Cyclist0084 

Nachoman

That's what I do too, a few times a year.

Juan Foote

Phobia is funny like that. I have this thing about chicken. If I eat it with my hands I MUST wash. I will pass on eating it if I don't have a place to do so.

However, greasy hands from working on a machine part, etc......hand me my sandwich please.

cthenn

omfg really? Shower! That's the easiest way to wash a helmet. Shampoo doesn't leave any residue, and it's easy to clean in the shower. I just put it on my head after lathering up, and then scrub/scratch/rub the straps with my hands. Rub the whole helmet around in my hair to clean the pads. Take it off, use the shampoo all over it and clean the straps again. Put the helmet back on and rinse off. Everything comes off. Let it air dry.

If you are bald or have a short cut, use body wash. But yeah...shower.

memebag

I've done it. Run it on cold, by itself. Came out squeaky clean.

My dishwasher has cold water. Remove the pads before washing. Don't care about the decals, but they stayed put. The plastic shell is not going anywhere. It's bonded with the foam.

I'll do it once or twice, but helmets are wear items.

hotbike

I make my own replacement pads. Just get a square of Felt at an artsncrafts store, dollar store, sewing supply. The pads gets so grungy, you can't clean them
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ThermionicScott 

I just dunk mine in a sink full of cold water and press on the pads a few times to move water through them. Good for getting out a lot of the salt and gunk until the next time.

a1penguin

My straps get salty and sweaty. I just rinse them off under the tap until they are no longer stiff. I wear a Halo headband so the helmet pads stay pretty dry/clean. On the helmets I've purchased, the pads are velcroed to the helmet, so they can be removed and washed. I have never felt the need to give my helmet a bath.

indyfabz

IKR. I sweat a ton and have too much sodium in my diet and this works all the time. It's not rocket surgery.

It's amazing how the Internet seems to have made it difficult to address simple issues. Why figure something out when I can ask others for the answer. And on the other end, those being asked often don't comprehend the question, as evidenced by all the pad-related responses to a question about straps.

MNBikeCommuter

An hour of getting caught in the rain the other day flushed out my helmet quite well. The first four miles were a killer as the salt washed out of the pads and into my eyes but after that....

dipy911

If you do wash it in the dishwasher, remember to throw in a toilet seat as well. Don't waste any space.

f4rrest

I remove it and dip it in a crock pot full of hot wax every 400 miles.

It stays cleaner and quieter than does my chain.

I-Like-To-Bike

No need to detach the seat from the toilet, wash the helmet in the toilet at the same time as cleaning the toilet and toilet seat.

Old Dutchman

I take the straps out of my helmet and wash them, either by hand or in a "delicates" bag inside the washing machine. Same with the helmet pads, which are held in with velcro. I'm surprised that I seem to be the only one who does this.

pavbike

I would rather try the washing machine before a dishwasher due to the heat.

WizardOfBoz

+1 And if the heat and harsh dish soap weakened the plastic, you wouldn't find out til you really needed the plastic to be strong...

I wash with dish soap, thoroughly rinse, air dry. I do wash the pads in the clothes washer, though.

What does the mfr recommend? Most of the recommendations I see are to use a bucket of water, shampoo or mild dish detergent, wet, add shampoo, work it into the straps, rinse thoroughly, air dry.

Just Mark

I laughed so hard when I read the title that it took several minutes to be able to focus enough to open the link and read the thread.

drlogik 

+1 The dishwasher soap is pretty aggressive soap and the heat from a dishwasher could wreck the adhesive on the pads. I wouldn't wash it in the dishwasher.

Like others have stated I, too, squirt some Dawn into the kitchen sink then fill the kitchen sink with luke-warm water. I put the helmet in an let it soak for about 30 minutes. I also put my gloves in the sink to soak. I hand-rub/wash the straps and then rinse. The helmet comes out nice and clean and the straps aren't stiff any more from sweat.

I've gone so far as to use my pressure washer to clean the straps when I have it out to clean the driveway. Works pretty well, just don't hold the nozzle too close to the strap.


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Wanderer

Like others, I wash mine in the shower, usually after a ride while I am still warm. That way I use barely warm (room temperature) shower water to cool my body down. Just normal shampoo or body wash works for me. Rinse it really well in cold water, and let ti air dry. Sure doesn't take long to dry, and everything looks brand new.

fietsbob

I've heard computer keyboards wash up in the dishwasher..

AMorrison

Guys, who have tried to wash the equipment in the dishwasher? Any success? I am madly tired of having to wash my helmet from the dirt after riding in rainy weather. Once a week or twice a month, I used to put all my equipment in one basin with water and washing powder and brush all the parts until they shone. But I'm so tired that now I want to try washing them in the dishwasher from https://ianboer.com.au. So I am asking you if I can do it.

tntyz

I checked the three helmets we have around the house and none have removable straps.

hillyman

Only if you use Cascade. Don't want spots ruining your day .

Dead Thread

fietsbob

whats wrong with a bucket or the sink...

lazy?

livedarklions

What's the best way to get sweat stains off a zombie thread?