a steam cleaner with a flexible nozzle - that might work, again may need distilled water to stop marks.

just had another thought - are they hazy on the outside - if so some cutting paste or something like Barkeepers Friend may help, particularly clean around the edge of the glass.

Tent peg with a bit of rag taped on one end then bend peg to suit and u have a bent cotton bud.

Not the outside buffed that a treat but made no difference! Contemplating keeping an eye out for replacements really

I've seen people put them in the oven to soften the seal and split them open and remove the glass, clean the glass and then stick them back together. the link below shows a headlight should be the same for a spot light.
Mine are milky so will get around to it one day but more important jobs to do before I get to it.

http://sciroccoregister.co.uk/carforum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=17921

Mine was milky as well; cleaned by using a stiff piece of wire with a dish washing sponge attached and dish washing soap. Came out as clear as new.

what I did is at the back of spot lamp is lift the metal tabs that hold the bulb holder to body of lamp
this gives you better access to clean the inside lamp
I used clean fresh rag with very little washing up liquid
then got long screwdriver to move rag around front and back of lamp
wash lamp out with fresh water then dry with clean dry rag using screwdriver
you can tape up tip of screwdriver with masking tape
its just a case then you putting bulb holder back and tapping the tabs back down
leave front of lamp down on couple of rags when tapping tabs back down  

Another 'milky' residue inside victim - and like some of the previous comments my solution was an 'L' shaped piece of plastic, a little wad of soft cloth and some judicious twiddling.

It made quite a difference, just change the wadding regularly.

ijs1985

Ok here's a link to my post but go to the 1st of March 2013. 
This is how I did mine but please feel free to read all the other suggestions because I'm sure they work just as well. 

http://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&id=mk1-golf-chat_2%2Fcleaning-the-inside-of_2




Please do share your results!  

I poured meths into mine and let it swish about over the lens and reflector. Seemed to take the  milky residue off the reflector. Poured it out and the remainder just evaporates.

to stop it happening again be sure to never touch the bulbs with your fingers before installing them, any oil from your fingers transferred to the bulb burns off and coats the inside of the lamps