How To Clean Helmet: 7 Effective Strategies for Cleaning Your Motorcycle Helmet

Helmets are an essential part of maintaining safety while riding a motorcycle. Wearing a helmet every time you go out on a motorcycle ride can protect your head and face from unexpected injuries. However, wearing helmets over and over can bring out the question of cleanliness and hygiene.

Motorcycle helmets are a compact space and get into direct contact with your face every time you wear them. Not cleaning your helmet from time to time can lead to the build-up of oil, dirt and sweat stains. Regularly cleaning your helmet can maintain hygiene and keep things comfortable as well as safe while riding. It can also extend the life of your helmet and keep it in good condition.

Join us as we discuss how to wash helmets and what are the best strategies to do it in this blog.

A] Preparing For Helmet Cleaning

Before you begin your helmet cleaning process, you need to ensure you have all the necessary tools and materials for a deep cleaning process. It is important to plan your helmet-cleaning process in advance to ensure an optimal cleaning process without damaging the helmet.

• For a comprehensive cleaning process, you would need certain tools and materials such as mild detergent or helmet-cleaning soap, and a sponge. 
• It is also important for a rider to know how to clean helmet from inside. 
• A soft bristle brush might be the best tool for cleaning without damaging the surface. 
• Make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions to learn about any other specific requirements for cleaning your helmet.

Different types of motorcycle helmets have different cleaning requirements and methods. Certain helmets might be made from different materials such as carbon fibre or ABS which require specific cleaning methods to avoid damage. You should also consider the inner lining, and padding while gathering your materials.

Carefully planning the cleaning process and gathering the right materials can save you time during the cleaning process and ensure the helmet’s integrity and safety standards are maintained.

B] Helmet Disassembly (If Applicable)

If your helmet has removable parts such as the inner lining, padding, visors, and electronics like Bluetooth, you should make sure to disassemble them before cleaning. Removing these parts can facilitate a better cleaning experience. Removing these parts the correct way is also important to ensure they do not get damaged.

While removing such components, the first thing you should do is read the manual or guide provided by the manufacturer. Manufacturers often provide detailed instructions on how to safely disassemble the parts. Check for release mechanisms such as a button, hooks, velcro or levers. If screws are involved, undo the screws with a screwdriver and keep them aside in a secure place.

While disassembling the parts, avoid putting too much pressure or force if a part is not coming out. Applying pressure might damage the delicate parts, which might either compromise safety or not reattach again.

C] 7 Effective Strategies For Cleaning Your Motorcycle Helmet

Regularly cleaning your motorcycle helmet will ensure your helmet’s hygienic and significantly prolong its longevity. By maintaining proper cleanliness, you could extract the complete value out of your riding helmet price.

Strategy 1: Using Mild Soap And Water

For cleaning the outer shell of the helmet, the best way is to rinse it with mild soap and water. Lukewarm water works best to remove all the dust and oil and give the helmet a new shine. Use a sponge or a microfiber cloth along with soap to get the best results. The combination of soapy water and a soft sponge or cloth cleans the helmet without scratching or damaging the outer shell.

Avoid chemicals, bleach or harsh soap for cleaning the helmet as they can leave a mark and wear out the helmet over time. After washing the helmet with soap and water, soak the water with a smooth clean cloth and let the helmet dry in open air or under the sun. Do not use blow dryers or any other heat sources as they can damage the paint.

Strategy 2: Visor Cleaning Techniques

Keeping the visor clean is very important for maintaining visibility and safety on the road. The visor usually gets dirty very quickly due to direct contact with dust, fog and skin oil, hence you should learn how to clean helmet visor properly.

If your helmet’s visor is removable, gently unhinge the visor from the helmet to better access the visor. Use warm water and mild soap with a microfiber cloth to clean the visor effectively. Soak the cloth in warm water and spread it over the visor for a couple of minutes. After this, gently rub the visor with mild soap, do not apply pressure as it can scratch the glass and a scratched visor can reduce the visibility on the road. Make sure you clean the visor from the inside and outside and also cover the sides for better peripheral vision.

