How To: Clean your motorcycle helmet

Raccoon · 14th July 2009, 15:41

To clean the visor, I find something like dashboard polish (I use F1) works much better. It even seems to bead off water well in the rains. Colin won't do that.

mithun · 17th July 2009, 10:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by bblost

Replace your helmet every 3 years.

I think, it's 5 years & not 3 years if no accidents have occurred.

Quote:

Originally Posted by akshay4587

To clean visor i use Colin

Use car Glass cleaning liquid like Vista.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raccoon

To clean the visor, I find something like dashboard polish (I use F1) works much better. It even seems to bead off water well in the rains.

have you really tried this during rains ? Is dashboard polish effective during rains ?

Raccoon · 17th July 2009, 14:20

^^^ Yes I have tried it. Its definitely better than using just a cleaner like Colin. Better still, you could try something like Rainx (which is supposed to bead water from car windshields). Haven't tried that myself yet, as I don't have a bottle right now. But I guess its worth trying if the rains are a problem...

mithun · 19th July 2009, 21:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raccoon

^^^ Yes I have tried it. Its definitely better than using just a cleaner like Colin. Better still, you could try something like Rainx (which is supposed to bead water from car windshields). Haven't tried that myself yet, as I don't have a bottle right now. But I guess its worth trying if the rains are a problem...

The glass cleaners are not effective. I've checked it myself on my helmets during the rains !

I'll experiment dashboard polish myself since it's monsoon here !

simply_sunny001 · 20th July 2009, 02:56

Nice thread

I have used colin for wiping the helmet from outside and washing the padding every few months

And i never shared my helmet with anybody except a couple of time when i was studying.

Most of us indians use hair oil which also makes the hemet dirty from inside and lot of pollution and dirt on top of that.

So good cleaning is a must and change the visor every year, it doesnt cost abomb but really helps during nights.

srikant · 20th July 2009, 07:52

How do you wash the padding inside the helmet?

bblost · 20th July 2009, 11:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by srikant

How do you wash the padding inside the helmet?

If removable the simply remove and wash with mild detergent.

Else, buy a new helmet with removable padding.
You can try using a sponge and giving the inner lining a sponge bath.

srikant · 20th July 2009, 21:39

Thanks bblost, i was planing to remove the inner lining completely and put on new foam. Is it advisable?

bblost · 22nd July 2009, 10:49

Depends Srikant, How old is your helmet btw.

Some people suggest we replace the helmet every 5 years. I prefer the 2~3 year time period.

If your helmet is old enough, why not simply replace it with a new one that has detachable lining.

I would not recommend replacing the inner lining. Because you will need to use glue to stick it. And I don't know, which glue is safe to use.
Since a glue is a chemical and it may deteriorate the inner layers of the helmet.

I have read that sticking vinyl stickers on the helmets can also cause this deterioration.

srikant · 24th July 2009, 00:26

My helmet is Studs brand with the front completely opening up. Its just a year old, but since its used very rarely the inside is dirty. Since its not used much as i drive car most of the time, just did not feel like going for a new helmet.

bblost · 24th July 2009, 11:23

I keep my helmets wrapped in a cloth bag.

Clean the helmet using a mild soap solution. Dry it well. And store in a cool dust free environment.

hillram · 24th July 2009, 11:35

+1 to BBlost.I too pack my helmets in a cloth and store them on the attic.
As far as cleaning is concerned,I used a wet cloth and one a year give a wax polish,if time permits.

leadf00t · 24th July 2009, 11:44

When the rains started , i used to leave my helmet on the bike lock . it got dirty and stinky.
What i did was put the complete helmet in a bucketfull of water. put a mild detergent . a few capfulls of dettol and left it for a few hours.

after that i remvoed the helmet. dried the inside lining with a cloth and left the helmet to dry in sun. the helmet smelt much better and cleaner.

Once the monsoon started showing its force , my bike has been parked away for a while. and helmet wrapped up in a plastic bag and end sealed.

vinu_h · 2nd December 2011, 06:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by bblost

If removable the simply remove and wash with mild detergent.

Else, buy a new helmet with removable padding.
You can try using a sponge and giving the inner lining a sponge bath.

Hey BBLOST.

My sparingly used GPR that was put away safely for 2 yrs, has a bit(a little more than bit) of fungi growing in it and I'm considering the detergent and wash thing before it starts growing teeth. Don't really fancy buying a new one especially since this one fits me just right.

