Cleaning stanky helmet

Tom Dunlap

Tom Dunlap

Here from the beginning
Administrator
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Retired in Minneapolis
My Kask helmet is a bit gamey.

I've scrubbed the inside with shampoo and also used Dawn dishwashing soap too. This cleans the dirt well enough.

The foam lining still holds some odors, not pleasant ones either.

Does anyone have any solutions for helmet perfume?
 
Box of baking soda? Lemon? Gasoline and a match?

I just throw the suspension of my petzl in the wash.
 
dishwasher on quick wash, comes out brand new looking/feeling. straps even return to original color after all your grime removed
 
Tom, any resolution on this?

I'm tired of losing clients and an employee has threatened to leave.

Kidding. But great goodness these things do stink and I haven't even worn it in summer yet. Add that to the nitrile palm gloves and needless to say the windows are rolled down on the way home.
 
Throw it in the dishwasher ( clip the straps up above the suspension ) and an easy H I G H pressure wash

you can fit 4 helmets at a time

Best solution I've found in my 15+ yrs

Helmet doesn't even reach stink phase by end of week when I wash each Sunday before new week.

Always clean and comfy feeling...
 
Ok familytree. That sounds easiest. I would assume to turn "heated dry" off? Which we rarely use anyway.

Anybody foresee any problems with this method? Wouldn't want to break down any of the impact structures in the helmet.
 
Treelogic, are you a hunter by chance? If so try some of your odor spray. If not go to the local sporting goods store and pick up some. It attacks and covers up human odor. I use it for my stinky boots all the time.

Frank
 
My helmet is soaking in a bucket with baking soda and laundry detergent mixed in. When I get home I'll rinse with hot water and dry overnight. I won't know until tomorrow if this works

Something I might try next time is to add some vinegar too. The chemical reaction that vinegar brings has made it a centuries old disinfectant
 
Sounds good except that the vinegar smell is what I'm trying to get rid of.
crazy.gif


Mac's idea of the baking soda does seem to have promise. The foam from adding vinegar could certainly help too.

Mine's in the dishwasher now. I'll let y'all know how it turns out and be looking for your result too Tom. Thanks.
 
Rinsed out...and it doesn't smell, at least to me!

It wouldn't take much vinegar to do the job I don't think. Worst case is that your hair would smell like salad dressing. Add that to the french fry bio-diesel and you'd smell like lunch!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Something I might try next time is to add some vinegar too. The chemical reaction that vinegar brings has made it a centuries old disinfectant

[/ QUOTE ]

Nope!

The vinegar (acetic acid) will neuturalize the baking soda (sodium bicarbonate = base).
It will foam during the chemical neuturalization, but not be very effective.
Maybe better to do each in individual steps.

i.e.
1.Vinegar
2.Rinse w/ water
3.Baking soda
4.Rinse

Or, dishwasher w/ baking soda added sounds good to me !
Avoid any high heat ! ! !
 
Greg,

Thanks for the chemistry lesson. That helps.

Now...if you use your dishwasher to wash your helmet do you run it through a cycle with nothing in it but some detergent to clean out the helmet stank before doing dishes? :)
 
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