How do I clean my smelly helmet?

[Damantis]

And yes. I mean my smelly Bike helmet! Only the cheek pads are removable, but whats the best way to get the stale sweaty smell out of the rest of the lining? I'm guessing that wetting the inner shell with any kind of detergent or chemicals is a bad idea? Or do I just spray half a can of Lynx in there and just be done with it?:blink:

[AllanB]

Several options - a can of upholstery cleaner, fresh water and some rags. Problem is some of those cleaners could get you high, thus your helmet will need a good airing out.

Warm water with a bit of detergent and rags - soak and scrub, dry as much as possible with towel etc then air dry.

I've read in many bike magazines to submerse them in a bucket of warm soapy water and clean out with a scrub. Dry. Never been game to try this myself!

Buy a nice fresh helmet.

[Damantis]

Thanks, might just try with as little water and chemicals as I can then.

[marty]

bit tough in this weather as can take ages to dry. I fill mine up with water and clothes detergent and give it a good swirl around and massage, then rinse it out with heaps of fresh water then leave it in front of a fan to dry.

[Damantis]

You don't reckon it could be bad for the inside shell then? Was just worried that it might reduce the helmets effectiveness in an impact etc. I've heard ppl say you shouldn't even put stickers on the outside of the helmet ( tho it sounds a bit OTT )

[marty]

it's only water and soap. it gets just as wet after riding in the rain - i have done my about 4 times and it's never given me any grief

[schrodingers cat]

bit tough in this weather as can take ages to dry. I fill mine up with water and clothes detergent and give it a good swirl around and massage, then rinse it out with heaps of fresh water then leave it in front of a fan to dry.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/4/19/253/26056/ITEM/Moose-Racing-Boot--Helmet-and-Glove-Dryer.aspx

Or get a vacuum cleaner that has a blow output and feed that into the helmet. The air is warm and dry.

[marty]

good idea! never thought of that!

[warewolf]

Advice from a UK Arai rep years ago: wash with hair shampoo. The helmet can't be affected by anything likely to be in your hair.

Put an old towel in the bottom of the laundry sink, to rest the helmet on without scratching it as they get real slippery when wet. Wash to your heart's content; massage the shampoo well in to the lining, and swill through all the air vents. To accelerate drying, use the same trick as with your boots: stuff with crumpled newspaper which wicks out the moisture, change the newspaper when it becomes damp. Leave somewhere warm-ish not hot. Or in front of the dehumidifier.

[SMOKEU]

Problem is some of those cleaners could get you high, thus your helmet will need a good airing out.



How can that possibly be a bad thing? Surely anything that adds to the buzz has to be good.

[p.dath]

Sprinkle a pinch of baking soda in the helmet and leave it for 24 hours. The baking soda will kill the bacteria that cause the smell.

[one fast tl1ooo]

Go on. Go buy a new one :):) You no you want to.

[wysper]

Advice from a UK Arai rep years ago: wash with hair shampoo. The helmet can't be affected by anything likely to be in your hair.

Put an old towel in the bottom of the laundry sink, to rest the helmet on without scratching it as they get real slippery when wet. Wash to your heart's content; massage the shampoo well in to the lining, and swill through all the air vents. To accelerate drying, use the same trick as with your boots: stuff with crumpled newspaper which wicks out the moisture, change the newspaper when it becomes damp. Leave somewhere warm-ish not hot. Or in front of the dehumidifier.

That sounds like a good plan. I would go with that.


Sprinkle a pinch of baking soda in the helmet and leave it for 24 hours. The baking soda will kill the bacteria that cause the smell.

Or this if you don't want to get your helmet wet.

[Jonathan]

Vodka in a spray bottle!

[hellokitty]

My husband races and therefore sweats a lot in his helmet. I wash his with dettol and tea tree oil and leave it upside down in the sun. Smells nice afterwards too (until the next race)

[rustic101]

And yes. I mean my smelly Bike helmet! Only the cheek pads are removable, but whats the best way to get the stale sweaty smell out of the rest of the lining? I'm guessing that wetting the inner shell with any kind of detergent or chemicals is a bad idea? Or do I just spray half a can of Lynx in there and just be done with it?:blink:

I have an N103 and sweat like a rapist even on cold days.