I'm not really hoping to go bald anytime soon. Assuming that the detergent kills the fungi, would you say that the helmet will be safe for use after ?

voodoochild · 2nd December 2011, 11:55

Picked up a Vega Boolean in matt black recently. The surface seems to be quite resistant to any sort of mild detergent and cloth/sponge scrubbing. Visors I clean with a cotton swab and Colin. Works brilliantly to resist rain and dust, although it needs to be done atleast every 2 days. Anyone know how to get grime off the matt surface? And do these removable liners have just a yank-to-remove mechanism?

14th July 2009, 15:41	#16
Raccoon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Poona Posts: 1,851 Thanked: 116 Times	To clean the visor, I find something like dashboard polish (I use F1) works much better. It even seems to bead off water well in the rains. Colin won't do that.
	() Thanks

17th July 2009, 14:20	#18
Raccoon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Poona Posts: 1,851 Thanked: 116 Times	^^^ Yes I have tried it. Its definitely better than using just a cleaner like Colin. Better still, you could try something like Rainx (which is supposed to bead water from car windshields). Haven't tried that myself yet, as I don't have a bottle right now. But I guess its worth trying if the rains are a problem...
	() Thanks

20th July 2009, 02:56	#20
simply_sunny001 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London & Rohtak Posts: 1,340 Thanked: 18 Times View My Garage	Nice thread I have used colin for wiping the helmet from outside and washing the padding every few months And i never shared my helmet with anybody except a couple of time when i was studying. Most of us indians use hair oil which also makes the hemet dirty from inside and lot of pollution and dirt on top of that. So good cleaning is a must and change the visor every year, it doesnt cost abomb but really helps during nights.
	() Thanks

20th July 2009, 07:52	#21
srikant BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 488 Thanked: 12 Times	How do you wash the padding inside the helmet?
	() Thanks

20th July 2009, 21:39	#23
srikant BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 488 Thanked: 12 Times	Thanks bblost, i was planing to remove the inner lining completely and put on new foam. Is it advisable?
	() Thanks

22nd July 2009, 10:49	#24
bblost Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 11,008 Thanked: 15,355 Times View My Garage	Depends Srikant, How old is your helmet btw. Some people suggest we replace the helmet every 5 years. I prefer the 2~3 year time period. If your helmet is old enough, why not simply replace it with a new one that has detachable lining. I would not recommend replacing the inner lining. Because you will need to use glue to stick it. And I don't know, which glue is safe to use. Since a glue is a chemical and it may deteriorate the inner layers of the helmet. I have read that sticking vinyl stickers on the helmets can also cause this deterioration.
	() Thanks

24th July 2009, 00:26	#25
srikant BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 488 Thanked: 12 Times	My helmet is Studs brand with the front completely opening up. Its just a year old, but since its used very rarely the inside is dirty. Since its not used much as i drive car most of the time, just did not feel like going for a new helmet.
	() Thanks

24th July 2009, 11:23	#26
bblost Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 11,008 Thanked: 15,355 Times View My Garage	I keep my helmets wrapped in a cloth bag. Clean the helmet using a mild soap solution. Dry it well. And store in a cool dust free environment.
	() Thanks

24th July 2009, 11:35	#27
hillram Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 2,942 Thanked: 1,326 Times View My Garage	+1 to BBlost.I too pack my helmets in a cloth and store them on the attic. As far as cleaning is concerned,I used a wet cloth and one a year give a wax polish,if time permits.
	() Thanks

24th July 2009, 11:44	#28
leadf00t BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: MH04 Posts: 439 Thanked: 15 Times View My Garage	When the rains started , i used to leave my helmet on the bike lock . it got dirty and stinky. What i did was put the complete helmet in a bucketfull of water. put a mild detergent . a few capfulls of dettol and left it for a few hours. after that i remvoed the helmet. dried the inside lining with a cloth and left the helmet to dry in sun. the helmet smelt much better and cleaner. Once the monsoon started showing its force , my bike has been parked away for a while. and helmet wrapped up in a plastic bag and end sealed.
	() Thanks

2nd December 2011, 11:55	#30
voodoochild BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Pune, Bangalore Posts: 424 Thanked: 180 Times	Re: How To: Clean your motorcycle helmet Picked up a Vega Boolean in matt black recently. The surface seems to be quite resistant to any sort of mild detergent and cloth/sponge scrubbing. Visors I clean with a cotton swab and Colin. Works brilliantly to resist rain and dust, although it needs to be done atleast every 2 days. Anyone know how to get grime off the matt surface? And do these removable liners have just a yank-to-remove mechanism?
	() Thanks