High temperature Hard Hats Fiber resinforce resin safety helmet

Strategy 3: Cleaning The Padding And Liner

The inner padding is a vital part of the helmet that cushions your head in case of an impact. And the liner is a thin layer of soft fabric which sits between the helmet and your scalp reducing irritation. As these parts are in contact with your head, oil, hair and other particles can built-up over time, hence knowing how to clean helmet padding and inner lining is crucial. To clean the impurities, first, remove the inner padding and liner.

Most modern padded helmets like the LS2 FF800 Storm Sprinter Helmet come with detachable padding and liner. To wash the padding and lining, fill a vessel with warm water and mild soap and soak them in. Then gently wash them with your hand to remove the dirt and then wash them with just water to remove excess soap. Squeeze the excess water out and let them dry in the air.

Strategy 4: Deodorising Methods

Build up of dirt and bacteria over time can lead to foul odour which can be very uncomfortable. The best way to prevent it is to regularly wipe the inside of the helmet with a clean cloth to remove residual sweat. However, if you notice a foul smell while wearing your helmet, you can easily disinfect it with motorcycle helmet sanitizer.

Deodorisers which are specifically designed for helmets are designed to be skin friendly so it does not cause irritation or rash to your skin. To avoid helmets from smelling, maintain proper ventilation while riding so the moisture and humidity are kept to a minimum.

Strategy 5: Using Helmet Cleaning Kits

A helmet cleaning kit consists of various products that are designed to clean and maintain the helmet in good condition. Most commercially available helmet cleaning kits include a variety of products designed to clean and maintain various parts of the helmet. Some of the products which are commonly found in most kits include, a specialised cleaning solution, a leather cleaning and care kit, a microfiber cloth, a deodoriser spray, and a polish for enhancing the shine.

Using a cleaning kit can be extremely convincing as you find all the tools you need in one place. The materials included in the cleaning kit are specially designed for helmet cleaning; hence the chances of accidentally scratching or damaging the helmet are reduced.

Strategy 6: Deep Cleaning Techniques

For a comprehensive cleaning process, it is important to understand how to clean helmet inside as well as outside. Specialised cleaning techniques can be applied to remove dirt and oil from even the toughest corners of the helmet without damaging it. Smaller parts such screws, the sides of the visor, small corners and the strap are often overlooked while cleaning which has the same amount of dirt and germs as any other part of the helmet.

Using thin brushes, and foam cleaners are best suited for cleaning smaller vents and corners. Dry cleaning and steaming the inner fabrics can sanitise the helmet, riding it of germs and bacteria which cause skin irritation, rashes and smell. Using deep cleaning techniques you can remove even the stubborn stains like water spots, dried mud and bird droppings. Remember to read the manufacturer’s instructions before to avoid damage.

Strategy 7: Cleaning Helmet Ventilation System

Helmet vents are an important part of keeping you cool and comfortable on the ride during warm weather. A clogged ventilation system can’t function as intended and make the rider uncomfortable causing health problems. Many things can clog the vents such as dirt, pebbles, and small bugs. Cleaning the vents regularly is important to maintain hygiene as well as an open part for the wind.

To clean the ventilation system first detach the vents from the helmets. Use the instructions manual provided along with the helmet to remove the vents properly. Use soft bristle brushed, cotton swabs and small air compressors to clean the vents effectively. Once you clean the clogged junk, you can wash them with water and soap to disinfect it. Reattach the vents using the manual to ensure the integrity isn’t compromised.

Conclusion

Wearing a clean and hygienic helmet is very important to maintain comfort during rides, and reduce skin irritation and rashes. It is important for every rider to know how to clean the motorcycle helmet. Hopefully, the above points have provided you with adequate information to effectively clean the helmet.

Remember to read the manufacturer’s instructions and have all the materials and tools ready before you start cleaning. A clean and hygienic helmet can stay in good condition for a long time and also provide better visibility and safety on the road.