cleaning helmets

[Babberney]

I've written here and elsewhere about how much better rock helmets are than the old hardhats, but I find I'm nagged by one problem. In TX, we sweat a lot, and that sweat soaks into the suspension system. Eventually, the straps start to develop a funky smell. I've soaked the helmet and straps in a mild soapy water bath, sprayed with Lysol and rinsed, and still haven't found a good solution to get the straps clean. Does anyone have any tricks or ideas for cleaning the whole helmet without degrading the components?

k

 

[NickfromWI]

this is more preventative....

When my helmet straps (ecrin roc) get sweaty, i store my helmet upside down so the straps will dry faster. There's gotta be much less ventilation under a right-side-up helmet. Just don't step on an up-side-down helmet...broken ankle city!!!

love
nick

 

[frans]

Re: this is more preventative....

Try soaking in a strong solution of vinegar & water
Frans

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Re: this is more preventative....

AFter reading Snarf's reply I chuckled to myself. After washing in vinegar I'd have to wash with soap and water unless I wanted to smell like a pickle. Otherwise I'd ahve to make a decision about which smells worse

Then I had a thought. People wash baseball caps in the dishwasher. You could check to see how hot the water is and then check with the helmet manufacturer or the spec sheet to see what temp it can handle. I would bet that everyone has an old beat up helmet that could be tested in the dishwaser. I think that the heat would effect the head gear way before the helmet.

Scrub a dub dub!

Tom

 

[RLEWIS]

Re: SMELLY HELMET ???

All the hockey players are going ------ HUH????

What do they want to do that for?

 

[frans]

Re: this is more preventative....

Actually Tom D. the vinegar really does work.
It cuts through the buildup throughly.
Yes rinse the helmet with water after. The vinegar smell rinses right out.
Bleach does not seem to do as good a job
Snarf

 

[Mark Chisholm]

Re: SMELLY HELMET ???

I'm with you RLewis! The guys in the locker room seem proud of the odors they create with the lack of washing and airing out of their hockey gear.

But, there is a new machine at the rink I play at that you place all of the gear in and it sanitizes it with some type of bacteria destruction process. It comes out smelling peachy! Some say "That's for the panzees!"?