Most amateurs in dirt bike racing come across this question: how can I clean my dirt bike helmet at home? Well, as a beginner, you are sure to get confused about the do’s and Don’ts as well as afraid to try something new. Hence, we are here to help you with the confusion.
So, how to clean a dirt bike helmet? There are a lot of different steps to clean your helmet perfectly. But the main thing you need to remember is no harsh soaps or clothes. Be ready with a soft microfiber cloth, gentle cleanser, and a fresh towel.
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How to Clean a Dirt Bike Helmet? Step By Step Guide
In this article, I am going to talk about the most important things you need to know while cleaning your dirt bike helmet.
What to do and What not to do:
The most common question, in this case, is: can I wash my dirt bike helmet? Well, yes, you can! But there are certain things you need to know and follow for that.
Before starting the main process to clean your dirt helmet, you should have a good idea about what you can do and what you can’t.
What To Do:
- You should only use mild cleaners or soaps on the shell as well as liner.
- The vents need to be cleaned out with a cotton bud or soft toothbrush.
- You need to be careful about scratching the visor and shell. So, use a lenient scratch-resistant cloth with super gentle pressure.
- Always avoid direct sunlight or heat on your liner. You can get a fan or air-dry it.
- You will have to keep the shell safe with a helmet or automotive wax after the cleaning.
- Use a silicone spray to lubricate the moving parts.
What Not To Do:
- Try to scrub the visor or helmet shell harshly in order to get rid of dried dirt.
- Use any petroleum-based cleaners or solvents to clean the dirt bike helmet.
- Try to use any kind of dishwashing liquids or harsh soaps on the liner.
- Clean the helmet visor with an ammonia-based window or glass cleaners.
One of the best ways to keep your helmet clean and use it for a long time is to wash the liner after each ride, even if it’s not that dirty because the liner will always be sweaty, which is bad for the helmet’s longevity.
You should know that sweat is the eternal foe of foam as well as fabric. Unwashed sweaty liners will surely deteriorate over time! Besides, most dirt bike helmets come with removable liners so that you can wash them easily.
Washing the Liner
Whenever you decide to wash your whole helmet, I would suggest always start from the liner.
How To Remove the Liner
You should always be careful to remove the liner because it needs to be gentle. The liners are rather delicate and can be torn off quite easily, especially when you are trying to pop off the press studs while separating them from the EPS liner’s edge. Hence, never use too much force on it.
Related: Why do dirt bike helmets have a visor?
How To Wash The Liner
I would always advise you to handwash the liner as well as the cheek pads in soapy warm water. In this case, baby shampoo can be a great help because it’s really gentle and doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals. Hence, you won’t feel any kind of disturbance next time.
One tip is, don’t put the pads or the liner into the washing machine. However, if you do that, make sure to put in any kind of mild soap.
After washing, pat them gently with a fresh towel and leave somewhere to air dry. Using clothes might misshape the inner foam, so it’s not advisable to use them.
Moreover, if your helmet comes with a non-removable liner, you should just wipe it out gently with a soft, damp cloth.
After the cheek pads and liner come EPS liner. While you don’t have to clean them every day, make sure to wash them every once in a while, for longevity.
Washing The EPS Liner
You should know that the EPS liner is not solvent nor heat-proof. So, you will need a soft, and damp cloth in order to wipe the liner out. Also, make sure you don’t scratch or create indentations to the EPS liner.
Washing The Outer Shell
While washing the outer shell, you need to be extra careful not to take off the paint by scratching too hard if you think that the dirt is too much; use a soft as well as a non-abrasive cloth with some warm soapy water to take it off.
Additionally, laying over a warm wet cloth over the outer shell can loosen up some dirt quite effectively.
How to Clean the Inside of a Dirt Bike Helmet?
Like most other things, each part of your dirt bike helmet needs special care if you want the helmet to last you a long time. The inner parts are not so different.
Now that you know briefly about how to wash the most important parts of your dirt bike helmet, let’s know a little something about how to clean the inside parts of your dirt bike helmet perfectly:
Inner Pads: Most people ask a lot about how to clean Dirt Bike helmet pads? Well, washing this part of your helmet is most certainly an easy part because you can wash it in the machine with a washing powder. However, you will have to make sure that the powder is totally scentless. After that, you can leave the pads to dry under the sun’s heat. But don’t use a dryer.
Vents: Reaching the vent area properly under the covers can be difficult. That’s where cotton buds or soft toothbrushes can come in handy. Make sure to not use any kind of cleaners with acids or solvents.
For other inner parts, just remember that you need to wash only the parts that you can reach with either your hands or cotton buds. No need to make yourself worried about the deeper parts. Also, never use any detergent or soap with a harsh chemical to clean any part of the helmet. Only warm water and gentle soaps are allowed in this case.
After washing the parts, you can gently rub them with a soft microfiber cloth and let them air-dry. Sun heat is not always friendly.
I hope this part really answers the question most people ask: how do I clean the inside of my dirt bike helmet?
Do helmets have a lifespan?
The answer is definitely. Like most other products, helmets can have an expiry date too. Though most people get this idea that a helmet can serve them a lifetime, that’s certainly not true. In general, if you use your helmet gently and with care, it can give you service for a long 8 years. However, if it gets hit or the EPS liner gets damaged, the thing can stop working in just 3 years then you may check the best dirt bike helmet under 200 dollars that come with premium quality and has a long lifespan.
Final Words
So, in this article, I gave you only a brief idea of how to clean a dirt bike helmet. Take good care of this thing, and you will enjoy the results in the upcoming years. Mostly, I will suggest you follow my what to do and what not to do list properly, and you will be good to go!