What I use now is a thermal liner which has reduced the absorbed into the helmet.
However what I do is remove the lining, wash it and then when dry spray the helmet with fabreeze.
Which I have found works a treat.

You may want to wash the inside and use a hair dryer then spray and walk away

[CookMySock]

Clean your helmet with hot soapy water, and then clean you head with hot soapy water too. Ick. :lol:

Steve

[Blinkwing]

Why not just shower with the helmet on? Would save you a lot of hassle of having to do both the helmet and your head ..

[Cayman911]

lucky its just smell. my helmet is full of hair. makes me wonder how im not bald yet after lookin in my helmet :O

[Ocean1]

Piss in it and leave it standing overnight.

Never give you blisters again.

[Spearfish]

Piss in it and leave it standing overnight.

Never give you blisters again.

Never let your lid get tagged by a cat, nothing gets that out.

[Damantis]

Go on. Go buy a new one :):) You no you want to.

Lol, nah I just got a new one, its the old one that smells but the missus wore it when I took her out last weekend and wondered the best way to clean it.

Some good advice in the thread. Thanks guys.

[caseye]

Vodka in a spray bottle!

Ratti, Oh Ratti, where is that girl?
See hear now, our very own Ratti recommended the use of ordinary alcohol to clean leathers , so why not a helmet inner.
Care must be taken though to get the alcohol into the helmet liner not the riders stomach lining!.Course it could provide for some interesting comments from mr Plod if stopped soon after cleaning has been implimented.

[SMOKEU]

Vodka in a spray bottle!

Might as well pour half a litre of vodka inside the helmet. Although I have heard that high strength alcohol and most kinds of plastic don't mix particularly well.

[Bren]

Try cleaning out the smell of vomit in a helmet.....it dont come out all that easy...from my own experience....

Bought a new helmet after that experience....oh that was over 20 years ago

[Jonathan]

Care must be taken though to get the alcohol into the helmet liner not the riders stomach lining!.



Well, if the vodka inadvertently winds up inside the rider and not the helmet, the trick is to then sleep with the helmet on. The alcohol vapours emanating from the sleeping rider's head will no doubt have the same odour neutralising effect, and this more controlled release should also protect the plastic. Solved!

[Jizah]

I use motorbike helmet cleaner if that helps.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/helmet-cleaner/motorex-helmet-care.htm

That one ^^

[Ratti]

Ratti, Oh Ratti, where is that girl?
See hear now, our very own Ratti recommended the use of ordinary alcohol to clean leathers , so why not a helmet inner.
Care must be taken though to get the alcohol into the helmet liner not the riders stomach lining!.Course it could provide for some interesting comments from mr Plod if stopped soon after cleaning has been implimented.

Settle Caseye. I get there eventually.
Yup I was going to suggest vodka in a spray bottle, leave it in the sun to dry and you'll be all good. Don't swill it around, you only want to get the fabric liner damp not dripping
O and just to correct you there Sweety, vodka for the LININGS of leathers. Turn 'em inside out, wet the lining and leave in sun to dry. Not as expensive as you might think, and really really quick. Mind you sun is a wee bit of a rare commodity in my part of the country of late. Gorgeous day today tho.

[allycatz]

Never let your lid get tagged by a cat, nothing gets that out.

Even worse when you put the bloody thing on and get a hair full of cats pee too

[p.dath]

Settle Caseye. I get there eventually.
Yup I was going to suggest vodka in a spray bottle, leave it in the sun to dry and you'll be all good. Don't swill it around, you only want to get the fabric liner damp not dripping
O and just to correct you there Sweety, vodka for the LININGS of leathers. Turn 'em inside out, wet the lining and leave in sun to dry. Not as expensive as you might think, and really really quick. Mind you sun is a wee bit of a rare commodity in my part of the country of late. Gorgeous day today tho.

