How do you clean your helmet?

**oldguy** · 1st March 2010, 18:41

Ok Ill ask the hard question, how do you guys n gals clean your helmet, if you do.
after a ride you go through the usual routine of cleaning your bike your gear, but what about your helmet, yesterday after the Mr moto ride, my helmet was all dusty and sweaty inside, it has removable cheek pads but the rest of it can't be removed, so I decided while I had the water blaster out to give it a quick going over in side and out did a good job, but spent most of last night with my daughters hair dryer, drying it out, came out good but theres got to be a better way.

Oh don't buy a helmet with white lining inside it shows up all the dust

**Pornstar** · 1st March 2010, 18:51

I normally use the hose and detergent and massage out the gunk and rinse it, then squeeze out as much as possible then let sit in a dry room. Maybe a towel stuffed in could help. i rarely wash mine and suffer every first five minutes of a ride for it.

**oldguy** · 1st March 2010, 18:55

I know what you mean, feels horrible

**CRF119** · 1st March 2010, 18:58

Some detergents damage helmets. I was told to never use any cleaners on my helmet. So i use a warm water and a soft cloth. If you want to make it look shinney after you can put a bit of silicone on a rag and go over it. (Will make it easier to clean next time but will attract dust) You shouldnt get any water inside the helmet this way. So cleaning the foams you can take them to a dry cleaners or throw them in a delicates bag and put them in the wash. Some foam wont like this so be carefull.

**Crisis management** · 1st March 2010, 19:04

Everything (pants, body armour, gloves, helmet) gets hosed off if needed than into the bath with warm water and one of the fabric softener / wool wash detergents, my helmet has a removable liner so that comes out but gets washed in the same way then left outside to dry.

Heated floors in bathrooms are really good for drying this stuff in winter too but make sure you have a good excuse lined up first, some women seem a bit unreasonable about this.

**p.dath** · 1st March 2010, 19:18

Usually just a bit of dish washing liquid on a paper towel and a bit of water. That's for the outside. Never cleaned the inside.

**RJM** · 1st March 2010, 19:23

After rides I spray everything (bike, boots, mud stained pants etc) with a mixture of 10:1 Dynamo. 10 parts water, 1 part Dynamo. It eats dirt like you wouldn't believe. Works great as a pre-rinse before throwing my gear in the washing machine.

In your situation you should be alright spraying a bit into the helmet lining, leaving it for a few minutes and giving it a quick hose out. Shouldn't take too long to dry. The few times I've skipped cleaning my helmet I've really regretted it. I hate being a sweaty bugger hah.

**flyingcr250** · 1st March 2010, 19:25

i usually only clean the out side, sometimes ill put the liner in the washing machine, but most times i just buy a new one when it starts to get really rank lol

**paturoa** · 1st March 2010, 19:31

Depends - if this is a serious thread, then I don't bother cleaning it until it is realy manky! I give it a mega spraying with full strenght simple green and then just give it a rub with my hand, rinse with the hose, andother rub, another rinse, and then put it on top of the hot water cylinder over a couple of days on top of a towell.

Otherwise I find Mrs P does a good job of cleaning my helmit! Faster is better.

**crazyhorse** · 1st March 2010, 19:35

I use dishwashingn liquid and a soft cloth on the outside, but haven't had to wash the inside yet. Although it gets makeup on it, I think I have just given it a bit of a wipe out with detergent and soft cloth, haven't actually given it a hell clean................. yet

Good question though

**warewolf** · 1st March 2010, 19:40

Old advice from a UK Arai rep: wash your helmet with hair shampoo. The helmet is designed to survive it. Put an old towel in the bottom of the laundry tub so you can rest the helmet on it without scratching it, wash away with plenty of shampoo and lots of rinses. This advice is directed at road helmets with fixed liners. Drying is a slow process even after pressing out most of the moisture with another towel. Hot water cupboard is great for drying things out, just don't put fragiles on top of the cylinder where they could get to 80+.

Off-road helmets, the removable bits get washed with the other bike clothes in the washing machine using a gentle cycle and Sport-Wash. Rest of the helmet gets a tap-pressure water wash, sometimes a sport-wash as well, if I'm doing other stuff in the tub at the same time.

I wouldn't water-blast the inside of the helmet, as you could compress the lining that's supposed compress on impact to protect your head. Don't rush the drying, just leave it somewhere warm & dry, not in the sun, not being blasted by a heater. Possibly you could use the newspaper trick, same as your boots (stuff them with scrunched up newspaper which wicks the moisture away, you can change the paper as soon as it gets damp).

**Pornstar** · 1st March 2010, 19:41

Faaaarrrk, you guys would faint if you beheld my excuse for a helmet. got my Arai MX pro in '93, and have used it as a battering ram ever since, used it for a year also racing jet skis off shore. it goes alright still.