Sounds a bit rude this eh? Not for the Roundheads amongst us though eh? Anyway, enough of this frivolity! Anyone got any suggestions for keeping helmets and gloves from stinking, especially after they get wet. I have washed the cushion strips of the helmet, I guess I could spray with some kind of detergent and polish. Waht about gloves, cant wash leather can you?

Lysol

Hand wash and air dry.

I just dump baking soda on my helmet pads now and again and let it sit awhile, then wash it off-- seems to work fine.

I wear a cap under my helmet that can be changed daily. Gloves can be washed by hand, even will survive washing machine, line dry.

I throw the gloves in the wash. I have some Pitards leather gloves that seem to survive OK. For the helmet, it gets a dunk in the kitchen sink with laundry soap evey once in awhile.

never had helmet stink, but dont get close to the saddle on my talus...my god that thing has enough stank for an entire nation.

My gloves go in the wash with every other piece of cycling gear. They don't seem to be falling apart on me except for one pair, and those are pulling apart at a seam. Mainly because I crashed in them, I'll bet.

Let it stink. You are a smelly human being.

I wash my helmet pads in a lingere bag. Throw the gloves in the wash, but not the dryer.

Never use Febreeze. It can rewet and get into your eyes while riding.

My PI Gel Lite gloves go in the wash and then air dry. Never had a problem with them falling apart and they've been washed a half-dozen times. As for helmet stink, have you considered washing your hair? Just kidding! I've never experienced that issue myself, but you're obviously not alone since Colorado Cyclist sells this:



Link: https://www.coloradocyclist.com/commo...439&TextMode=0

I usually wash my gloves with bar soap then rinse while I'm wearing them... just like washing your hands. Then let air dry. I'd toss 'em in the laundry but I don't like any more velcro than is necessary touching my other clothes (even if you do up the velcro strap there's usually a bit sticking out).

Helmet... after maybe every 20th ride I take it with me into my post-ride shower. Then let drip dry on a towel.

Don't buy anything made with leather. There are many synthetic material superior to leather and they are washable such as Amara, Lorica, etc. I have to wonder why people still keep making and buying leather products. I see no benefit of it. Synthetic material can be improved over time as people demand better quality, leather can't.

What else are you suppose to do with a dead cow?

Thanks for all these helpful ideas...didnt know you could wash leather gloves without harming them, but then Ive often washed leather sneakers.....cool. Im really impressed with this forum.

Niall

Let's see there's steak, roasts, ribs, brisket, .........

hahahahahaha!!!

Thanx for sharing that!!HAHAHA!!!

I have 3 pairs of gloves (2 old, 1 "newer"). All get washed each week. So does the helmet. All cycling gear is washed in delicate cycle, cold water, extra spin. Socks, wristbands and towels are tumble dry; everything else, air dry, normally hung on hangers. Helmet is washed in a rubbermaid tub with just hand soap and air-dry in the garage. I think it is important to get the salt off of the helmet straps so I soak the helmet for at least an hour.

Best.

Synthetic materials have certainly come a long ways, but you just can't beat a nicely worn leather motorcycle jacket if you ask me And there's nothing like the smell of leather. I heartily believe leather still has its place in the consumer market, maybe not so much in bicycling, but in other areas.

As for stinky helmet and gloves..... I stand outside and hose down my helmet now and then, but I toss the gloves in the laundry after every ride. Don't know about the rest of you, but with the weather getting chillier, my nose runs like a faucet and the gloves come in handy to wipe away, so you can see why I wash them after every ride. Sorry for the graphic description.

That's what the terry on the back/thumb is for. Use it well.

get some new gear

Cheers old boy. Just did this and it makes sense.

Niall

Is there any spray you can get to freshen up material. Like for the gloves and in the helmet?

At the height of the Texas summer I discovered that my bottom of the line Bell helmet was getting particularly, um, ripe. On a whim, remembering what I learned working as a young dishwasher in a fancy restaurant, I place the helmet in the dishwasher with no soap, but with a few ounces of vinegar running the machine on rinse.

Worked like a charm. I only wish I thought to throw it in at the end of the day so it could dry overnight. I did so as I was starting my day, and it wound up a very antsy not riding day. Putting it upside-down, outside in the Texas sun dried it in several hours. YMMV.

Spray... yuk! That's just covering the problem. I wash my gloves in the washing machine and give my helmet pads a little handwash once in a while. Problem are the helmet straps.