Really officer, I wasn't drinking, I just washed my jacket with Vodka. :lol:

I don't know when you last purchased a bottle of Vodka, at least the drinkable kind, but it's not a cheap cleaner. I'm pretty sure pure ethanol or methanol is considerably cheaper - one of which is the primary ingredient of Vodka. :)

[Spearfish]

Even worse when you put the bloody thing on and get a hair full of cats pee too

Its funny how the stink isn't immediate or even obvious where it coming from...off with the lid, check all around the jacket, shoes...nope...around the bike, nope..
no, no way, not in the helmet, feck I've got to ride home yet...LoL

[Banditbandit]

Lol, nah I just got a new one, its the old one that smells but the missus wore it when I took her out last weekend and wondered the best way to clean it.

Some good advice in the thread. Thanks guys.

Huh? Did it smell before, after or during her time with it?

What's wrong with opening the visor and letting the air through it?

[Banditbandit]

Try cleaning out the smell of vomit in a helmet.....it dont come out all that easy...from my own experience....

Bought a new helmet after that experience....oh that was over 20 years ago

I remember those days - can't do it in a full face (get drunk and throw up I mean ...) Can't get the bottle passed the chin piece ... unless you use a straw ...

[Ratti]

Really officer, I wasn't drinking, I just washed my jacket with Vodka. :lol:

I don't know when you last purchased a bottle of Vodka, at least the drinkable kind, but it's not a cheap cleaner. I'm pretty sure pure ethanol or methanol is considerably cheaper - one of which is the primary ingredient of Vodka. :)

Thats the thing Sweety, you dont need the good stuff to use as a cleaner. Cheapest bottle on the rack does just fine. I'm curious, where would I purchase ethanol? Tattooists use a pure alcohol to clean skin, I wonder if thats the stuff? its VERY expensive.And I know artists use the same alcohol to dissolve shellac and resin, again horribly expensive.
Nah, I'd stick with vodka. Would be funny to be stopped tho and have to explain to a Plod why one reeked.

[p.dath]

Thats the thing Sweety, you dont need the good stuff to use as a cleaner. Cheapest bottle on the rack does just fine. I'm curious, where would I purchase ethanol? Tattooists use a pure alcohol to clean skin, I wonder if thats the stuff? its VERY expensive.And I know artists use the same alcohol to dissolve shellac and resin, again horribly expensive.
Nah, I'd stick with vodka. Would be funny to be stopped tho and have to explain to a Plod why one reeked.

You should be able to purchase pure alcohol from a chemist. Any service station that sells racing fuel may offer it as well. I think it goes for around $2/l. Considerably cheaper than Vodka. I see a 10l drum up for sale for $20 at a popular online auction site.

[Jonathan]

You should be able to purchase pure alcohol from a chemist. Any service station that sells racing fuel may offer it as well. I think it goes for around $2/l. Considerably cheaper than Vodka. I see a 10l drum up for sale for $20 at a popular online auction site.

Pure ethanol at $2/L?! Wish I had known that during my student days - I could have actually been able to afford food!

[Jonathan]

You should be able to purchase pure alcohol from a chemist. Any service station that sells racing fuel may offer it as well. I think it goes for around $2/l. Considerably cheaper than Vodka. I see a 10l drum up for sale for $20 at a popular online auction site.

Pure ethanol at $2/L?! Wish I had known that during my student days - I could have actually been able to afford food!

[Ratti]

Hon, if you had drunk that stuff then you wouldnt be here to tell us about your adventures

[p.dath]

Hon, if you had drunk that stuff then you wouldnt be here to tell us about your adventures

Ratti is right. Around 5ml (one teaspoon) of pure ethanol can blind you. Somewhere between 20ml and 30ml you die.

[Jonathan]

My mates on the street say if you strain it through bread first you're sweet :P

Actually I think it is meths you are thinking about. Pure ethanol may have additives put in it to make it undrinkable but on it's own it is just normal drinking alcohol.

But yeah, Ratti is right. I am sure I have done plenty enough damage to my brain during my student years as it is.