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10 Steps to CLEAN Your Motorcycle Helmet Like a Pro




Step 1: Motorcycle Helmet Cleaning Materials


Microfiber Cloth

These are great for washing a motorcycle helmet, as well as cleaning a visor. While they don’t always have to be new, you should always start with a clean rag. Any dirt particles trapped in the rag increase the risk that you will rough up the exterior finish on the helmet during the cleaning process.



Toothbrush & Cotton Buds


A cheap or your used toothbrush with soft bristles is all you need to help clean nooks and crannies that the microfiber rags cannot reach. This can prove especially useful when cleaning around your motorcycle helmet visor gaskets and vents. Cotton Buds will be used in cleaning the inner side of air vents which can't be reached by toothbrush.



Baby Shampoo

The main thing that you want to keep in mind when looking for a cleaning agent is to ensure that it is not petroleum-based. Baby shampoo is an best option, due to its gentle nature, especially in cleaning the interior paddings or carbon fiber exterior.



Warm Water
Whether it is a tub or a sink, warm water is your best friend when washing a motorcycle helmet as it allows you to gently loosen dirt and dead bugs without harming any of the helmet materials.



Compressed Air

If you have access to an air compressor, dialing back the pressure and using a few strategic blasts is a great way to clean dusts or debris in motorcycle helmet air vents. Be careful not to use air from an aerosol can, however, as that will erode the EPS liner in the helmet and degrade its protective capabilities.




Step 2: Remove Any Electronics and External Accessories

It sounds incredibly basic (and it is), but this is a step that is all too often overlooked until it is too late. Before you wash a motorcycle helmet, you should be sure to remove any internal electronic accessories such as microphones, antennas, batteries, and the Bluetooth communicator units that they attach to. Additionally, if you’re working on a dual-sport or off-road helmet that has a peak, it is a lot easier to remove it and clean separately.




Step 3: Remove The Helmet's Interior Paddings

While many manufacturers have slightly different designs, removing the internal liner and cheek pads rarely requires more than a few strategic tugs. In most cases, comfort pads and liners attach with snaps, but some use hook-and-loop material or even magnets.  For specifics, be sure to check your owner’s manual. Eg. For Schuberth C3 Pro, Neckroll need to be pull off at the back not side, The Cheek Pads can be easily removed with the unzipping the zipper at cheek pads first. Once you have removed the cheek pads and main liner, place these to the side.
We will get to washing them in Step 5.




Step 4: Prepare The Helmet's Outer Shell

To help loosen up caked-on dirt and bugs, soak a microfibre cloth in warm water and then drape it over the helmet. This will work to gently soften and dislodge stuck-on gunk and reduces the effort needed to clean it later, as well as the likelihood that you will scratch the helmet or faceshield during the process. Allow the wet microfiber rag to remain on the helmet while you move on to Step 5.




Step 5: Clean The Interior Lining

It’s often the interior of a motorcycle helmet that needs washed the most. From face sweat to hair oil, the lining of your motorcycle helmet soaks up a lot of grime. When cleaning the lining of your motorcycle helmet, fill a sink, tub, or bucket with warm water and baby shampoo then dunk, scrub, and massage each piece of your helmet liner in the soapy water. Baby shampoo works well for this task as it is ultra gentle, yet still designed specifically to clean away sweat and hair oil.
When complete, let your helmet liner and cheek pads air dry. It’s always best to do this at least the night before you plan on riding so as to allow enough time to dry throughly. If the lining still have some bad smell, you can masking it with Febreeze or equivalent.




Step 6: Clean The Motorcycle Helmet's Exterior

After removing the wet rag that you placed on the helmet in Step 4, take off the faceshield and set it aside. Use a new, wet microfiber cloth to gently work your way around the exterior of the helmet and wipe away any leftover dirt. When cleaning your motorcycle helmet, always be sure to use warm water only. Certain solvents and cleaning solutions can damage the exterior of your helmet. The toothbrush & cotton buds will come in handy for hard-to-reach spots.





Step 7: Blow Out The Vents (if needed)

Sometimes, in the heat of riding hard, a dirt chunk or well fed insect will get lodged in the vent channels of your helmet. A quick blast of from an air compressor (not an aerosol can) works well to clear the pathways and let the air flow freely again.




Step 8: Clean The Faceshield

Most modern visor have some sort of protective coating (mainly for UV protection and anti-fog). For that reason, and much like the exterior of your helmet itself, you should never use anything other than warm water when cleaning a motorcycle visor. For care instructions specific to your visor, be sure to check out the owner’s manual to ensure you do not void any manufacturer warranties. In the end, the best way to wash a motorcycle visor is simply to use a wet microfiber cloth and gently massage away any dirt, dust, or smudges. Also just like with the helmet exterior, leaving a wet rag draped over the faceshield for several minutes softens up crusty bug remains and makes the job much easier.

A Note About Pinlock Lens

When cleaning a Pinlock lens, remove the inner lens from the outer visor so you can clean both sides of each piece. Be especially careful not to damage the gasket on the inner lens as it is integral in the Pinlock system working correctly when you put them back together. In the process of removing the lens, be careful to stretch the visor flat for removal, in case lens is already loosely fitted, you need to adjust the pin at the visor before you install back the lens. Some manufacturer will provide spare pin for replacement.




Step 9: Wipe Down The Internal Sun Visor

If your helmet has an internal sun visor, it is likely not very dirty. However, if the drop-down visor has gotten a bit dusty over time, a quick spritz of water and wipe down with a microfiber towel will do the trick. Unless you are adamant in your desire to remove the entire sun visor, it is easier to leave it in place while cleaning, as it can be a bear to get back into place once removed.




Step 10: Reassemble The Helmet

Reassemble your helmet starting with the dry liner and cheek pads. Reattach your visor and any other pieces that you removed prior to cleaning.  If you have difficulties in install back the parts, you can always contact us for assistance.





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