How To Clean Motorcycle Helmet at Home For a Long-Lasting Use

Your motorcycle helmet is as much a prized treasure as your beautiful, brand-new, well designed, high-end motorcycle. If you fail to maintain and clean it properly, you will soon have an old, grimy, rusty, smelly, beat-up helmet. Nobody should find you with that flag on your head. 

Besides protecting your upper body from risks of road hazards, your helmet plays an essential role in your health, especially your skin. If you do not clean it properly, and often, you can quickly contact germs alongside other very harmful infections. Your skin can also get spanked with rashes and all manner of not-so-cool warts. 

High-quality motorcycle helmets can effortlessly protect your head, neck, and upper body in a crash. They also give your entire head adequate covering from harsh weather conditions, as well as protect your facial skin from bugs and debris. They can do this for several hours at a stretch, even for months and several years with ease. 

However, they need you to do your part in keeping them clean and maintained sufficiently. Else, your helmet will become a heck of a mess sooner than the manufacturers planned.

To ensure that none of that happens, here are some quality tips and tricks you can employ to maintain your high investment on your motorcycle helmet. These tips will keep your treasured possession in the best shape over the long haul.

Items Needed for Motorcycle Helmet Wash

Before you get on with cleaning your motorcycle helmet, there are a few essential pieces of working-equipment you will need to get the job done. Here’s a comprehensive list.

• Microfiber rags
• Baby shampoo
• Toothbrush
• Compressed air
• Warm water

Microfiber Rags

The soft material used to make this makes it excellent for cleaning your helmet and face-shield without the worry of scratching the surface. Also, it doesn’t have to be a new one. However, try to ensure that you always use clean ones.

Baby Shampoo

Why “baby shampoo?” you’re probably asking. Well, because it’s more likely to be petroleum-free, or at least, very minimal. Hence, the color and original nature of your helmet can stay intact even after several washes. It is the more preferred option.

Toothbrush

You don’t need to get a mega hi-tech twenty-first-century piece. A regular or standard toothbrush would suffice. This equipment helps to reach the intricate nooks and crannies that may not be accessible for the microfiber. It is useful to clean the inside of a motorcycle helmet. The vents and gaskets, for instance, will be in dire need of this guy.

Compressed air

This piece of equipment is excellent for cleaning your helmet’s air vents. Meanwhile, stay clear of aerosol-can air as it can reduce your helmet’s protective capabilities by destroying the EPS liner in your helmet.

Warm Water

Warm water (not hot) is the better choice for this activity. The temperature is superb for removing dirt and micro-organisms that can inflict rashes on your skin. Also, it is perfect for cleaning your face-shield without damaging the quality of its vision.

How To Clean Your Motorcycle Helmet

1. Remove external accessories and electronic attachments

Most people don’t take this step to note until it becomes too late. Water and electronics are not the best of friends, except your helmet has waterproof accessories. Even so, you should detach them before you proceed with the rest of the cleaning processes. They include batteries, Bluetooth units, microphones, antennas, etc.

2. Detach The Interior Part of the Helmet

You will likely find that most manufacturers have various designs. However, this only takes a few strategic touches. Most manufacturers use magnets and hook-and-loop fittings. Meanwhile, you can refer to the user’s manual if you’re not conversant with your helmet’s design. After you have finished detaching, you will wash this part exclusively for the best results – we will show you how in step-4.

3. Soak the Outer-shell of your Helmet in Warm Water

This step is necessary so that you do not implement too much effort in scrubbing. Allow the outer-shell to drench in the water for some time so that tough dirt and stains can soften and loosen easily. We will wash this in step-5.

4. Work on the Helmet’s Interior Lining 

Typically, this is the section that needs the most sanitizing. It is that segment of the helmet that is beat with hair oil, facial sweat, grime, and every other thing you can imagine.When attending to this particular section, fill a bucket, tub, or sink with enough warm water. Apply ample amount of baby shampoo, soak the helmet lining entirely and use your clean microfiber rag to scrub and massage gently. This process, coupled with the soapy lather, will rid it of hair oil, sweat, stains, dirt, grime, and everything else.When you have finished, hang the helmet freely and allow it to dry completely. You can do this the night before so that it has several hours to dry-out.

5. Work on your Helmet’s Exterior Outer-shell

Now, detach the face-shield from the outer-shell put it back in warm soapy water. Use your clean wet microfiber rag to scrub off dirt from the outer shell gently. By now, the stains and dirt are all loosened-up. You can also make use of your toothbrush to clean-up hard-to-reach areas mildly.

6. Use Air Compressor to Blow-out Air Vents

It is common to get tiny insects, chunks of dirt, etc. stuck in the vent-channels of your helmet while riding hard. Do not use an aerosol can; instead, an air compressor is superb for blowing-out and reopening the pathways for free air again.

7. Wash your Face-shield

Most manufacturers use protective coatings on the face-shield to prevent ultraviolet rays, anti-fog, and to keep your eyes safe. Because of this, you mustn’t use harsh substances or materials when cleaning the face-shield. Warm water, baby shampoo, and clean wet microfiber are excellent for cleaning your face-shield. Also, when washing, ensure that you only scrub gently all through to get rid of dirt and stains until you’re satisfied.

