Keep Cycling Helmets Comfortable and Fresh
Sweat, snot, mud, dirt, leaves, and grime of all kinds can end up in your helmet and helmet padding after a big bike adventure. They can also build up over time after you use your helmet day in and day out for riding, training, or commuting.
While showering after a ride to clean off the grime and sweat is a given, it's also good practice to rinse your helmet every now and again. Even though helmet pads aren't vital to a helmet's impact protection, they play a key role in comfort.
Washing these pads may seem simple, but using the proper tools and techniques will not only keep them smelling and feeling fresher, but can also help extend their useful life and prevent that mystery stink from following you on every ride.
Here are some tips for washing and drying your helmet pads to keep them feeling fresher for longer.
How to Wash Lazer Helmet Pads
Cleaning sweat and salt buildup from helmet pads is straightforward. Since the padding attaches using Velcro, it can be removed from the helmet without any tools.
For quick, regular maintenance cleanings, every couple of months is a good interval. The pads can simply be rinsed under cold tap water.
Alternatively, place the padding into a small bowl of cold water, gently swish it around, and lightly rub the pads until the grime has been released.
For tougher dirt, mud, or other contaminants, it's okay to use a gentle dish or laundry soap as well. Typically, a small amount of mild detergent will be enough to loosen grime and replace a funky smell with a fresh, clean scent.
Pre-rinse the pads, then place a small amount of soap on each one and lightly rub it with your fingers. You can also gently press on the pads, but avoid excessive pressure, as this can cause the foam to break down prematurely.
Another option is to fill a small container with cold, soapy water and let the pads soak for about five minutes before gently swishing and rubbing them to remove more stubborn gunk.
Once the pads have been washed with soap, rinse them thoroughly under cold tap water to remove any residue. You'll know they're properly rinsed when there are no longer bubbles washing off the pads.
Skip the Washing Machine
Avoid putting helmet pads in the washing machine. The spinning and agitation of the cleaning cycles can cause them to wear or become damaged prematurely.
Mechanical washing is far more aggressive than necessary and can tear the fabric or break down the foam, reducing the cushioning that keeps your head comfortable against the inside of the helmet.
How to Dry Lazer Helmet Pads
Once the helmet padding is nice and clean, be sure to let it fully dry before reinstalling it. It's important to let the pads air dry rather than using direct heat.
Avoid putting them in the dryer or using excessive heat to speed up the process. Chances are that unless you fell face-first into a puddle of Flemish cow manure, don't laugh, it's happened to the best of us, helmet pad cleaning isn't an urgent matter.
Pick a day when you can wash the padding gently and let it air dry naturally. Pads can be placed in the sun just long enough to dry, but don't forget them for days, weeks, or, gulp, months at a time.
Excessive exposure to UV light can discolor the pad covering and begin to break down the material, causing delamination or deterioration of the fabrics.
When Is It Time for New Lazer Helmet Pads?
While periodic washing will help keep pads fresh and prolong their lifespan, helmet padding can eventually wear out.
How do you know when it's time to replace those pads? If the padding has lost its elasticity and is no longer compressible, that's a good sign that it's time for a replacement.
Once the foam loses its structure, it will no longer conform to your head as effectively or provide the same comfortable barrier between the helmet's EPS protective foam shell and your scalp.
Regularly inspect your helmet padding for signs of delamination or deterioration. These are also signs that the padding has lost, or is beginning to lose, its ability to provide a comfortable lining.
When you've determined it's time for a fresh set, replacement padding specific to each helmet can be ordered directly from Lazer's website to freshen up that trusty lid.
