Sweat. Sunscreen. Hair products. Bugs. Road grime. Your helmet absorbs all of it on every ride. Skip cleaning long enough and you get bacterial growth in the liner, a permanent funk in the foam, scratched visors, and a shell that fades faster than it should.

The good news: cleaning a helmet correctly takes 30 minutes and basic supplies. Here’s the routine.

How often to clean

• Every 10–15 rides — full liner wash and shell wipe-down.
• Every ride — quick visor wipe with a clean, damp microfiber.
• Immediately — anytime sweat sits in the helmet for more than a day, or after riding in heavy rain or dusty conditions.

What you’ll need

• Mild soap — baby shampoo or a gentle hand soap works perfectly. Skip anything with strong solvents, alcohol, or abrasives.
• Two clean microfiber cloths.
• A soft-bristled brush (an old, clean toothbrush is ideal).
• Lukewarm water — never hot, never cold.
• A clean towel for drying.
• A well-ventilated space out of direct sunlight to air-dry.

Step 1 — Remove the liner

Every EDGE® helmet has a fully removable, washable hypoallergenic liner — both the cheek pads and the crown pad come out. Pull them gently from the snaps or velcro tabs that hold them in. Don’t yank — note how each piece is oriented before removing so you can put it back the same way.

Step 2 — Hand-wash the liner

Fill a sink with lukewarm water and a few drops of mild soap. Submerge the liner pieces, gently agitate by hand for a couple of minutes, and let them soak for 5–10 minutes. Squeeze gently — don’t twist or wring, which can damage the foam underneath the fabric. Drain and refill the sink with clean water and rinse thoroughly until no soap residue is left.

Don’t put the liner in a washing machine. The agitation breaks down the foam and the high-spin cycles destroy the interior structure even when the fabric still looks fine.

Step 3 — Air-dry, out of the sun

Squeeze gently to remove excess water, then lay the liner flat on a clean towel in a well-ventilated space. No direct sunlight, no hairdryer, no radiator. Heat and UV degrade the foam and the antibacterial treatment. Most liners take 8–12 hours to dry fully — overnight is perfect.

Step 4 — Clean the shell

While the liner dries, work on the shell. Dampen a microfiber with lukewarm water and a drop of mild soap, then wipe the entire exterior including the rear, sides, and chin guard. Use the soft-bristle brush for vents and any textured panels where dirt collects.

For matte finishes (Matte Black, Matte Gray, Matte Turquoise, Matte Pink), do not use polish, wax, or alcohol-based cleaners — they’ll create permanent shiny spots. Plain soap and water is the right answer.

For shiny finishes (Shiny Black, Shiny Purple, Quartz Blue & Yellow), the same soap-and-water routine works. A coat of plastic-safe polish once a year keeps the gloss bright.

Step 5 — Clean the visor

The visor is where most riders ruin their helmet. Polycarbonate is soft. It scratches the moment you wipe it dry. Always wipe the visor wet — use a clean, damp microfiber cloth and lukewarm water with a tiny bit of mild soap.

For stubborn bug splatter, lay the wet cloth on the visor for a couple of minutes to soften the residue, then wipe gently. Never use paper towels, glass cleaners, ammonia, alcohol, or any abrasive. All of these either scratch the surface or break down the anti-fog and UV coatings.

For helmets with mirror visors (Vortex Matte Black & Blue, Vortex Matte Black & Red, Vortex Matte Black) and color-tinted visors (Boston Carbon blue, Extreme Turquoise blue, Extreme Pink pink, Shanghai Pink/blue), the coating is part of the visor itself — be especially gentle. Replace the visor before you scrub it.

Step 6 — Strap and buckle

Wipe the chin strap with a damp soapy cloth, then a clean wet cloth. Inspect for fraying or worn webbing — any wear is a reason to replace the helmet. The micrometric buckle on every EDGE® helmet only needs a quick wipe; don’t oil or grease it.

Step 7 — Reassemble

Once the liner is fully dry, snap or velcro it back into place. Crown liner first, then cheek pads. The cheek pads are typically the same on both sides — if your helmet’s pads are handed (left vs. right), there’ll be an L/R tag.

What not to do

• Don’t use a washing machine on the liner.
• Don’t use a hairdryer or radiator to speed-dry the liner.
• Don’t use ammonia, glass cleaner, or alcohol on the visor.
• Don’t use polish or wax on a matte shell.
• Don’t dry-wipe a visor.
• Don’t store the helmet in direct sun, in a hot car trunk for days, or upside-down with sweat-damp pads still installed.

Storage between rides

Store the helmet right-side up, in a cool, dry place. The protective helmet bag that ships with every EDGE® helmet is designed for this — it keeps dust out and protects the visor from scratches. Don’t hang the helmet on a mirror or handlebar long-term; concentrated pressure on one spot can deform the EPS over time.

Need a new liner or helmet?

If your liner is worn out before the helmet itself, contact support@edgehelmetsus.com about replacement parts. If the helmet itself has reached the end of its life — see our post on when to replace — every EDGE® helmet ships free in the U.S. with a 30-day return window.