8. Clean your Helmet’s Internal Sun-shield (if it’s installed)

If there is an internal sun-shield installed on your helmet, it’s probably not so dirty. You can quickly wipe it clean with warm water and your microfiber towel gently. You don’t need to detach it for cleaning unless you want to.

9. Reassemble your Motorcycle Helmet

Now all the work is done, and it is time to put your clean, beautiful motorcycle helmet back together. Start the reassembling process with the cheek pads and dry liner. Afterward, reattach your external accessories and electronic attachments along with your face-shield.

10. Wipe-clean to Shine your Helmet

As soon as you have finished reassembling your helmet, you can use a clean, dry microfiber towel to wipe it clean gently. Doing this will make your helmet shine again like brand-new!That’s it, and you’re all good to go!

Cleaning the inside

Starting with the interior of a helmet, you are likely to be confronted with two choices both detachable liner and non-removable lining. The first is undoubtedly the easier to utilize. Pull out all the liners, for example, cheek pads. They’re all kept in place with Velcro or soda studs and, using a sharp tug you ought to have the ability to get out them.

Now you can wash off the liners by hand at the kitchen sink with a gentle cleanser. Any residue left after rinsing will not irritate skin, and it is soft enough that it will not hurt the cloth if you are frequently washing.

As an alternative, you may take an even simpler route and place the helmet liners in the washing machine. You are going to require a web washing bag to put them in and pick the gentle/delicate cycle no thicker than 30 levels and using regular laundry detergent operate them through the washer. Do not set the lining pieces back in the helmet till they’re 100% dry.

Underneath the removable cubes, you’ll also find the mended EPS impact liners which compose the inner shell of the helmet and consume the energy of an effect. These cannot be eliminated and ought to be treated to a gentle wipe over with a moist cloth or unscented baby brush.

For non-removable linings at a crash helmet, then you want a different strategy. Take off all components like the visor and some other components that move or could be removed easily.

Then fill out a bucket (or a plastic bathtub), which can be large enough to accommodate your helmet, using warm water and a mild cleanser. Agitate the water from the bucket or tub till you’ve made it nice and frothy.

Take the bucket along with the helmet into the shower. Rinse the helmet out under lukewarm water from the bathtub (to find the first grime off) then place down it from the bucket. Let it boil for a couple of minutes (it will help clean up the exterior too) and turn down the helmet upside down from the skillet so that you have access into the interior.

Together with your finger rub on the soapy water to the liner. Be gentle but company when doing so and agitate the substance to acquire the ‘head grime’ from the liner. This should take a few minutes, and you will be amazed by how much garbage comes from the liner.

As soon as you’ve obtained the lining looking clean, rinse it under the shower in warm water ensuring you have got rid of all of the soap suds.

Place the helmet on an apartment, well-aired surface and allow it to dry naturally. Do not use a hair dryer to accelerate the procedure, since you do not wish to hurt the helmet or lining. However, you can set the helmet facing an average electrical fan to receive it dry fairly quickly.

The Basic Do’s and Don’ts of Helmet Care 

You do not read anything else in this guide, read through these helmet maintenances there is and don’ts. A lot of individuals wash their helmets the incorrect manner or using the wrong products and wind up doing more damage than good. If you observe these basic guidelines, you will be in great form.

Do’s

• Use gentle soap when cleansing the lining, such as baby shampoo or mild laundry detergent
• Use soft, scratch-free microfiber towels to wash your helmetPermit the suds to perform the job; utilize a minimum of strain when cleansing visors and gloss cubes to stop scratching
• Use automotive gloss on the casing of gloss helmets (such as Plexus or even Honda Polish)
• Air dry your helmet and lining, hastening it with a room lover if desiredShield your helmet using a coat of automotive wax, to prevent water stains, guts, and dirt from sticking
• lubricates the moving portions of the helmet, such as the visor hinge, using a silicone-based lubricant (optional.)

Don’t

• Scrub the casing or visor of a bike helmet, mainly to eliminate stubborn insect gutsUse harsh additives, such as dish soap, in your helmet or lining
• Use dryer sheets on your helmet to “freshen it” (dryer sheets have harsh substances and trigger allergic skin reactions in most people)
• Put your helmet lining from the drier

Watch How To Wash Your Motorcycle Helmet

How to Clean a Motorcycle Helmet FAQs

Can I use petroleum jelly to wash my helmet?

No, as much as possible, you must avoid petroleum-based products when washing your helmet.

What soap is recommended for washing my helmet?

Baby shampoo is very recommendable. You can also use other mild non-petroleum-based products. 

How long will it take to wash?

For the best results, the night before, and a couple of minutes to an hour the following day.

Is it advisable to use hot water to get rid of tough stains?

No, only warm water is recommendable throughout.

Must I take off the sun-shield to wash?

No, you don’t need to, except you want to do so absolutely.

Conclusion

If you follow through with this simple guide, you will find that cleaning your motorcycle helmet is as effortless as it can be. Each step is precise, and the tools needed are everyday items you utilize.

Meanwhile, some essential key points to remember always include not incorporating petroleum-based substances or solvents. Also, ensure that you scrub gently throughout, and use only warm water.

Continually keeping your helmet clean will also keep you healthy and help you maintain clearer facial skin. Have fun enjoying your bike!

Sources:

https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/how-to-clean-a-motorcycle-helmet