my camera's night vision looks terrible now, it's all washed out with bright white spots

Diagnosis

The "washed out" effect or bright white spots (often called "IR flare") occurs when the camera's infrared (IR) light reflects directly back into the lens instead of illuminating the scene. The Nest Cam Outdoor Wired uses a ring of IR LEDs to provide night vision; if a reflective or opaque object is positioned too close to the lens, the IR light bounces off that object and saturates the image sensor, creating blinding white glare and making the rest of the image appear dark or blurry.

This is almost always caused by microscopic debris or organic matter. Common culprits include a single spiderweb strand stretched across the lens, a buildup of pollen, salt spray in coastal areas, or a small insect resting on the outer plastic dome. Because IR light operates at a different wavelength than visible light, these obstructions are often invisible during the day but become highly reflective "mirrors" as soon as the camera switches to night mode.

How to Fix It

To resolve the IR flare, you must perform a deep clean of the optical assembly and ensure the surrounding environment is clear of obstructions. Follow these steps precisely:

1. Power Down: Unplug the power adapter from the wall outlet to prevent any electrical shorts while cleaning and to ensure you aren't accidentally triggering the IR cut filter while wiping.
2. Surface Debris Removal: Use a can of compressed air to blow away loose dust, spiderwebs, and insects from the lens dome and the surrounding bezel. Do not use a cloth first, as you may rub grit into the plastic, causing permanent micro-scratches.
3. Chemical Cleaning: Dampen a clean, lint-free microfiber cloth with a small amount of 70% isopropyl alcohol or a dedicated lens cleaner. Avoid using window cleaners with ammonia or harsh detergents, as these can strip the weather-resistant coating from the plastic dome.
4. The "Ring" Wipe: Carefully wipe the center lens and then move outward to clean the entire circular ring where the IR LEDs are housed. If the LEDs are covered in a film of grime, the light will scatter irregularly, causing the "washed out" look.
5. Edge Detailing: Use a dry cotton swab to clean the narrow gap between the glass lens and the plastic housing, where cobwebs often anchor themselves.
6. Reboot and Test: Plug the camera back in. To test immediately without waiting for nightfall, cover the light sensor with a piece of dark electrical tape for 10 seconds to force the IR LEDs to engage, then check the live feed for white spots.

If That Didn't Work

If cleaning the lens does not solve the issue, consider these alternative causes:

• Check for "IR Bounce" Surfaces: Look for new objects installed near the camera, such as a white PVC pipe, a glossy white wall, or a mirrored surface. If the camera is pointed too steeply downward or is mounted too close to a soffit, the IR light will bounce off the ceiling/wall and blind the sensor. Adjust the tilt angle of the camera by 5-10 degrees to redirect the IR beam.
• Inspect for Dome Clouding: Over years of exposure to UV rays, the plastic dome on some units can develop "crazing" or internal clouding. If the plastic looks milky or yellowed even after cleaning, the material has degraded. In this case, the unit must be replaced as the dome is factory-sealed.
• Verify Power Stability: If the camera is on a very long extension cable or a low-quality power adapter, the IR LEDs may flicker or over-draw power, causing digital artifacts that look like white spots. Test with the original Google power brick plugged directly into a wall outlet.
• Update Firmware: Ensure the camera is updated via the Google Home app. Occasionally, night vision sensitivity is tuned via software updates to better handle high-contrast environments.

Heads Up

• Avoid Abrasives: Never use paper towels or napkins to clean the lens; these are made of wood pulp and will leave permanent scratches on the plastic dome, which will actually make IR flare worse over time.
• Spider Deterrents: Spiders are attracted to the warmth of the IR LEDs. Applying a small amount of peppermint oil or a commercial spider repellent to the mounting bracket (not the lens) can reduce the frequency of web-related flare.
• Placement Height: For optimal night vision, mount the camera 7-10 feet high. Mounting too low increases the chance of insects landing on the lens, while mounting too high may cause the IR light to reflect off the ground too harshly.
• Cleaning Cycle: In high-pollen or dusty environments, schedule a lens wipe every 30 days to prevent the buildup of a "film" that degrades night vision quality.