Helmet cleaning

gel9001 · Post by **gel9001** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 8:47 am

Any suggestions for cleaning the inside of a helmet. Mine is starting to smell a little gamey in there. I have the Arai Astral II, only the cheekpads are removable to wash. Any products out there, or any suggestions.

thanks,

Gene

Post by **Pat** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:23 am

I found a product that foams the inside of the helmet, wipe it out, let dry, smells good!

But the wisdom is to clean your helmet with the same shampoo you use in the shower. You already know that the shampoo does not react with your scalp, so it's your best bet to use the same stuff in your helmet.....

mdouglas · Post by **mdouglas** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:09 pm

Use a baby shampoo - mild and non-perfumed. Wash the helmet in the shower and leave to dry out. I've tried proprietary aerosol helmet cleaners before and the smell they leave is not very pleasant.

mnnden · Post by **mnnden** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:23 pm

Gene. I read about putting a sheet of Fabric softener ( the sheet type, you use in a cloths dryer) put it up in the helmet after cleaning, seems to help keep the helmet fresh. another thing I read about, just recently, (I think in the BMWON) is that you should not store your gloves inside the helment when your not riding, (I guess some people do this) apparently the odor from the gloves will transfer to the helmet

darthrider · Post by **darthrider** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 2:10 pm

Just do what the manufacturers recommend...warm water in a sink with a *little* dish soap or shampoo.
Rinse - rinse - rinse...very important.
Then allow to drip & air dry, no direct heat.
I've used the after-cleaning sprays but can't tell they do anything?
Removable liners are easier to wash but I'd wash the shell too.
Dirty helmet interiors are the main reason helmets only have a ~5 year useful life.
Two more helmet tips from the makers...never rest your helmet on the bike with the mirror up inside and don't let other people wear your helmet. The reason is the same - it will slightly distort the soft "styrofoam" and slightly reduce the helmet's effectiveness.

PS - What's going to happen now...we have this thread in the wrong place?? Very inappropriate. Mods??

silverr · Post by **silverr** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 2:14 pm

so, wash with all the pads still in the helmet? seems like it would be tuff to really get things rinsed out?

darthrider · Post by **darthrider** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 2:35 pm

Yeah, just dunk the whole mutha...submerge it in clean water to rinse - rinse - rinse. Then repeat with more clean water.
That way you get the whole thing squeeky clean and smelling better than your sweaty head.
I'm sure the shower is OK too, this is just what the makers say and what I've done.

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 2:38 pm

Take that helmet and put it in the dishwasher....normal cycle.......it will be cleaned, thoroughly rinsed and dried..<G>

beemerphile · Post by **beemerphile** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 2:39 pm

After you clean it, use a Sliks helmet liner from then on and the helmet will stay clean for extended periods. It also helps with scalp itch. - Lee

darthrider · Post by **darthrider** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 3:14 pm

After you clean it, use a Sliks helmet liner from then on and the helmet will stay clean for extended periods. It also helps with scalp itch. - Lee

Yeah, good point.
I use a perforated nylon "doo-rag" with a thin terry sweat-band in the summer which really lets the helmet's vents work and keeps the inside dry and minty-fresh too.
No, I don't wear it all the time, just when the helmet is on.
In the winter I use a non-vented doo-rage.
To me, the doo-rags are more comfortable and not nearly as goofy looking!

kjax909 · Post by **kjax909** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 5:20 pm

I use Lee parks Design helmet referesher. Spray it on, wait for it to dry (about 10 min in the sun) and viola, no more funk or head itch. Cost $9 at Rider's Wearhouse (http://www.aerostitch.com).

soggybottom · Post by **soggybottom** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:40 pm

The best way to get the stink out of your helmet is to remove it from your head

Post by **rdsmith3** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:35 am

I spray mine with Helmet Fresh. That's all I do for the inside.
http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/pr ... tem=HFRESH

It seems to do the job. My wife has not complained about any odors.

darthrider · Post by **darthrider** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 12:11 pm

Bob -
My wife doesn't complain about odors either...but she does complain that I sometimes wear a pair of jeans for a week!

The dirty helmet interiors actually degrade the liner and the "styrofoam" shell, thus the helmet industry's recommendation to replace a helmet after ~5 years (that plus the 'state of the art' technology changes a *lot* in that time with the higher end helmets).

Soap & shampoo residues, skin oil, sweat, dirt, etc. all combine to degrade the liners...and the liners are a part of the protective system. The sprays may keep things "fresh" but they can't keep them clean.

This is why Arai has an "official" 5-year warranty policy but an "unofficial" 6-year warranty if the helmet has been kept clean, shows signs of proper use & care, etc.

gel9001 · Post by **gel9001** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 1:23 pm

I heard our dear friend Boxermania in Louisiana, had invented a helmet cleaning machine out of some spare Fuel regulator parts and a washing machine and that he "takes care" of helmets for a small fee. But aside from that option, I was thinking of taking cheekpads out and washing, lightly scrubbing with woolite.
I think the rinsing is the brain teaser, are some of you saying that its ok to dunk the helmet in water to rinse? If thats the case, perhaps I will choose that route

Gene

darthrider · Post by **darthrider** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 2:04 pm

Gene -
"Dunking" is exactly what Arai, Shoei & KBC recommend. It's the best way to *really* rinse it completely.
They say tht any quality helmet will be made using non-water soluble glue on the various parts.
A cheap helmet may be made with water soluble glue and might fall apart...you would be better off!

gel9001 · Post by **gel9001** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 2:33 pm

Dave,

I went through the Arai instructions and they say nothing about "dunking" so are you reading another manufacture's instructions or are u goofing on me?

Gene

darthrider · Post by **darthrider** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 2:56 pm

Gene -
I might goof on you on some things but never helmets!

I don't have any Arai in-the-box instructions handy but this is always a big topic of conversation when they put on the tech seminars for us. Same with KBC and Shoei when we carried them. Something they stress...a lot.
It sounded strange to me too at first but it really will not hurt them...it's good for them!
You may be concerned about the "styrofoam-like" material of the inner shell...those beads are "closed" and compressed and do not absorb water.

If you are still concerned (and I would not blame you...you hear LOTS of crap on the Internet!), you might find it on Arai's website: http://www.araiamericas.com or at this number: 610 837 4210

If you call them or find it on their website, please post results.

Post by **wncbmw** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:27 pm

One of the features in my new Arai that I like is everything is removeable for cleaning in the interior. And while I used a Slik in my old helmet, I started doing without this summer to get the benefit of the great ventilation! I wouldn't have done that unless I knew I could clean it one every year or so whether it needs it or not!

Going without the Slik did leave some interesting grooves in my almost-gone-but-not-forgotten hair however!

My instructions BTW, just say wash with lukewarm water and detergent and rinse throughly, then let dry at ambient temperature.

And darthrider knows helmets!

darthrider · Post by **darthrider** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:56 pm

I re-read my earlier post about "dunking" and I don't think I was clear (gee, *that's* never happened before!), so I'll ad that at least Arai, KBC, & Shoei that I know of endorse and recommend dunking.

On fully removable liners I would remove & wash them separately but I would wash the helmet too (dunk). There are places inside a helmet that can not be removed and "gunk up" too. I wash my Arai in the Fall & Spring, basically at the end and beginning of the main riding season. My pads are partially removable so I dunk every time but if they were fully removable I'd dunk the bucket once a year.
This paragraph is my somewhat informed opinion. The one above is fact.

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