How to Clean a Motorcycle Helmet : A Step-By-Step User Guide

Learning how to clean a motorcycle helmet is a skill that everyone who owns a bike should acquire. Over time body odor, oil, and dirt gather on the helmet. If you don’t clean it in time, it may impair your visibility.

In addition, a dirty helmet may produce an offensive smell. In such a case you may find it hard to wear the protective headgear for a long time. Cleaning the helmet also prolongs its lifetime. 

Read on the expert’s tips on how to clean the helmet, the helmet cleaner accessories, and materials that you need for the exercise.

Gather Helmet-Cleaning Accessories

Bring closer your cleaning materials and tools. That includes:

• Clean microfiber towel
• Soft bristled toothbrush- for cleaning corners where cloth can’t access
• Baby shampoo- stay away from petroleum-based cleaners
• Warm water- for loosening stuck bugs and dirt
• Compressed air- for blowing off air vents

Steps On How to Clean a Helmet

Your success in helmet cleaning depends on three factors. That is motorcycle helmet cleaner choice, how cautious you are, and how you handle stubborn stains and bugs. You don’t have to mess up the process; read the post for a professional helmet-cleaning guide. 

1. Remove External Accessories and Electronics

Remove the external helmet accessories and electronics to make cleaning easy and safe. Depending on your helmet’s model, you may have to take away microphones, antenna, Bluetooth unit, batteries, and helmet peak.

2. Remove the Interior Liner.

Before removing the liner, follow the correct procedure as the manual dictates. Most helmet liners attach to the walls via tugs, snaps, magnets, or hook-and-loop mechanisms. 

3. Soaking the Stuck Dirt on the Shell.

Proceed to soak a microfiber towel in warm water, then spread it over the shell’s outer surface. Wait for approximately 3 or 5 minutes for the dirt and bug to loosen.  

4. Clean the Helmet Lining.

The interior liner is often one of the dirtiest parts of a helmet. It gathers sweat and hair oil from the head. Take the liner and soak it in a mix of warm water and baby shampoo. 

Take caution with the motorcycle helmet cleaner solution you use. Other ordinary cleaning chemicals will easily corrode your equipment. 

Scrub and massage to remove the stains. Finally, rinse and let it dry overnight. 

5. Clean The Outer Shell

After the lapse of 3 minutes, take away the microfiber cloth from the shell. The dirt and bugs will have softened and are easy to remove without scratching the shell. Rinse the traces of shampoo and dirt lingering on the shell with clean water.

Pat dry the surface using clean microfiber to remove spots of water. Use the toothbrush to clean the dirt hidden in the corners and edges of the helmet. Remove the face shield and place it aside. 

6. Blow Out the Vents

Sometimes dirt and dead insects block the vents and minimize their effectiveness. Therefore, take up your compressor and blast some air into the inlet of the vent to dislodge stuck foreign particles. 

7. Clean the Motorcycle Face Shield

Often, modern face shields feature anti fog and UV coating. Hence don’t use harsh chemicals on the shield. Instead, check your helmet manual for the right solution to use. 

Wiping the stubborn stains and bugs on the shield can scratch the surface. So, wet the cloth and place it over the shield to loosen the stains for a few minutes. After that, rinse and air-dry the shield in a safe place.

If your shield has a pin-lock, separating the two makes cleaning easier. However, use an extra soft microfiber towel for wiping the lens. Be cautious not to spoil the lens or its gasket. 

Also, remove dirt or foreign objects from the visor hinge. 

8. Wipe Internal Sun Shield

Usually, the inner sun shield doesn’t get extremely dirty. Therefore, you don’t have to remove it from its place. Spritz a little water on it and wipe off the dirt with a clean microfiber cloth. 

9. Reassemble the Helmet Back

Once every part has dried, assemble the helmet. Begin with the liner then cheek pads, chin curtain, and the accessories you had removed earlier.

How Often Should You Clean a Helmet?

A clean bike helmet is pleasant to wear and look at. But how often should you clean your motorcycle helmet? Check on the tips below:

Daily

Every day make it habitual to clean your helmet, more so the visor. After a ride it’s more likely to have gathered dirt or dead insects. A wet paper towel becomes effective for the job.

Weekly

Once a week dedicate some time to cleaning your helmet’s ventilation.  A combination of tooth brush and cotton swab can help clean a helmet properly in the air intake and exhausts.

Monthly

You need to set your time once a month to clean the helmet’s interior. That includes the liner, cheek pads and other removable interior parts. When doing so follow your manufacturer’s cleaning tips. Otherwise you may spoil the soft liner or cheek pads. If the cheek pads and liners are removable the cleaning becomes easier. 

Don’t view the task of cleaning your helmet as a demanding chore. Rather accept it as a necessary routine care and maintenance duty for prolonging the life and efficiency of your helmet. Or are you ready to part with another half a million dollars prematurely for failing to care for the helmet?

Conclusion

I hope by now you have learned how to clean a motorcycle helmet. Don’t wait for the helmet to get extremely dirty. But after taking long trips, make it a habit to clean the helmet and give it enough time to dry. 

Do not use harsh solvents when cleaning the helmet. Instead, follow the above tips and you won’t run into any problem. If you want your child to enjoy his hood, give him clean baby helmet. 

Don’t forget to comb through your helmet’s manual to find any particular advice for the manufacturer.