Helmets Helmet Funk

bobframe

bobframe

Joined
Feb 1, 2011
Messages
52
Location
Toccoa, GA
Bike
1200RT, 1200GS
My six month old Shoei helmet is developing a serious case of funk...riding in the Georgia heat and humidity has taken it's toll. I have removed the liner and washed them thoroughly a couple of times, but within a couple of rides, the funk returns. Guess I could trash the liners and replace?

Anyone have a Hint from Heloise on how to eliminate the odor?

Thanks!!!
 
Do you wear a head cap? If not you may want to think about adding one to your gear list. Try using a fabric softener next wash they usually add a fresh scent which may delay the return of your funk.
 
I put mine in the dishwasher with about 1 tsp of laundry detergent and they clean up great.
But, I don't know how you'd dry the helmet in your neck of the woods at this time of year.
 
bobframe said:
Anyone have a Hint from Heloise on how to eliminate the odor?
Click to expand...

If the smell is from bacteria (as most body odor is) bleach will kill the bacteria and give you a clean slate, so to speak. But be careful to use VERY LITTLE bleach. It doesn't take much to kill the germs. A good sanitizing solution is about one ounce bleach per gallon of water. Wash the liner as usual and then soak in the bleach solution for about 15 minutes...should be better. Wring out excess water and let air dry. :)

--Dave
 
Do you usually wash the liners in the washing machine? Maybe, since I have hand washed mine in the kitchen sink, I'm not getting them as clean as I could in the washing machine?

Replacing the liners seems kind of extreme at this point, no?
 
Byron said:
Do you wear a head cap? If not you may want to think about adding one to your gear list. Try using a fabric softener next wash they usually add a fresh scent which may delay the return of your funk.
Click to expand...

I do not wear a head cap...always seemed like it would make a hot situation, hotter. More sweat in an already sweaty situation. What's your experience with a cap?
 
bobframe said:
Do you usually wash the liners in the washing machine? Maybe, since I have hand washed mine in the kitchen sink, I'm not getting them as clean as I could in the washing machine?

Replacing the liners seems kind of extreme at this point, no?
Click to expand...

Throw them in the washing machine. It works great.

bobframe said:
I do not wear a head cap...always seemed like it would make a hot situation, hotter. More sweat in an already sweaty situation. What's your experience with a cap?
Click to expand...

A Schampa (or similar) cap is a very thin material so it won't make you overheat nor add to the sweating condition. I started using one because during the summer, I was sweating so bad that the helmet was getting dirty fast, smelled horrible, and I was getting some serious zit action on the sides of my head. I started wearing the cap and the helmet stays cleaner (both physically and smell-wise) and the zit thing went away. I was amazed at the difference the cap made. I have two caps and switch them out every week. The helmet looks cleaner, stays cleaner, and feels cleaner. I still pull and wash the cheek covers about once a month during the summer and throw them in with the rest of my laundry. An added bonus was that since the cap was collecting the sweat, the wind through the helmet would rush through/across the cap and the evap process actually helped cool me down.
 
bobframe said:
I do not wear a head cap...always seemed like it would make a hot situation, hotter. More sweat in an already sweaty situation. What's your experience with a cap?
Click to expand...

I bought a new helmet two years ago and I do use a head cap/wrap. After two years and about 17,000 miles, the helmet has no objectionable odor. My take is that I'd rather launder the head wrap every couple of weeks than the helmet liner. I also have a small box fan that I use to ventilate the helmet after long rides.

I live in a climate more moderate than GA, so I'm not sure if the head wrap would make a hot situation worse.
 
Whether at work or at play, I'm often wearing a helmet. For the helicopters, the liner is needed to ensure our electronic Active Noise Reduction (ANR) works properly. Too much moisture in the helmet and the electronics start to scream at you--which doesn't make for a pleasant flight.

Like others have said, I use them on my motorcycles too, to keep the helmet that much cleaner. They're fairly thin, machine washable, and after buying about ten of them, I grab a fresh one before every ride.

These even come in fashion colors!! :D

http://www.gibson-barnes.com/Pilot's+Skull+Cap/id/18/cat_id/57/prod_id/182/
 
skipcurt said:
Hey Bob, in the summertime I usually give my helmet a couple shots of Febreze after every 2-3 rides. I also store the helmet upside down to allow more air to get in there. I also use a Schampa Coolskin cap or my LD Comfort headliner. The LD is especially nice because it has the longer fabric at the back of the neck to keep the sun off your neck.

Skip
Click to expand...

Hi Skip. Just ordered a couple of the Schampa skull caps. I also plan to throw the helmet liners into the washing machine and give them a more thorough cleaning.

Thanks for the advice guys.

Bob
 
I spray mine with the helmet grundge cleaner you can buy and I tried it and the dishwasher is the best place without the heated drying , came out smelling as good as new ,
Twice during the summer and once mid winter and helmet is fine
 
I have a couple of Slik caps and they work great! Neither my head or the liner get funky anymore. I don't think it's hotter at all, probably cooler with it on, plus your hair doesn't get as funky looking either.
 
I have 2 skull cap's and I just change them out every couple of weeks or so. No funk ever and I never wash helmet liner. One thing that I do is when I take breaks from riding, lunch whatever I lay my skull cap on my phone cradle that is attached to my tank and it dry's rather quickly several times through out the day.
 
bobframe said:
I do not wear a head cap...always seemed like it would make a hot situation, hotter. More sweat in an already sweaty situation. What's your experience with a cap?
Click to expand...

Most liners now a days have channels to flow air. Without a cap hair can block the channels, with the cap you may sweat but the air gets there to cool things off. They tend to keep you hair in place better so you don't end up with helmet head when you arrive at your destination. Washing the caps is easier and quicker than washing the helmet liner.
 
One thing that can help a bit is to store the helmet between rides with some newspaper crinkled up inside it. Newspaper works great to collect odors...it works great inside riding boots.

Jim
 
+1 chuck the whole shmageggi in the dishwasher with some LAUNDRY soap.
My dishwasher wants to do heated dry no matter what I tell it so I have to pay attention and get it out at the end of the rinse cycle.

Err make sure to remove the headset 1st LOL.
 
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