How to: Wash Your Motocross Helmet

How-To Guides & Tutorials | 24 October 2014

Your off-road motorcycle helmet is the most expensive and important piece of dirt bike gear in your Motocross Gear Bag, which is why it's incredibly important to undertake regular helmet care and maintenance to ensure it continues to protect you like it should, as well as extending its length of use.

How to clean your motocross helmet liner:

Sweat is the natural-born enemy of fabric, foam and leather. Over time unwashed fabric which has been subjected to human sweat will become stiff, brittle and eventually deteriorates. If you've ever put your head inside an old motocross helmet and the cheek pads are rough and scratchy on your face, then this is a key sign of a lack of regular cleaning!

To avoid this, you must wash your helmet liner after every ride, and it's a super simple process.

Step one - Remove helmet liner:
Almost every helmet on the market today has a removable liner which is clipped in with press studs, magnets or other easy to remove clips. It should only take a matter of seconds to first remove the cheek pads, followed by the main liner. Ensure you take it easy when removing your helmet liner - most are a delicate piece of material which clips into your internal shell, and all too often people try to yank these out with excessive force which then damages the liner or breaks its fixtures. Take care of your liner - it's there to offer comfort and protection for your head.

Step two - Place in laundry garment bag:
On our own helmet, we simply remove the liner and put it inside a laundry garment bag. We do this to prevent any damage to the liner from tumbling over and over in the washing machine, and potentially getting caught on anything.

Step three - Wash on gentle:
The third step is placing the garment bag with a helmet liner in it inside of the washing machine, and setting it to gentle. You can use your normal washing powder or cleaner, however steer clear of any harsh cleaners and solvents, such as stain removers.

Step four - Hang out to dry:
The final step is to hang out the liner and cheek pads to adequately dry before reinstalling them in your moto helmet.

Step five - Reinstall liner and cheek pads:

Once the liner and cheek pads are dry, it's time to reinstall them. Start with the liner first and line-up up the button and click them in. Follow with the same process on the cheek pads.

How to clean your dirt bike helmet:

Step one - Remove excess dirt:
Before this step, remove your helmet liner as per the above processes. If the outside of the helmet is heavily soiled, we recommend hosing it down first to soak the majority of the mud away. Removing the helmet visor will also make it easier to get the helmet clean, and this simply involves unscrewing the two or three bolts that keep it secure.

Step two - Hand wash with soapy water:
Once the bulk of the dirt is gone, wash the helmet with soapy warm water and a sponge. Be careful when washing dirt and grime off your helmet, as scrubbing this into the helmet can scratch the paint job, and ensure you don't use any aggressive cleaning agents or cleaning devices, such as a pressure cleaner.

Step three - Allow to dry:
Once the helmet is completely clean, it's now time to allow it dry before preparing it for your next ride. It may need an extra wipe over with a helmet cleaner using a microfiber cloth to get that brand new look.

Step four - Inspect for damage:
Now that your helmet is clean take the time to inspect it for chips, scratches, cracks and damage. Even a small crash can damage your helmet enough to compromise its ability to keep you safe so keep your eyes peeled.

Step five - Pre-ride preparation:
After you've inspected your helmet, it's now time to prepare your helmet for the next ride. You'll want to install main inner liner first - this will usually snap in via buttons. Followed by this, install the cheek pads via the appropriate button. Lastly, ensure you put your helmet in its bag to ensure it remains safe while in storage and transit.

Learn more about dirt bike helmets:

The MXstore Helmet Buying Guide

Ultimate Guide to Dirt Bike Helmets

Dirt Bike Helmet Technology Guide

Dirt Bike Helmet Buyer's Guide

Entry-Level Dirt Bike Helmet Comparison

Mid-Level Dirt Bike Helmet Comparison

Premium Dirt Bike Helmet Comparison

Popular helmet brands in our range at MXstore:

For more information regarding motocross helmets don’t hesitate to contact our friendly customer service team or visit The MXstore Motocross Helmet Buyers Guide