Motorcycle Helmet Care – Check Out These Tips
For bikers, a helmet is a very important safety gear. It will protect you during accidents and save lives. Among all vehicles, motorcycles are the most dangerous. Head injuries are most common in motorcycle accidents. Those who suffer head injuries are the most affected, as the head is relatively more delicate than other parts of the body. Therefore, while riding a bike, it is essential to use safety gear and a standard certified helmet. Additionally, a helmet will keep your eyes, face, and nose healthy and normal. Since a helmet protects an important part of our body, it also needs proper maintenance. This blog discusses motorcycle helmets and helmet care in detail.
A helmet is a biker's personal item. Just as you have some items for personal use, a helmet is also for your own use only. Keeping a helmet clean is not a difficult task. Rather, keeping it clean is very important for your health and safety. Yet, many of us buy a helmet once and use it until it's damaged. We don't care about cleanliness, which is not at all hygienic. By following some simple rules, it is easy to take care of a helmet.
If you are a regular biker, you will be accustomed to using a motorcycle helmet regularly and will definitely take care of your helmet. There are various ways to keep a helmet in good condition, and you should follow them. By following small things, the helmet will remain protected and will serve you well for your safety and health. It won't waste much of your extra time. This discusses in detail how to take care of a helmet, and some tips for keeping a motorcycle helmet hygienic.
How to Clean a Motorcycle Helmet
Buy a helmet according to your head size. Many standard quality helmets are available in the market. A standard quality motorcycle helmet has several parts. The outermost layer that we see is a hard shell of plastic or fiber. Beneath the outer shell is a thin but strong cork sheet lining, and beneath the cork sheet is a foam padding, after which the entire thing is wrapped with foam and a strong fabric. Many helmets have their inner part lined with net fabric.
The inner parts of most helmets can be removed. At least the fabric or net lining along with the foam can be separated. You can remove this part and wash it thoroughly. Then let it dry in the sun. For helmets where everything is attached, expose them to the sun regularly. However, these cannot be used regularly for more than 1 year. Because sweat, dust, dirt, and dry weather will make them sticky. Excessive use can lead to infections on the scalp and facial skin. Anyway, attached helmets, if washed with detergent, Dettol or Savlon, and dried well in the sun before use, will reduce the risk of infection. You can wear a handkerchief or a thin cotton cloth on your head when wearing a motorcycle helmet.
Regular cleaning of the helmet's front visor is sufficient. Cleaning the glass with a soft cotton cloth will do. Once a week, clean both sides of the front visor with a glass cleaner and wipe it with a clean cloth. Regular cleaning will keep your helmet's glass transparent for a long time. Because a clean helmet visor is very important at night, in fog, and on dusty roads.
Always ride with the helmet visor down. This will prevent dust, dirt, insects, and brick powder from getting into your eyes. Accidents don't come with a warning. So if these suddenly get into your eyes while riding, an accident can occur. Also, road dust and dirt can cause various eye problems.
Learn Some Tips for Motorcycle Helmet Care
As a biker, if you think about your safety, what comes to mind first? Of course, the helmet. Among bike riding gear, the helmet is the most important. Wearing a motorcycle helmet while riding is mandatory in our country and all countries of the world. Therefore, it is a regularly used item for bikers. So, taking care of the helmet is equally important.
Keeping your motorcycle helmet clean is also an expression of your taste. A helmet completely covers our head. So, in any danger, a helmet is essential for initial protection from an accident. Head injuries are most common in bike accidents; using it helps prevent injuries to the eyes, nose, mouth, and brain.
Therefore, taking care of a motorcycle helmet is everyone's responsibility. Both the inside and outside of the helmet need care. This section discusses in detail what should be done for motorcycle helmet care, and some related tips. Additionally, what should not be done and some useful advice are also provided.
(1) Clean the helmet regularly - Due to road dust, sweat, and heat from the sun, helmets get dirty very quickly. So, keep your helmet clean regularly. How to clean: (a) Use shampoo or cleaning gel to clean the outer part of the helmet. Clean and wipe with a soft cotton cloth. (b) The inner part, meaning the soft foam area, needs a bit more time to clean. First, remove the cheek pads and chin curtain, then soak them in water mixed with shampoo or detergent for some time. Once the dark stains are gone, scrub and clean the cheek pads and chin curtain several times in clean water. (c) Do not wring the cheek pads and chin curtain after taking them out of the water. Then drain the water well, wipe them, and let the helmet dry in the sun. (d) If the helmet lining gets too dirty, remove it and clean it, if it's removable. Use shampoo or detergent to clean the inner lining. If the lining cannot be removed, clean it gently by pressing. After the wet lining is thoroughly dried in the sun, set it properly in the helmet. If you can remove the lining, also brush and clean the hard-shell part inside. (e) Usually, the inner lining of all types of helmets cannot be removed, so they cannot be washed separately like cheek pads and chin curtains. For cleaning such helmets, helmet cleaning kits are available.
