If you’re like most dirt bike riders, then you take pride in your gear. You also know it can take a huge beating every time you’re out on the tracks and trails, and your helmet is no exception! A clean helmet is essential for ultimate comfort and safety, but if you don’t clean it right, you might be doing more harm than good.
To clean a dirt bike, helmet start by disassembling the helmet into liner, visor, pads, and shell. Clean each piece of the helmet with the appropriate cloth or plastic cleaner before rinsing and drying. Apply protective coatings and reassemble the helmet.
In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to clean your dirt bike helmet inside and out! We’ll discuss the best techniques and products to use for a deep and safe clean that won’t put your helmet at risk of damage.
Remove the Visor, Inner Lining, and Detachable Interior Pads
A dirt bike helmet features various components that don’t all follow the same rules when it comes to cleaning techniques and products. Some can be cleaned via modern machines, while others need a gentler alternative.
The first step in cleaning a dirt bike helmet is to remove the following:
- Visor
- Inner lining
- Detachable interior pads
These must be cleaned differently than the rest of the helmet to yield the best results.
Removing your dirt bike helmet’s visor will vary depending on its design, but most simply require you to pop out the inner visor and then pop out or unscrew the outer visor via the attachments on either side.
The inner lining and detachable interior pads can all be removed easily by hand. If you have an older dirt bike helmet, you might find that a removable inner lining isn’t a design feature, which means you will have to take extra care when cleaning the interior later.
Here’s a great walk-through helmet cleaning video, with written steps and more info below:
To clean the helmet I suggest a Helmet Cleaning Kit Found Here from Amazon. A good kit should have a visor cleaner, fabric cleaner, helmet cleaner, and protectant. Some kits will even come with anti-fog and rain repellant as add-ons.
Rinse the Dirt Bike Helmet in Lukewarm Water
After you’ve removed and set aside the aforementioned components, you’ll want to prepare your dirt bike helmet’s exterior for cleaning by giving it a quick rinse.
Rinse your dirt bike helmet in cool to lukewarm water to remove as much exterior dirt and debris as possible. This step is crucial because if you were to scrub your dirt bike helmet while coated in these contaminants, you increase the odds of pressing them into the helmet’s exterior, causing abrasions like scratches.
Therefore, when performing this step, refrain from using a rag or sponge to help wipe away the dirt. Just let the water remove as much as it can on its own. You might need some sort of hose or attachment that will increase pressure to remove tough or caked on debris.
Clean the Dirt Bike Helmet Exterior
With the dirt bike helmet’s exterior free of any obvious signs of dirt and debris, you can opt to either leave it as is or provide a deeper clean.
To clean and sanitize the outside of a dirt bike helmet, you’ll want to do the following:
- Use a microfiber towel, warm water, and a gentle detergent (baby shampoo is a good alternative)
- Fill a bucket with the soapy water
- Saturate your microfiber towel with the liquid
- Use the towel to gently wipe the exterior
- Rinse your helmet with lukewarm water
Using a microfiber towel will reduce the risk of abrasions while warm water will help sanitize the exterior while reducing the risk of melting or warping your dirt bike helmet’s graphics or external materials.
If you’re struggling to clean in the nooks and crannies of your helmet, try using a standard tool brush or a similar tool.
To clean the helmet I suggest a Helmet Cleaning Kit Found Here from Amazon. A good kit should have a visor cleaner, fabric cleaner, helmet cleaner, and protectant. Some kits will even come with anti-fog and rain repellant as add-ons.
Clean the Dirt Bike Helmet Visor
You’ve successfully cleaned the outside of your dirt bike. So, now is also a good time to clean your visor.
When doing this, refrain from using cleaning agents containing:
- Solvents
- Acids
- Alkaline base
- Window cleaner
This applies to your shield, vent cover, and mouthpiece as well as your visor, as these ingredients will likely damage these components.
Wiping the visor with a wet microfiber towel should be enough, but if you want to sanitize it, you can either purchase a specialized dirt bike visor cleaner or use the gentle detergent.
Remember to always wipe side to side or up and down, never alternating and never in circles, as this could scratch the exterior.
Clean the Inner Lining and Detachable Interior Pads
Let’s move on to cleaning your dirt bike helmet’s interior, starting with those components you were able to remove, the inner lining and detachable pads. These are the pieces that trap the majority of your sweat, making your helmet a smelly and uncomfortable thing to wear.
Thankfully, a dirt bike helmet’s inner lining and detachable interior pads can be safely washed in a modern washing machine as long as you take the right precautions. Follow these steps:
- Place them in a washing net for maximum protection, as this will ensure they keep their shape and prevent fasteners from snagging on anything inside the machine.
- Place them into the washing machine
- Set it to the gentle cycle using warm water. Both will reduce the risk of damage.
- Be sure to use a mild detergent with this cycle that is free of any harsh chemicals, such as bleach or fabric softeners.
Now, let’s take a look at how to clean your dirt bike helmet by handwashing it.
Handwashing Alternative
If you’re uncomfortable using a washing machine to clean your inner lining and detachable interior pads, you can opt for handwashing instead.
To do this:
- Saturate the pieces with warm water and a mild detergent.
- Gently massage the cleaning agent into the material using a microfiber towel.
- Rinse them with clean, lukewarm water until all of the detergent has been removed.
- When rinsing, make sure you gently squeeze water out rather than twisting or wringing the pieces, as this could cause irreversible tearing and stretching.
Now, let’s move on to cleaning the interior.
Clean the Dirt Bike Helmet Interior
While your inner lining and detachable interior pads are washing, you can get started on cleaning the helmet’s interior.
Most dirt bike helmets that feature removable linings and pads won’t get too dirty underneath, and, therefore, can be easily cleaned by wiping out any remaining debris with a wet microfiber towel. However, if you want a deeper clean, you can apply a gentle detergent and rinse the interior with lukewarm water.
If you are cleaning the interior of a dirt bike helmet that doesn’t have a removable inner lining, your best chance of a thorough clean would be to fill a deep sink or bucket with lukewarm water mixed with mild dish detergent and allow it to sit in the liquid for 10-15 minutes.
You’ll then remove the helmet, scrub the interior with a microfiber towel, and then rinse it with clean, lukewarm water. If it isn’t clean to your standards yet, soak it again and repeat the process.
Dry All Helmet Components
By this step, every part of your dirt bike helmet should be clean. All that’s left to do now is allow it to dry completely.
The safest way to quickly dry a dirt bike helmet is to place it in a well-ventilated room on a helmet stand/rack and open the shield to ensure maximum air circulation. Either allow the helmet to air dry naturally or expedite the process by placing a fan in front of it with at least a foot’s worth of distance.
During this process, make sure the helmet is kept out of direct sunlight, as this could cause exterior graphics and colors to fade.
You’ll also want to refrain from using heat when drying any helmet components; even the interior lining and pads should be left to air dry rather than placed in a modern drying machine to limit the risk of damage.
Once everything has dried completely, you can reattach any pieces you’ve removed and prepare for the next outing.
Final Thoughts
Following this guide will guarantee a clean dirt bike helmet free of any cleaning-induced damage. If you find there is still some residual odor, you can spray the interior with a helmet care spray that functions as a deodorizer but can also provide additional protection by killing bacteria and mildew.
Top off your cleaning routine with some additional exterior protection and a lustrous shine by applying a layer of wax.