How To Clean A Motocross Crash Helmet
Keep your mx helmet clean and maintained
With the muddy mx season is upon us we thought it would be a good idea to share a few tips on cleaning your motocross helmet and maintaining it properly, to keep it looking and smelling fresh.
Cleaning Between Races / Sessions And When Your Done Riding
As more and more mud builds up on your mx helmet it will become heavier, and will have an effect on the riders neck muscles (especially if they are a younger rider).
Between motos or practice sessions get as much mud off as possible. It does not have to have full deep clean, but getting the bulk of it off will make your next ride that little bit easier.
Who doesn’t need all the help they can get in the mud!
Use a bit of water and soap (if you have it) and a soft brush, should only take a couple of minutes. For any big lumps scrape off (carefully) with a mud scraper (or your hands if you dont have one).
Once you are finished riding for the day, put your clean mx helmet into a Motocross Helmet Bag.
Cleaning With A Power Washer, Hose Or Bucket Of Water
Depending on your setup you may have a power washer with you at the track, else you will just do this at home after the days riding. You can use a power washer or hose to clean your motocross helmet, but go about it carefully.
Most helmets have an inner pads, remove these as you will wash them separately.
First clean off as much mud as possible, then apply helmet cleaner / soap and continue with the water.
If you dont have a hose to hand then a bucket of warm soapy water will do just fine. When using a sponge, make sure there are no stones or grit/dirt in it that could scratch your helmet.
If using a pressure washer make sure you stand back from the helmet and/or turn the pressure down, as the strong jet could easily send your helmet across the floor and ruin that awesome paint job on it!
Finish off with a soft brush if you have one to get it all looking as good as new.
Make sure to clean the strap with a brush or sponge, and make sure the clips are clear of any unwanted dirt.
Finally check over your helmet now its clean, check the inside and outside for any cracks or evidence of crushing, if you see some it may be time to purchase a new one. Make sure to also check the strap mounts, as they can become worn over time.
Cleaning The Inner Helmet Pads
You should have taken your inner helmet pads out in the previous step, now is the time to get them nice and clean and free from sweat.
Either hand wash them in the sink, or put them in the washing machine. We recommend washing powder that is for delicate skin types, as it will be rubbing on your face when you put your helmet on next.
Scentless is also a good choice, although lovely you don’t want to be distracted by some meadow smell as your tearing up the track next week.
Leave the pads to fully dry, avoid putting in the tumble dryer as this could damage or shrink them.
Final Motocross Cross Checks After Cleaning
Once its all clean and put back together give your helmet a good check over to ensure its not damaged and unusable.
Play close attention to any visible damage, remembering to check the strap is 100% ok. Check the outside of the helmet for cracks again, just to be safe.
If you look after your motocross helmet correctly then it will look after you correctly.
In regards to damage, most manufacturers will do a check of your helmet if required. My opinion is if you think it needs a check over, then it probably needs replacing.
See our range of motocross helmets.
