Best way to clean bike helmet?
08-09-21, 08:15 AM
#26
Senior Member
Originally Posted by Alligator
Anyone tried putting one in the dishwasher?
08-09-21, 03:40 PM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: northWET washington
Posts: 1,063
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 323 Post(s)
Liked 465 Times
in
301 Posts
Originally Posted by Fendertele
I would not. The inner shell is expanded foam which is typically highly flammable. The heating elements could pose a fire hazard.
08-09-21, 04:05 PM
#28
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 23,170
Bikes: Giant Defy, Specialized Allez, Raleigh Pursuit tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 351 Post(s)
Liked 381 Times
in
238 Posts
I used a hand brush with a little bit of hand soap to get the salt and sweat out of my straps. Worked great.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
08-12-21, 10:17 PM
#29
Señor Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 5,502
Bikes: Old school lightweights
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2286 Post(s)
Liked 2,914 Times
in
1,588 Posts
Drag it from a boat.
Likes For Hentze:
08-14-21, 09:00 AM
#31
Mother Nature's Son
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Sussex County, Delaware
Posts: 2,324
Bikes: Early 90's Ochsner road, 2006 Schwinn SS DBX, 2014 Orbea Avant MD30, 2004 Airborne Zeppelin TI, 2003 Lemond Poprad, 1989? Fuji Ace, 2001 Lemond Tourmalet, 2014? Soma Smoothie
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 613 Post(s)
Liked 803 Times
in
471 Posts
All I ever do is wipe down the outer shell and after a ride let it dry out in the sun if sweaty.
08-14-21, 09:10 AM
#32
Advocatus Diaboli
Originally Posted by kahn
That is one advantage of my dishwasher - no heating element. No limitations on top rack or bottom rack utensils. But I will would not put my helmet in there! Permanent furnace filters - YES. Helmets - NO.
Likes For Sy Reene:
08-18-21, 09:30 AM
#33
OM boy
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Goleta CA
Posts: 3,706
Bikes: a bunch
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 262 Post(s)
Liked 255 Times
in
178 Posts
helmets have been showering with me for decades, since I stopped using a 'hairnet' - not every ride, depends how salty they seem...
helmets, especially the helmet pads seem to last much longer with the frequent showering.
Always have at least 3 helmets which get rotated in rides, depending on conditions, assures longer life and always have a clean, dry one to use.
One helmet has a soft, cap-like brim for those long sunny rides, wet rides or late-day rides when expecting low sun in your eyes...
Buy a new helmet when one gets too old...
Not really more expensive, because each has a different 'age' and rotation gives an extended life-span.
Funny shape to my head, so fit is critical, so I always have lots of time to find a good replacement...
Thx
Yuri
helmets, especially the helmet pads seem to last much longer with the frequent showering.
Always have at least 3 helmets which get rotated in rides, depending on conditions, assures longer life and always have a clean, dry one to use.
One helmet has a soft, cap-like brim for those long sunny rides, wet rides or late-day rides when expecting low sun in your eyes...
Buy a new helmet when one gets too old...
Not really more expensive, because each has a different 'age' and rotation gives an extended life-span.
Funny shape to my head, so fit is critical, so I always have lots of time to find a good replacement...
Thx
Yuri
08-20-21, 12:35 PM
#34
Senior Member
I took a motorcycle safety class and they said to get a new helmet every 2 years because the styrofoam naturally decays and provides less protection over time. I would assume same with bike helmet, also I would imagine water isn’t good for the foam either.
I just wash any removable padded fabric and replace every 2 years. But I don’t buy expensive helmets.
I just wash any removable padded fabric and replace every 2 years. But I don’t buy expensive helmets.
08-20-21, 03:05 PM
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: NWNJ
Posts: 3,640
Bikes: Road bike is a Carbon Bianchi C2C & Grandis (1980's), Gary Fisher Mt Bike, Trek Tandem & Mongoose SS MTB circa 1992.
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 675 Post(s)
Liked 314 Times
in
206 Posts
Honesty.
it never crossed my mind to do so.
30 plus yrs riding
maybe use fabreze?
it never crossed my mind to do so.
30 plus yrs riding
maybe use fabreze?
08-20-21, 03:09 PM
#36
Advocatus Diaboli
Originally Posted by thehammerdog
Honesty.
it never crossed my mind to do so.
