I've notched up over 2,000 miles worth of riding under my current helmet (much of it during warm summer months) and, frankly, it's beginning to smell like it. I would be a lot more popular with my wife if someone could offer me any tips on how best to clean it.

Any ideas?

Hair shampoo!!

Take the straps out and wash them, clean the shell with baby wipes.

If you have used it that much is it time for a new one?

2000 miles to some people is 6 weeks use...

Quite. Mine equates to more like six months' use, but I'm still not mad keen on replacing my helmet twice a year just cos it smells!

Thanks for all the tips by the way

Just sling the whole thing in a bowl of warm, not hot, water. Remove and rinse the pads. Get the salt out of the straps and allow to dry naturally. Not in the airing cupboard. Do this after every 5 or 6 rides and you will have no problems with smell.

Use a bit of Washing powder with John's method and it will smell lovely. Rinse off under the shower...or wear it in the shower?!

NOO don't use washing powder unless your confident you rince it all out. put the pads in by all means but definately not the Shell or straps. The shell should be just washed with warm water and the straps with water or a very mild soap solution.

Why not Nuke? I meant the straps. They are material, clothes are washed in Washing powder.

Washing powder is designed for machines which have a good rincing potential. Washing by hand there is a good chance you will leave residues in the straps that coupled with the fact they are webing and not a light cloth which tends to hold things like soap. If you really insist on using washing powder use one of the pure soap ones like dreft or lux. But most definately not the biological ones like Ariel. If want to know why not Ariel place an old chicken bone with reisdues of meat on it for a few hours. Washing powder is not good for the skin. they contain alsorts of nasties.

Oh, i see!
Agree thorough rinsing is the key.
Mind you i'll take my chances, i'd rather have a bit of fresh smelling residue rather than manky festering bacteria on my straps....

washing out is important.
I hand wash my bibshorts with and I didn't rinse it all out properly.
It itched like hell for the whole of the next day- and when I was sweating a lot at the end the soap started to froth up. Not pleasant- even for random bystanders, I can tell you!

Hark at Nuke,the domesticated nancy boy who knows all about washing powder!
Can you iron too?

I'm sure he can.
Not all of us still live with our mothers like you do, podge. ;-p

Bally Like I said if you want to use soap use the handwashing type and not the washing powder.

Podge Yes I can iron too. I can also cook so what does that make me. I have looked after myself for longer than you've been out of Nappies' Having 3 kids I also learned how to change those

Tom: No I dont live with my mother,I wished I did,it'd be a damn sight easier.
Nuke:I've got a couple of sprogs myself and know all there is about nappies mate.

I'm not sure if the guys above were serious or not, but I really do use shampoo for this kind of thing.

I just take my mitts, hrm strap and helmet into the shower with me after I get back from a ride. Lately I've been using the bottle of Herbal Essences left behind by the ex-gf and now my mitts emit a lovely scent of avacado and mango! Probably not recommended for £80 Rapha mitts though :)

I have to agree with what NUKE says about being wary of hand-washing with regular machine detergent, particularly the bio stuff which has enzymes in it. Also old-style soap flakes are useful to have around, you can use them for washing any kit that has a water repellant treatment (DWR) and anything else that you shouldn't use a detergent on.

I was Serious!!! not only that - but it is a recognised tip in all the good bike books/magazines!!

Glad to hear I'm not the only one who does it. I felt a bit self-conscious at first, wandering into the bathroom wearing nowt but my gloves and helmet.