Cleaning your bicycle helmet: how to make it look like new again and ensure it remains perfectly hygienic

If you ride a bicycle, it's a good idea to wear a safety helmet. And like all things we wear, a safety helmet needs to be periodically washed and cleaned.

So, what's the best way to do this without damaging the helmet? Let's find out:

How to properly clean your bicycle safety helmet

Glory Cycles/Flickr

To properly clean your bicycle helmet, proceed as follows:

• For the external surfaces, simply wipe over them iwith a sponge or soft cloth soaked in a mixture of warm water and Marseille soap, paying particular attention to any particularly stubborn stains; never use abrasive brushes or sponges, which could easily scratch these surfaces;
• The internal padding is where most of the dirt accumulates as it absorbs your sweat. If you can remove  the padding, soak it in warm water and Marseille soap (or if you prefer a more delicate approach, you can use shampoo); for unpleasant odors, you can soak the padding in a solution of water and white vinegar (one part vinegar to 10 parts water), in order to eliminate all the bacteria responsible for generating the odors;
• Most helmet straps can also be removed and these should be soaked in warm water and Marseille soap; for light-colored straps, you can use a soft brush and an eco-friendly dishwashing liquid to remove dirt.

To dry all these component, proceed as follows: remove excess water by dabbing them with a clean towel and finish by leaving them to air dry completely (and not in direct sunlight).

Advice for ongoing maintenance of your bicycle helmet

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To keep your bicycle helmet in top condition, we recommend you taking the following maintenance measures:

• After each wash, carefully check your helmet to make sure it is still intact;
• When you are not using it, the helmet must be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight: excessive heat and exposure to direct sunlight can easily damage helmet's components;
• Avoid cleaning your helmet with aggressive chemical cleaners - such as petroleum-based solvents - which could damage both the plastic casing and the foam padding inside your helmet;
• Do not spray insecticides onto your helmet, especially insecticides which contain harmful DEET;
• Do not soak your helmet (and its components) for too long and do not use the dishwasher to clean your helmet (as the heat will damage the foam and deform the plastic);
• Do not dry in direct sunlight as, as already mentioned, UV rays will degrade the plastic.

And always wear a helmet on your bicycle rides!