Helmet cleaning
07-22-12, 02:00 PM
#1
On Your Left
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,373
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3004 Post(s)
Liked 2,433 Times
in
1,187 Posts
Helmet cleaning
The summer is half over and i figure the straps of my helmet have absorbed enough sweat.
How to clean?
And don't say to wear it in the shower
How to clean?
And don't say to wear it in the shower
07-22-12, 02:02 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Modesto, Ca
Posts: 2,280
Bikes: klein quantum, litespeed tuscany, bianchi pista concept, centurion comp ta, centurion super le mans, traitor ringleader
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
backyard hose. but im kind of low brow haha
07-22-12, 02:28 PM
#5
Senior Member
I set mine in the sink with water in such a way that only the straps are submerged. If I soak the whole helmet it takes forever to get all the water out.
Removable straps would be great, IMHO.
Removable straps would be great, IMHO.
07-22-12, 02:30 PM
#6
moth -----> flame
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 5,916
Bikes: 11 CAAD 10-4, 07 Specialized Roubaix Comp, 98 Peugeot Horizon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
__________________
BF, in a nutshell
BF, in a nutshell
07-22-12, 04:16 PM
#8
Scarlet Knight
Wow, 7 posts and nobody has said the dishwasher 
07-22-12, 04:53 PM
#10
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 225
Bikes: Sott Scale 29er, Specialized SL3 Roubaix, Colnago C59
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
baby shampoo.. Dish soap contains stuff which will degrade the glue that holds the padding in.
07-22-12, 05:00 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON
Posts: 12,257
Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
whatever you do, don't throw it in a laundry machine.
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
07-22-12, 05:03 PM
#12
Blissketeer
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 1,335
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
07-22-12, 05:51 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South Jersey near PHL
Posts: 593
Bikes: Frequently
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 158 Post(s)
Liked 252 Times
in
131 Posts
I let the helmet soak in a bucket of water with a healthy galumph of white vinegar added. Place some weight atop the helmet so it doesn't float.
After a while change the water without adding vinegar as a rinse.
Then let helmet drip-dry.
After a while change the water without adding vinegar as a rinse.
Then let helmet drip-dry.
07-22-12, 06:11 PM
#14
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,049
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22596 Post(s)
Liked 8,925 Times
in
4,158 Posts
07-22-12, 06:45 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Everett, Washington
Posts: 595
Bikes: 2013 Focus Izalco Pro, Soma Grand Randonneur
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My straps are removable and the padding is just held in with a little hook and loop. Pulled it apart and put them in with my other bike clothes. Air dried after that. The only problem I ran into is the padding is heat sealed or glued around the edges, not sewn. This glue or whatever it was came loose and the padding started to disassemble itself. Fortunately my wife is awesome, and was able to stitch it up for me. I have to wash mine about every two to three months at most or else I can't stand to be around myself due to the funk.
07-22-12, 07:39 PM
#16
Senior Member
hmmm.......I clean the straps by soaking the straps only and using a cloth to work out the salty grit. As for the padding never wash it though it may be a good idea.
07-22-12, 07:49 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 2,061
Bikes: 2012 Trek DS 8.5 all weather hybrid, 2008 LeMond Poprad cyclocross, 1992 Cannondale R500 roadbike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My Bontrager has padding that is attached to the foam with velcro. i just rip it off and throw in the washing machine with the rest of the sweaty stuff using "Intermediate Low" (which is about 2 steps more gentle than delicate).
It doesn't need a lot of scrubbing -- mostly just a good rinse...
It doesn't need a lot of scrubbing -- mostly just a good rinse...
07-22-12, 11:13 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,224
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
Rinse free of salt in the shower and hang-dry on the porch after every ride. That is what I do, and the helmet is ready for use by the next morning.
07-22-12, 11:15 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Silicon Valley, CA
Posts: 3,209
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 139 Post(s)
Liked 33 Times
in
20 Posts
+1. My pads are attached with velcro. I sweat a lot and recently purchased a Halo HeadSweat II head band. The padding stays much cleaner. My gloves get skanky and I wash them by hand in warm water plus laundry detergent. I don't know what effect detergent or vinegar (GACK!) has on styrofoam and avoid washing except by rain.
07-23-12, 04:48 AM
#20
Full Member
I use the kitchen sink method, with Woolite (an old-school gentle-cycle laundry detergent, probably one of the first liquid detergents). And rinse very well, of course...
07-23-12, 01:53 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 561
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i wear mine into the shower as i shampoo my hair i put the helmet over it and then the shampoo gets transferred into the helmet and then i do the same for conditioner.
07-23-12, 08:05 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 154
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I just end up going out about 4 times a season in really hard rain. You can feel the washing of the sweat and salts getting in your eyes. The temporary lack of vision and stinging is a real thrill.
