Cleaning Your Funkified Bike Helmet

We all know how important bicycle safety is, and it's gratifying to see more and more cyclists donning helmets for their regular rides. If you ride hard, though, after a while, your bike helmets can get pretty funky. Dirt, sweat, and grime can not only make bike helmets ugly, but they can hold very unpleasant odors and even harbor bacteria. Nobody wants to put on a stinky helmet, but it's not that hard to clean up your bike helmets, removing stink, and making them as good as new. Whenever possible, follow the helmet manufacturer's instructions for cleaning. If you can't find the original instructions, the following tips will work well on most any helmet.

If your helmet has a removable liner or padding, your job is easy - it's usually safe to toss the padding into the washing machine for cleaning. I suggest washing helmet pads all by themselves, rather than tossing them in with your clothes. You never know if you'll have problems with dyes running or Velcro and straps snagging on your favorite t-shirt.

Most helmets are permanently attached to padding and liners, meaning the washing machine won't do the job. Avoid all temptation to head down to the Laundromat and toss the padding - helmet and all - into the machine. You'll definitely damage the machine, and it's likely that you'll weaken your helmet, too. Bike helmets are not pieces of equipment that we want to abuse - take good care of your brain bucket. Instead, wash your helmet in a solution of mild soap and water - any mild soap will do the trick. I use laundry detergent, but any dish detergent or hand soap will do the trick, as well. Avoid any harsh solvents or cleaners, as these may weaken the bond between the helmet and pads, or eat away at straps and buckles. Use a sponge to wash plastic components, and submerge the whole helmet, squishing and scrubbing at the padding to work the soapy water through the foam.

Truly stinky helmets benefit from a short soak (30 minutes or so) in a mild solution of baking soda and warm water, after which they should be air-dried until completely dry. Try to avoid wearing the helmet for a few days, giving it time to dry out completely before you wear it next. I keep a spare around for these occasions. If it's possible to dry your bike helmets in the sun, direct sunlight will help to kill any lingering bacteria and odor.

In most cases, there's no need to purchase specific cleaning products for your bike helmets, but for the very worst cases of soil and odor, there is a product called "Helmet Fresh" that can help get out the most stubborn odors and grime. If your local bike shop doesn't carry helmet fresh, try a motorcycle shop - Helmet Fresh is popular among motorcyclists, and will run you about six bucks for a four ounce bottle, more than enough to clean bike helmets many times over.

Nobody wants to put on a funkified bike helmet. A regular cleaning will keep your helmet looking clean and smelling fresh for years.