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 the pads smelling and feeling fresher, but it'll also increase their longevity 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 the sweat and salt build-up on 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 two months is a good interval), the pads can be simply rinsed under cold tap water. Alternatively, put the padding into a small bowl of water, gently swish around, and lightly rub 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, any dish detergent will be more than enough to loosen up grime. Plus, it will replace a funky smell with a fresh clean scent. Pre-rinse the pads, then place a small dollop of soap on each pad and lightly rub it with your fingers. You can also lightly press on the pads, but avoid excessive pressure as it will cause the pad’s foam to break down prematurely. Alternatively, fill a small container with soapy, cold water and let the pads soak for 5 minutes before gently swishing and rubbing to remove more stubborn gunk.
Once the pads have been washed with soap, rinse them thoroughly under cold tap water to remove any residue. Thirty seconds is generally long enough to remove any soap and grime—you'll know they are rinsed properly when there are no longer bubbles washing off the pads.
Avoid putting them in the washing machine as the spinning and agitating of the cleaning cycles can cause the pads to prematurely damage or wear. The mashing of this mechanical washing process is far more aggressive than necessary to clean the pads, and the repeated cycles, even in one washing, can tear or damage the pads. This can result in a loss of foam, which prevents the pads from comfortably cushioning your head 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'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 padding gently and air dry it 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 will discolor the pad covering and begin to break down the material, causing delamination or deterioration of the fabrics.
When is the time for the new Lazer Helmet Pads?
While periodic washing will help keep pads fresh and prolong their life span, 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 sign that it's time for a replacement. Once the foam loses its structure, it will not conform to your head and will not provide that cozy barrier between the helmet’s EPS protective foam shell and your scalp.
Regularly inspect your helmet padding for signs of delamination or deterioration. This also indicates that the helmet padding has lost or is about to lose its ability to provide a comfortable lining. When you’ve determined it’s time for a new set, replacement padding specific to each helmet can be ordered directly from Lazer’s website to freshen up that trusty lid.
