How do you keep the inside of your helmet clean?
 

How do you keep the inside of your helmet clean and stink-free? Sweat gets absorbed into the foam material and there's no way to get rid of it.

Or do you just wait and get a new helmet?

The stinkier the helmet, the greater the street cred.

Wear a cap underneath.

My helmet doesn't smell.... Nor do the pads inside...

Wash the pads from time to time. Stick them in a stocking or wash them by hand.

I just wash the helmet in the kitchen sink with a little dish soap.

some people in here wash their helmets while they are in the shower after their rides.

Here we go again.

This. Simple rinse in shower just before I get in, hang dry. Always fresh.

Wash after every ride. Shower with mild water.

I wear a half buff. I just wash that with my cycling clothes.

Wash with baking soda... it works wonders.

dishwasher





[ use the search function first though]

Replace the helmet, if it gets that stinky chances are it's permeated the plastic or foam too. Skull caps and washing the pads helps but a fresh helmet over couple of years helps the most.

Headsweats skull cap in the summer, PI transitions lycra cap in spring/fall, balaclava in winter.

After every ride, I rinse it under the sink and pat it dry with a clean dry towel, then let it air out over night. It's not helmet science ya' know? ;)

I've never worn my helmet without a skull cap...just more comfortable and helps protect my noggin from the sun. I occasionally take the pads out and rinse them out and will, even more occasionally soak the straps in water with a little vinegar to expunge the sweat...although I like my straps to look all crusty and white.

hmmm i never actually smelled the inside of my helmet...maybe i should look when i get home tonight

That reminds me of an old roommate that didn't believe he had bad breath.

I have a friend like that......and he like to stand awkwardly close to people....

what you dont know cant hurt you.....and now your helmet will start to smell

Toss in washing machine with shoes in hot water cycle. Kills two birds with one stone.

Another AZ cycler!

I imagine most of the responses so far would do the trick. Personally, I don't really do anything with my helmet (though it and the rest of me ended up thoroughly drenched in a sudden downpour on Sunday afternoon). I haven't noticed any smells before, but I haven't smelled it closely either. Every now and then I'll clean the salt crust off my straps :D.

I pull the pads and wash them when needed. It really helped matters when I started wearing a do-rag to keep sweat out of my eyes and absorbed the sweat (mostly).

I sweat a lot and my helmet pads would get crusty as did the straps. I got tired of salty sweat in my eyes and picked up a Halo Headband. Not only does it do an excellent job keeping sweat out of my eyes, it also keeps my helmet a lot drier! Most helmets have pads with velcro and are easy to remove and wash. I've never wanted to wash my helmet by submersion as I don't know if the foam will absorb water and become less effective. I've red plenty of posts where people shower wearing their helmets to wash them.

I sweat a lot also and always wear a headband; keeps the sweat out of my eyes and off my sunglasses (probably keeps the helmet a bit dryer too)!

Wear it in the shower, that may save your life one day. Thank me later.