The inner part of the helmet is made of soft foam and fabric. This area gets the most dirty. Sweat and dust are responsible for this. The inner parts need to be removed and cleaned. The foam and fabric parts should be cleaned with shampoo or detergent. Then they need to be dried in the sun. For helmets where everything is attached, they should be regularly wiped with a damp cloth and dried in the sun. In this case, you can use Savlon, Dettol, etc.
(2) Cleaning the Outer Shell – The outer shell of the helmet loses its shine due to sun exposure and dust. Therefore, it should be cleaned with something that won't damage the paint. In this case, shampoo or washing gel should be used for cleaning. Use a soft cloth or tissue for wiping. Do not rub excessively, and do not use any chemicals.
(3) Use water, shampoo, washing gel – Use water, shampoo, and washing gel to clean a motorcycle helmet. Do not use any chemicals. After cleaning, use only a damp soft cloth or damp tissue for wiping. Use a soft brush or cotton cloth to clean the helmet's vent sides.
(4) Clean the visor with caution – The helmet's visor glass is a very sensitive area. This area must be cleaned with caution; rubbing it without understanding could damage the visor. We see forward through the visor, so if a layer of dust and dirt accumulates or if it gets scratched, you won't be able to see properly. As mentioned earlier, the visor glass is a sensitive area. If dust, dirt, or a layer of grime accumulates, do not wipe the visor directly with a cloth. This will cause very fine scratches on the visor glass, which may not be noticeable in daylight. And at night, if the headlights of oncoming vehicles shine on the visor glass, there will be a lot of reflection. You won't be able to judge the road ahead, so an accident could occur.
To clean the visor glass, use air or water flow to remove dust. Then wipe it with a soft cotton cloth or soft tissue. After using your motorcycle helmet, regularly clean the visor and the outer hard shell. For no reason should you rub the visor, as it will leave marks.
If there's an oily, sticky layer on the visor, use shampoo or washing gel, then gently wipe it off with a soft cloth or soft tissue. Use a soft cotton bud to clean the grooves and corner areas.
(5) Clean the air vents – Helmets have air vents for air to enter. So dust and dirt also get in; if not cleaned regularly, it hardens. If the air vents are not cleaned, dust accumulates in the helmet's locking joints, visor latch, and modular joints, destroying their smoothness.
During cleaning, if the helmet's synthetic and lining joints become loose, reattach them with rubber-type glue.
What Not to Do When Caring for a Motorcycle Helmet
Many of us, unknowingly and mistakenly, harm our helmets by over-caring for them. In our eagerness, we make some mistakes. You should avoid these actions –
(1) Never use soap directly to clean a helmet. Soap contains chemicals, so regular use can leave an oily, sticky layer on the visor glass, inner side, and hard shell. This further attracts layers of dust and dirt. Use shampoo, washing gel, detergent, etc.
(2) Do not use hard cloths and dry tissues to clean a helmet. This causes the most damage to the visor. Very fine scratches will appear on the visor glass, which may not be a big problem in daylight, but causes significant trouble at night with the lights of oncoming vehicles.
(3) Do not use any chemical substances (such as furniture cleaner) to clean a motorcycle helmet.
(4) Do not apply excessive force when opening helmet parts. Be especially careful when separating the liner and visor. Otherwise, locking rivets and latch joints may break.
(5) Never use industrial glue to attach the helmet lining or anything else. Always use rubber grade glue.
How to Store a Motorcycle Helmet
A motorcycle helmet is an everyday item for you, just like your clothes. Therefore, proper storage is also important. Keep the helmet in a well-ventilated, dry, clean place. Do not keep it in a drawer or enclosed space, as this can lead to fungus and a musty smell. Occasionally expose the helmet to the sun; this will remove dampness and the musty smell of sweat. Do not use body spray or perfume. You can use a thin handkerchief under the helmet; this will prevent the padding from getting wet with sweat and avoid a musty smell. Make sure the helmet does not fall.
When to Replace a Motorcycle Helmet?
All items have a sustainability period. Ordinary helmets should be replaced within 1 year; standard helmets can generally last 2-3 years. Additionally, helmets can be damaged due to accidents. Air pollution, sun exposure, UV rays, and various weather conditions degrade the helmet's sustainability. Buy a standard helmet that comfortably fits your head. Do not use damaged or patched-up helmets, and do not let others use your helmet.
Almost all standard helmets come with a specific warranty period. After this period, the hard outer shell of the helmet weakens; the inner visor, foam, and liner joints become loose. In this condition, the helmet will not provide you with sufficient protection.
Finally, be sure that if you are not conscious about helmet care, it will not help save your head in any accident. A helmet represents a biker's taste. With regular and proper care, a helmet can be used for a long time. Nowadays, bikers are quite aware of their safety. Therefore, many positive changes are being observed in the use of safety gear. The more secure you keep your motorcycle helmet, the more protection it will give you. So, regular helmet care is very important.
To get tips on bike care and any bike-related concepts, visit Bikes Guide. Here you will find various information related to new and old bikes, expert reviews, and other necessary information.
