Cleaning inside of helmets

**Freakshow** · 12th January 2007, 09:36

This is a bit far out there but I was wondering about cleaning the inside of the helmet. (Something I haven't done yet!!

)

Firstly is there anything tips or things to be aware of?

So lets be honest has anybody cleaned the inside of their helmet??

If so how often and should I even bother???

Cheers!!!

**Drum** · 12th January 2007, 09:45

Weekly with standard home glass cleaner. Inside and out. (visor that is). Lining once a year mebbe.

**Trudes** · 12th January 2007, 09:50

I would if mine wasn't so cheap and had removeable insides, but as it doesn't, I don't.

**LilSel** · 12th January 2007, 09:51

I clean mine prob once a year... but then it all depends on circumstances...

Was out riding one day.... on the motorway... felt something hot and warm... blood nose... GREAT!!! got off motorway at next offramp and pulled into first gas station... whipped helmet off pretty damn quick n grabbed tissues... blood all down my face/front etc (got some funny looks from people!)... once it stopped bleedin I cruised home n pulled insides outta helmet n cleaned it all thru n thru....

Dont like hairgel so much in there either... but its easy enough to pull the padding out n wash it...

Sneezing etc in ya helmet is icky too lol... so if been sick at all... clean it then as well to get rid of any germies!

**WickedOne** · 12th January 2007, 09:52

I clean the outside and the visor after every ride but probably only wash the inner lining about twice or three times a year.

**Macktheknife** · 12th January 2007, 10:07

I opted for monthly but in truth it is probably more like 3 monthly. Visor cleaned every week or sometimes every couple of days, depending on the weather.

**vifferman** · 12th January 2007, 10:15

I've had my helmet for about three years, and cleaned it last night for the first time. It has a removable lining, so wasn't too bad, but the forehead bit is made of some sort of chamois or synthetic version thereof and is hard to dry.
Normally, I never clean my helmets inside, but this one was smelling pretty bad, mebbe because it's the tightest-fitting one I've ever had.

Apparently, if you don't have removable linings, the thing to do is take it in the shower and shampoo and rinse it, squeeze as much water out as possible with towels, then set it up with a fan blowing into it.

**MyGSXF:Me** · 12th January 2007, 10:16

in 15 years of riding.. & through 3 helmets.. I have NEVER cleaned the insides...

I don't use hairgel or wear makeup either.. so I spose that might help.. but helmet don't smell either!

**MyGSXF:Me** · 12th January 2007, 10:17

Originally Posted by vifferman

Apparently, if you don't have removable linings, the thing to do is take it in the shower and shampoo and rinse it, squeeze as much water out as possible with towels, then set it up with a fan blowing into it.

That is handy to know..

SHOULD I ever require to clean mine out!

**vifferman** · 12th January 2007, 10:28

Originally Posted by MyGSXF

in 15 years of riding.. & through 3 helmets.. I have NEVER cleaned the insides...

I don't use hairgel or wear makeup either.. so I spose that might help.. but helmet don't smell either!

I think mine is stinky because (a) I now have essentially no hair, and (b) it seems to stink a lot of traffic fumes. Why it should be worse for the latter than previous helmets, I dunno, unless it's because this is my first helmet with a mirrored/tinted visor, so instead of wearing sunglasses and riding with the visor wide open, I now ride with it open only a crack, so less airflow through it...

**MyGSXF:Me** · 12th January 2007, 10:31

Originally Posted by vifferman

I think mine is stinky because (a) I now have essentially no hair, and (b) it seems to stink a lot of traffic fumes. Why it should be worse for the latter than previous helmets, I dunno, unless it's because this is my first helmet with a mirrored/tinted visor, so instead of wearing sunglasses and riding with the visor wide open, I now ride with it open only a crack, so less airflow through it...

yeah.. sounds logical..

ps: nice toy BTW!!

**Freakshow** · 12th January 2007, 11:24

Originally Posted by vifferman

Apparently, if you don't have removable linings, the thing to do is take it in the shower and shampoo and rinse it, squeeze as much water out as possible with towels, then set it up with a fan blowing into it.

interesting???

Might go with the wait 15 years idea.

And think about this if you have sold a helmet did you clean it first??

**Kflasher** · 12th January 2007, 11:42

Visor(s) done every ride, inside and out, I sweet like a pig so I wear a balaclava this is much easer to clean that removing the lining each time.

**vifferman** · 12th January 2007, 11:55

Originally Posted by Freakshow

interesting???

Might go with the wait 15 years idea.

And think about this if you have sold a helmet did you clean it first??

Never ever sold one.
First one was stolen, second one ended up in an opshop, can't remember what happened to the next one, the one after that was traded in (!), the next one suffered a headplant into the road, and I'm currently trying to think how to get the current one replaced. Faceplant onto the footpath only scratched the top of the visor and the brow vent switch thingo. Must do better...
Perhaps it could be stolen?

Interestingly, apart from the faceplant (which was very, very minor and silly), I've never hit my head when I've crashed a bike.