ChicagoWinter98

12

pass the peas

Remove any stuff that's velcroed in and wash it in one of those net laundry bags with your cycling gear. A helmet it a fairly durable thing and can be gently washed in a tub of warm water with mild laundry detergent. Use nothing abrasive, maybe a wash cloth or just clean hands. Pay special attention to the straps, they're probably the funkiest bit. Rinse it well and pat it dry with a towel and let it sit in front of a fan until it's dry.

Cyclist0108

Stick it in the dishwasher and push the "sterilize" button.

taz777

The smell is probably from bacteria. I have a liquid detergent that’s designed for washing fitness clothing at low temperatures. It kills bacteria. You could try to find something similar and hand wash your cycling helmet.

cthenn

Shower. Get a good lather of shampoo going in your hair (if you have hair...), and then use the suds to scrub down all the pads and straps. I just use my fingers. Then put the helmet on your head, and massage it around some, then rinse the whole thing off. Shampoo won't leave a soapy residue or film either.

Troul 

Buy a new one. Would likely be safer from modern enhanced technology.

Ogsarg

I take out any pads and hand wash them regularly using Oxi-clean. Then Every 3 months or so, I do the same thing with the whole helmet in order to clean the straps and anything else that isn't removable. I put something heavy on it to keep it submerged and let it soak for a couple of hours before rinsing thoroughly. Seems to work pretty well.

Cyclist0108

Exactly. Hot water, soap, chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide are the best remedies.

I would start with hot water and soap and escalate from there if it isn't enough.

TimothyH

Just bring it into the shower once in a while. That's all.

Always do the easy and cheap thing first.


-Tim-

Ronsonic 

Decent quality helmets have pads that can be purchased and replaced.

Lakerat

I rinse mine with water if it gets particularly sweaty, sling off the water and place it in the sun to dry. Still slightly funky but not overly.

DanBraden

MY GOD! That... IS... AWESOME!!!

I can kiss my insomnia goodbye as I imagine folks showering in their helmets!

Usually anxiety can be the bugger of good sleep, but THIS brings a smile to my face!
So, THANKS!

Next I expect to hear about showering in your socks to clean them!
Think of the time savings by not taking em off, brilliant!

You all are funny when you're not being salty AF!

Junkbeast

Why not just spray some Lysol in there or something? If I come home with a super sweaty helmet, I have a fan that can rotate front to back and I lay it horizontal with the helmet on it to dry. Never had to remove a pad or spray anything and it doesn't smell bad. My shorts and shirts can though.

79pmooney

My advice - clean your helmet or replace it, then - buy 4 or 4 of those skull caps (Pace, Halo and others) and always ride with a clean one. (Like U-trows for your pants.) Helmet stays clean, your hair feels nicer and there are other perks. Far less sweat in your eyes. A little warmer on cold days. Your cold weather hats never need cleaning. Edit: And better for the follicly challenged.

I've been doing this the past 10 years and my only question is - why didn't I do this 30 years ago?

Ben

Sy Reene

Classic

indyfabz

When I am touring I often start my shower with my "kit" (sans socks) on and wash it before I am through.

TimothyH

I was serious about bringing the helmet into the shower. Once every few weeks or weekly after the long ride is all it takes. Just rinse it under the hot water and hang it on a towel rack, that's all.

My heart rate strap goes into the shower after every ride. Rinse, squeeze out the water and hang it on a towel rack. Done.

Multi step processes with chemicals, submersion baths and fans are not needed. People make things way too complicated.


-Tim-

JohnDThompson 

I rinse the pads out after every ride. If it gets to the point that rinsing doesn't help, replace the pads.

DanBraden

Pics or it didn't happen!

Hypno Toad

Ride in the rain, it's just that easy!

Additionally, when I started wearing a cycling cap under my helmet, the stink in my helmet stopped being an issue. Wash the cycling cap every few days or after very sweaty rides.

TimothyH

This post is great up until the "every few days" part.

Hypno Toad

I have a few caps and don't get sweaty on every ride. So if I'm not running with sweat, it'll be good a second day... and I typically don't have bad smelling sweat*

*dumb side story, when I bike-commuted 10 miles to an office without showers, my germ-phobic boss would love to tell people that I didn't stink even on hot/steamy days. I miss working with that goofball.

Milton Keynes

I've never had a problem with my helmet stinking, but every once in a while my gloves do smell like old sweat. No big deal to wash them in a nylon bag along with my helmet pads, though. If you don't have a small laundry bag to use, those nylon paint straining bags from Home Depot work pretty well.

ChicagoWinter98

Thank you everyone for your advice! I can finally wear a clean helmet now, yay.

canklecat

The odor could be a combination of natural hair/scalp oil along with the usual sweat funk. Hair/scalp oil gets rancid, like almost any oil.

I always wear bandannas under my helmet, and often under any hat I wear. Helps keeps the helmets and hats clean, and keeps sweat out of my eyes. I have a couple dozen, many of 'em inherited from my granddad whose gardening and puttering uniform was short sleeve blue coveralls and a bandanna. The coveralls were too big for me. The bandannas fit fine. I have enough for a fresh one every ride for two or three weeks so I only need to wash 'em along with the regular laundry chores.

I wipe my helmet liner pads and straps after every ride, with a sponge and a little bit of Dawn or whatever's handy, and have anti-bacterial hand wipes in the kitchen and bathroom.

The straps are next to my skin and need more help. About once a week or so I'll set the helmet over a mop bucket of water and let the straps dangle in the water to soak out any residual salt. When I drink electrolytes in water my sweat dries with a frosty accumulation of salts so it takes more than just wiping down after every ride to get the straps really clean.