smelly helmet

[OakLeaf]

I wouldn't put it in the dishwasher. Temperature is too high, even if you air-dry and even if you don't use your dishwasher's onboard water heater.

Both Snell and CPSC standards for bicycle helmets require them to survive temperatures of 50°C (122°F), plus or minus 2° (Snell)/3° (CPSC). Tap water is ordinarily hotter than that.

Even considering the length of a single dishwasher cycle vs. the minimum four hours a helmet has to undergo the heat stress, this is a total risk/benefit analysis FAIL. Benefit: you save ten minutes and your hands stay dry. Risk: catastrophic head injury.

And that's disregarding the potential effect of dishwasher detergent on the EPS. I don't know whether chlorine bleach (or oxygen bleach, if you use a "green" detergent) degrades EPS or not, but it's generally a bad idea to expose a helmet to any harsh chemicals.

[TrekTheKaty]

Thanks, Oakleaf. I was embarrassed to admit I just rinse and don't use soap Now I feel better

[bunny_ninja]

soaking the pads in vinegar might work. It kills nasties, and the odor goes away with rinsing and time

It is how I was my shorts. i pour vinegar on the chamois and run them through the wash with a high efficiency detergent (and the rest of my clothes)

[kenyonchris]

Bike bike helmet smells like daisies in comparison to my riding (horse) helmet (for you horse people it is a Charles Owen jockey helmet...I jump horses off cliffs so I go for the heavy duty stuff)...at least the bike helmet has vents that are useful, my riding helmet not so much. Plus, it sits amongst my saddle pads, leather, and gross gloves when not in use. It is not submersible.

SO, I use a dryer sheet to keep it fresh. I stick one in there after I ride and let it sit. It may not kill any germs (don't want to think about it) but it keeps the smell in check. I keep one in my bike bag as well and my helmet stays much nicer between washings. I do wash my helmet, but it would seriously decrease the life of the pads and such to do it as often as it probably SHOULD be done, but my hair is much happier if I keep a bounce sheet in there with it.

Having said that, I do not have sensitive skin. My husband's delicate skin would never survive.

[Bike Chick]

I remove the pads and wash them in the sink and let them air dry and wipe the helmet out with a cloth using the same soapy water I washed the pads with.

DH wears his in the shower and washes it while he shampoos his hair I kid you not.......... It works for him. I just haven't gotten beyond feeling foolish standing naked with my helmet on to try it.

[Angela]

You can also just by new pads if yours are too old and smelly. It's a cheap fix if the helmet is still good.

[LizF]

DH & I both use shampoo in the shower to clean our helmets. I've had really good luck w/ Nature's Miracle for bike clothes funk. A glug in the washer seems to cut the stink. It's an enzyme cleaner sold in pet stores for pet "messes." It works on anything organic. Besides bike clothes, I've used it on milk spilled in mini-van in August in Texas, vomit, dog/cat messes, & my son's football clothes left in a locker for a week with a damp towel. So I think it'll work for helmets too.

[Bike Chick]

Where do you buy this stuff? Sounds like something everyone needs to keep on hand.

[Becky]

I've had really good luck w/ Nature's Miracle for bike clothes funk. A glug in the washer seems to cut the stink. It's an enzyme cleaner sold in pet stores for pet "messes." It works on anything organic.

+1 for Nature's Miracle! When the pit stink in jerseys gets to be too much, I'll heavily spray them and let sit for a few minutes before I toss them in the washer. They come out smelling just fine, even DH's jerseys!

I get it at Petsmart, but just about any pet store should have it. If you can't find that brand, any brand of enzymatic cleaner should work- just double check the label for laundry instructions and spot-test first.