my helmet stinks

[united4ever]

Bike helmet of course....been at it for a few months now and have a bontrager quantum helmet from Evans. The foam and straps get sweaty. I didn't do anything with it the first couple of months so maybe too late now but I then started washing it in the shower and rubbing shampoo into the foam and straps. Maybe makes it a little better but that smell is still there. I don't think the foam is removable. I could just submerge the whole helmet in a bucket with some washing liquid and warm water and put a weight on it and leave it? I even heard the dishwasher could be an option? What's the best way?

 

[vickster]

Bicarbonate of soda can be good for stinky things...and hot sunshine

I'm surprised the foam isn't removable, normally just attached to Velcro strips

 

[Custom24]

I have the same issue. I take mine into the shower at work and rinse it with cold water, reasoning that it would be subjected to the same treatment during rain, or even from sweat. However, I wonder if even the cold shower is damaging it, because some filmy bubbles have started appearing on the polystyrene.

To the OP - if you can get the pads out, try soaking them in a diluted vinegar solution overnight, then rinse them thoroughly. Should get rid of the stink.

Edit - but if the pads don't come out, then don't use vinegar on the helmet itself. Not sure how the polystyrene would react.

 

[cyberknight]

Bung mine in a bucket of soapy water over night and then rinse + hang on the line to dry , of course i do have 2 lids so i can still have a skid lid to keep mrs ck happy.

 

[Custom24]

Bung mine in a bucket of soapy water over night and then rinse + hang on the line to dry , of course i do have 2 lids so i can still have a skid lid to keep mrs ck happy.

You mean the whole helmet, or just the pads?

 

[welsh dragon]

Don't some people put theirs in a bucket of water with sterilising tablets overnight.

 

[xzenonuk]

i put mine in a basin with water and dettol and it worked awesome, if you don't mind the smell of dettol for a while

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

By coincidence, there was a GCN video on this subject that arrived in my inbox either today or yesterday -

 

[slowmotion]

Put the helmet in a big bucket and jam one end of a wooden spoon into one of the vents with the other end braced against the bucket handle. (This stops it rising up from the depths.) Add lots of hot water, stir in a couple of Ariel Bio blocks and leave overnight. Rinse in the shower in the morning.

That's it.

 

[helston90]

Once you've got it clean I tend to get into the habit of chucking under the outside tap as soon as I get home from the ride- rinse out as much sweat as possible- it delays the inevitable stink.

 

[cyberknight]

You mean the whole helmet, or just the pads?

The whole lot .