Cleaning your motorcycle helmet is a necessary but often overlooked process. The dirt and grime that build up on the helmet’s surface can become an eyesore over time, but it also poses a safety hazard to you when riding at night or in inclement weather.
It’s important to keep your gear clean so that you’re as safe as possible out there on the road! In this article, we are going to show you how to clean a motorcycle helmet at home using some household products and few minutes of time.
Household Items for Clean a Motorcycle Helmet
Some people think they can clean their helmets with detergent or soap and water. But it is not advisable. Firstly, If you remove dirt from your helmet while washing, dirt may cause scratches. This scratch will become deeper if rubbed against itself. Another area to be cautious about is the helmet visor. It may leave marks if you are washing with soap or strong detergent.
Therefore, we suggest using a mild soap. Also, you should make sure that the visor is free from any debris before beginning to clean the helmet with soap and water.
You’ll need these household items to clean your motorcycle helmet:
- Cotton Cloth
- Soft Brush
- Mild Soap
- Warm Water
Now you have to follow just 4 steps
Remove Internal and External Parts
First, you should remove any shield from the helmet. Inner pads are made with various materials. Some are washable, while some are not. However, it is advisable to wash it separately. Be careful to remove internal electronic accessories such as microphones, batteries, Bluetooth devices, etc. Then you have to remove all dirt from a soft towel.
Clean Inside of the Helmet
Be careful when you wash helmet interior lining pads because it can easily damage your helmet liners. Crushed by improper washing will make the helmet lining pads is not smooth and feel uncomfortable.
Here’s a step by step guide for how to do so properly:
- First, fill a tub with warm water and use mild soap. Let it soak for a few minutes before you remove your liner from the basin.
Avoid using any harsh cleaners or detergents so as not to damage the lining pads further.
- Dunk, scrub and massage each piece of the lining. Use a brush that can clean between seams, straps, buckles, and strips of fabric on the inside of your helmet’s liner while squeezing out as much soap as possible.
- When you’ve finished washing, pat dry with a towel store it someplace safe with a new layer of padding or at least out of direct sunlight. So as not to damage the paint or linings.
- Once you’ve finished lubing up the interior, re-attach any pads that may have gotten detached during washing and place them back inside your helmet.
You should wash motorcycle helmets liners periodically to keep them fresh and free from dirt, sweat, or other unwanted substances that may have accumulated on the fabric of your helmet’s liner.
Now that the inside is clean. let’s take care of the outside of the helmet.
Clean Outside of the Helmet
- Use warm water and mild soap to gently scrub away any stains or buildup along all sides of the helmet with a sponge or rag (remember not to rub too hard) -Afterwards, rinse.
- Use a soft brush to get in between the vents, on the visor, around straps and anywhere else you can’t easily clean with your hands.
- Wash the outer shell as little as possible. Use mild soap that is free of scents or any other additives.
- Let it air dry completely before wearing it again.
Do not use abrasive cleaners or scrubbers on your helmet, especially the shell. This will only wear out the protective coating over time and make your helmet look duller. Scrubbing too hard can also ruin decals or stickers, so always use a soft washcloth when cleaning the outside of your helmet.
Assemble All the Pieces
Reassemble your helmet, starting with the dry liner and cheek pads. Then, reconnect any pieces you removed before cleaning and finally re-attached your face shield before securing it back on by tightening all fasteners until they are snug.
Here is a video: how to clean a motorcycle helmet at home
Other Important Points on Cleaning a Motorcycle Helmet
- You should always clean your helmet after every use, because it will help you realize if there is a problem which needs to be fixed. You may not notice small scratches, but they will become deeper when left on the helmet for a long time.
Also, most visors can get foggy and this calls for frequent cleaning because you have no way of knowing how dirty it is inside.
- Always make sure that you wash all parts of the helmet because leaving dirt in one place will ensure that there are scratches that may not be visible to the naked eye, but they will affect your head when riding.
- You should also avoid applying too much pressure while cleaning your helmet since this will cause scratches, and some are not visible to the naked eye.
- You should always avoid using soap and water when cleaning your visor and lining because it may leave marks that can affect the visibility at night or in the rain. Keep in mind that dish-washing detergents are not recommended for cleaning visors because some of them do not dissolve easily and this will lead to streaks on your visor.
Conclusion
Remember, your motorcycle helmet needs to be cleaned regularly to stay in tip-top shape. Not all helmets are created equal, and it’s important that you protect yourself with a good quality helmet. We’ve shown you How to clean a motorcycle helmet with just a few household items that are almost always available in any home or garage. We hope this guide was helpful for cleaning motorcycle helmets at home!