Modern Vespa

Hello,
I need an extra helmet for a passenger and I have one that is quite old, doesn't have removable padding inside and it stinks a bit.
I know that it may sounds like a silly question, but is OK to wash whole helmet (obviously without the visor) inside a washing machine?
I'm a bit worry that the protective foam inside might get damaged and after that it will be dangerous to use it.
But if it's OK to do this; in what temperature shall I do it and how should I dry it after?

I've never encountered this question before! But I'm going to say no - too much knocking and banging in there for the helmet. If it's a bit old and manky, just pick up a new helmet; only £40 to £60 for a basic one, and at this time of the year there are many sales on in bike shops.

Sounds like time for a new helmet mate, treat yourself and relegate your old one as the spare!

If buying a new one is not an option, you'd be better off with fabric spray cleaner/disinfectant like dettol. Spray the inside, leave it to dry overnight, should get rid of the stink

I like the old one.
Plus I was going to put plenty of clothes around it to secure it so it wouldn't get mechanically damaged. I just wonder how the protective foam will interact with water at certain temperatures and how could it be safely dried?

I have read that you can put warm water and shampoo in the helmet and scrub the inside until clean.

How many degrees would be a warm water in this case?

A good way to keep a helmet clean smelling I have found is to crumple up 2 or 3 fabric softener sheets (like "Bounce" for example), put them in your helmet after a ride, hang the helmet by the chin strap and tuck an old towel in on top of the fabric softener sheets. If you store your helmet in your garage, like I do, the towel keeps dust and bugs from getting inside as well. I have also had good results spraying the inside of the helmet with "Febreze" and letting it try in the fresh air. I think I would pass on the washing machine idea.

don't care how much you try and protect it in the washer it can still get damaged and you risk damaging the washer as well.
The best you clean it that way is just flushing water thru it anyway.

if the helmet is that old your worried about damaging the foam inner liner it is time to just replace it and use it as a garden flower pot now.

the protection factor of helmets is the hard foam inner liner and it decreases protection as it ages. look at it like a styrofoam cup sitting out in the weather for a year. would you still use it?

my thoughts are if you can't afford to replace your gear when needed you can't afford to ride.

This sounds like the right answer to me. You could then dry it using a hair dryer.

A washing machine would completely fuck-up the outer shell, probably smashing it.


Upend it in a bowl and fill it with a sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) solution - one heaped teaspoon to every half pint of hot water. Squidge it well into all the foam etc. Leave for an hour or so, rinse well, pad as dry as possible and leave for a couple of days in a warm spot.

Another one to try if the inside is really grimy with old sweat etc is to use PBW - it'll dissolve out any organic muck.

http://www.morebeer.com/products/cleaner-star-pbw-2-oz.html

I may be mistaken, but I have read somewhere that you should
replace your helmet after 10 years. Evidently, the effectiveness
of the interior padding degenerates. This may be old information.
New technology in helmets may make them effective longer.

I always wear a head cover to keep my helmet clean and
smelling good. This may not work for everyone. Some sweat
through their head more.

The fact that a helmet is your most important safety devices makes
getting a new one pretty high on the need to have list.

Bob Copeland
Minnesota

I've never tried a washing machine, but HAVE used a dish washer several times with stanky dirtbike helmets.
Took forever to dry (don't even think about using the dish dry cycle).
I think of it as giving a last chance to an old helmet before using it as an art piece or a target.

+1 to never use washing machine for helmets, it just does not fit to this purpose.

+1 buy a new helmet, it's both the easiest and safetiest thing to do. If you don't mind about safety and the old helmet has sentimental value, then try the manual cleaning tricks provided. Helmets have different materials - my Arai's (on the expensive side) manual says, that I can just soak the whole helmet in a bucket of luke warm water if I wish. Drying takes some time though.

Just hand wash with some very gentle detergent. Luke warm water, rinse well. Mines about due again actually.

As long as your wearing it while it's in there I think you would be fine

HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAAAA


oh wait op was serious

Actually, it's the other way now and the recommendations is 3-5 years (in most cases).

Do not put it in the washing machine!!! You can buy dedicated helmet liner cleaners, check your nearest bike shop they are readily available.

fTW
Just run a deep sink full of water and gentle detergent, wash it by hand, maybe leaving it to soak a bit, and then rinse a couple of times in sinks full of clean water, and leave to dry.
Don't have the water too hot, or soak too long; if there's glue keeping the foam stuck down it may dissolve

I wash all my helmets in the washing machine weekly ,but only tumble dry when i buy an extra large and need to shrink it to a medium
george

The washing machine idea would probably not do the washing machine much good. (as well as destroying the helmet.)

please do this and please video it

+1 on this

+1 Dishwasher instead
+1 Replace every 5 years

or.. just try this..
https://rideapart.com/articles/how-to-clean-your-motorcycle-helmet-like-a-pro

Clean it using the shower head, but seeing as you can get new helmets fro less than £30 why bother if it's just a spare lid

why do you have to replace the dishwasher every five years


how dirty is your head

Hi guys, find it all very strange, there is a nice friendly chap rides a vespa eats in the local cafe ,he liked my new lid but was horrified i spent £100 on a helmet (i consider it a a mid cost helmet)but he was telling me how much he spent on chrome bars and white walls ........but he wears a secondhand ,god knows how old polycarbonate helmet !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i did mention the stickers might actually degrade the helmet but seems totally disinterested ,i change my helmet every 2 years i was told 2% foam liner hardening per year i figure my head is the most important part of me or the bike
george

From experience...

$240 smelly helmet

$6 automotive upholstery cleaner

$350 Dermatologist and meds

B

In between pulling the liner and tossing into the washing machine I use a solution of 50/50 warm water and white vinegar. Using a wash rag I wipe the lining with a bit force. Let dry and the wipe down with just a rag and warm water. To speed up the second wipe down I use my wife hair dryer on low (please don't tell her about this ) The vinegar neutralizes any odor and removes the grime.

A good dousing of Lysol spray will kill any germs (and thus the smell). I try to hit mine once a week, especially in the summer.

Thanks for all advise people. Eventually I passed on using washing machine. I was worried it can get damaged more than the helmet.
I took it under the shower and gave it proper deep clean, with a shower gel and baby shampoo, with a sponge, for about 30 minutes, in warm water.
To dry it I've been using electric heater (22C, with brakes) and tonight it's almost dry and seems to be all fine

I'm pretty sure my brain is getting 2% softer per year so it all balances out.

not sure about the science in that suggestion but
i think mines getting softer as well ,so it sounds good to me
george

I picked up a product called "Helmet Fresh" at a motorcycle store. It has instructions on how to clean the helmet and then use this product to remove odor.

I don't really need it because I've broken my nose so many times I haven't had a sense of smell for decades

This is my favorite thread right now!