Topic: Stinky helmets?

[scott_cb650]

What do you do to keep your helmet clean or how do you clean it after it gets stinky?

I've had my helmet for about a year now and it's starting to smell like an old shoe, I don't like that!

I'm not sure what I can do to clean it.

(Full face, BTW)

Thanks,
Scott

[Steve F]

Funny you should mention that.  I just got done cleaning my helmet liner last week.  Depending on the brand of helmet you have, some liners are removable, some not.  I have a SHOEI RF700 and the jawbone (I call it) can be taken out and cleaned easily.  The top liner can't be removed.  Hmmmm what to do.  I just filled the kitchen sink with warm water and added WOOLITE to the proper strength.  Dunked the whole helmet in upside-down to submerse all the liner material.  Gently massaged all of the foam and liner for about 15 minutes.  Drained the sink and started rinsing with warm water using the sprayer, with the helmet right-side up so the dirty rinse water falls out the bottom.  Kept that up for about 5 minutes.  Then squeezed out excess water.  Did basically the same thing for the jawbone piece too.  Next I got a 10" fan from MENARD'S that tilts to the vertical position pointed straight up and sat the helmet on the fan.  Left the fan run for over 24 hours straight and it came out nice and dry. 

[flyin_]

I just went through that this spring.  I have a 5 year old full face without a removable liner that pretty much smelled like an old wet dog after about 50K miles.

I used a mild detergent and a wet rag and went to town scrubbing by hand.  I have removable cheek pads and those were washed by hand in the sink.  You would not believe what came out of those 2 small pads.  A few lady bugs even surfaced:)  After the cleaning I then used a lot of fabreeze.  

This helped a lot but it could still use a better cleaning.  I am thinking of talking to a dry cleaner and see if they have any suggestions.

Good luck

[clarkjh]

Try a spray product call FaBreeze it neutralizes the oder somehow.

[razor02097]

I wash my hair

seriously I just spray Fabreeze in after every few rides.

My other helmet has a removable liner that I can throw in the washer 

[techy5025]

The problem I have is the oil in my hair kills the foam?? padding and,
on one of my helmets, it's not replaceable.  As the foam is part of the
protection, I'm reluctant to replace it with off the shelf stuff.

Jim

[Einyodeler]

I always wear a flydana in the summer and a balaclava in the winter under my helmet.
Helpsto keep the hair oil and most of the sweat off the lining, just toss it in the washer and you`re good to go

[scott_cb650]

I was wondering if a do-rag really helped.
Just can't get myself to pay $8 buck or more for a bandana.

[scott_cb650]

Well thanks again.

I just completed a 600+ mile round trip from Hot Springs Arkansas to Eureka and back.
7 hours each way through the hills.
It was great!

I bought a "FLY-danna" before I left and it really helped keep the helmet clean.
Especially yesterday when it was really hot.  I think the temps were at least in the mid 90s.

Thanks,
Scott