30 plus yrs riding
maybe use fabreze?
it never crossed my mind to do so.
30 plus yrs riding
maybe use fabreze?
Likes For Sy Reene:
08-20-21, 03:14 PM
#37
Senior Member
Dunno about bike helmets, figured i should wash mine. But in the car racing scene we would use....well i cant remember exact names but was basically a bag/stand sort of thing that would plug in and blow air through it. Seemed effective but we also had fireproof hood things we wore under the helmet that we could just throw in the wash.
08-20-21, 03:32 PM
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Highlands Ranch, CO
Posts: 1,221
Bikes: '13 Diamondback Hybrid Commuter, '17 Spec Roubaix Di2, '17 Spec Camber 29'er, '19 CDale Topstone Gravel
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 588 Post(s)
Liked 443 Times
in
260 Posts
I also get "white rigid straps" due to salt buildup, as well as rigid half-finger gloves. I knew I couldn't be the only one.
08-20-21, 05:29 PM
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: NWNJ
Posts: 3,640
Bikes: Road bike is a Carbon Bianchi C2C & Grandis (1980's), Gary Fisher Mt Bike, Trek Tandem & Mongoose SS MTB circa 1992.
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 675 Post(s)
Liked 314 Times
in
206 Posts
Originally Posted by Sy Reene
Interesting. I wanna see a pick of your 30yr old helmet that's gone without a cleaning.
I simply never washed a helmet...silly goose.
08-21-21, 06:27 AM
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: East Lansing, MI
Posts: 156
Bikes: 1987 Moser; 1995 Cannondale T400; 1999(?) Bruce Gordon BLT; 2000(?) Cannondale H400 3spd IGH conversion w/ studded snows; Cannondale R200 CAD2 project
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 59 Post(s)
Liked 77 Times
in
45 Posts
I wash my shirts and jersey by hand in a clean bucket so they can soak for a good long time. Time to time i put the helmet in after with a weight to keep it submerged.
same withe the 'rinse cycle'. Easy enough, and clean enough.
same withe the 'rinse cycle'. Easy enough, and clean enough.
08-21-21, 06:29 AM
#41
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: East Lansing, MI
Posts: 156
Bikes: 1987 Moser; 1995 Cannondale T400; 1999(?) Bruce Gordon BLT; 2000(?) Cannondale H400 3spd IGH conversion w/ studded snows; Cannondale R200 CAD2 project
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 59 Post(s)
Liked 77 Times
in
45 Posts
..and I have 2 helmets. One for training rides and one for civilian life. That helps a lot.
08-21-21, 07:55 AM
#42
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,772
Bikes: Road bike, Hybrid, Gravel, Drop bar SS, hard tail MTB
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1171 Post(s)
Liked 269 Times
in
188 Posts
You know people fall in shower....
"A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that approximately 234,000 people ages 15 and older were treated in an American emergency department for non-fatal bathroom-related injuries in 2008. That averages to about 640 people per day."
So returning from a ride and jumping into shower still wearing your helmet has a logical and practical purpose!! Other than washing the salt and sweat off of it.
Anyways, if I don't jump in shower wearing it. It can be rinsed off in sink. Mild soap and water. Usually it is better a helmet is washed after a ride, before allowing the sweat and salt to dry on helmet and get crusty.
"A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that approximately 234,000 people ages 15 and older were treated in an American emergency department for non-fatal bathroom-related injuries in 2008. That averages to about 640 people per day."
So returning from a ride and jumping into shower still wearing your helmet has a logical and practical purpose!! Other than washing the salt and sweat off of it.
Anyways, if I don't jump in shower wearing it. It can be rinsed off in sink. Mild soap and water. Usually it is better a helmet is washed after a ride, before allowing the sweat and salt to dry on helmet and get crusty.
Last edited by Metieval; 08-21-21 at 07:59 AM.
Likes For Metieval:
08-21-21, 09:13 AM
#43
Advocatus Diaboli
Originally Posted by thehammerdog
well i have 4 helmets and buy new one every so often.
I simply never washed a helmet...silly goose.
I simply never washed a helmet...silly goose.
I figured as much, but still don't understand how you lived with or avoided white, crusty salty helmet straps?
