Cleaning Your Face Shield

When to Clean Your Face Shield


Your visor is by far the part of your helmet you’ll clean the most often. Simply because it’s what you see through. You clean it after (or while) riding in any condition which puts it contact with any substance or object. Rain, dust, mud and bugs are the most likely problems. Even if you never encounter any of these, usage and handling will cause the shield to become difficult to see through if it’s not cleaned occasionally.

Any time visibility becomes compromised, the shield needs to be cleaned. Even if it’s just a little smear over to the side, you should clean it as soon as reasonably possible. If not for the safety aspect of having a blurred spot in your vision, then because the longer that spot in there, the harder it will be to get off. The harder it is to get off, the more likely it is that the face shield will be left will very small scratches which will cause it to become cloudy. This is an irritating and unsafe condition which you definitely need to avoid.

If you’ve cleaned the shield and vision through it still isn’t good, then it’s probably scratched and you should seriously think about replacing it. Riding with impaired vision is really a bad plan.

How to Clean it

Because manufacturers vary in the materials they use to produce their face shield, the first thing you should do is follow their instructions or recommendations. If you don’t have that information, the safest thing to use will be water and a very soft cloth. If there is a heavy accumulation of dirt or bugs, you might try a soft brush (like a very soft tooth brush) or cotton swab. Unless specifically called for by the manufacturer, you should not use any solvent-based cleaners on your shield as they can be absorbed into the material which may reduce vision, cause discoloration and weaken the shield.

If you’re looking for something a bit more than just water, there are specialty products available. In my opinion, their biggest advantage is that many of them have anti-fogging benefits also.

Tear-Offs

A tear-off is simply a thin film of plastic used to cover and protect you face shield. They are made to be easily torn off, one at a time, when they become dirty. A pack of 10 tear offs will probably cost under $15. You shouldn’t put more than 3 or 4 on at a time, however, because they will tend to distort your vision.

If you ride in conditions which require frequent cleaning during a ride, you may want to consider using tear-offs. That way instead of pulling over to clean your face shield, you simply pull of the outer layer and, like magic; you have a nice clean shield you can see through again.
 

Taking Care of Your Helmet Lining

Every manufacturer I’m aware of recommends replacing your helmet every five years. However, the accumulation of sweat, humidity, and dust can deteriorate the liners fabric and stitching much sooner than that. They may also cause an odor you won’t enjoy.

If your helmet lining pads aren’t removable, most manufacturers will recommend a product like Helmet Fresh. It will get rid of any bacteria or mildew that is good for neither the helmet nor you.

For helmets with removable pads, you can toss them in the washing machine (personally, I use a mild soap) and then let them air dry. If you’re in a hurry you can use a blow dryer, but only if you can turn the heat off.

Helmet Modifications – A Definite No-No

Any good helmet is designed to meet SNELL and/or DOT standards. Modifying it will most likely increase the damage to your head in an accident. For your brain’s sake, don’t change the engineering of your helmet. Modifications include the following:

• drilling holes;
• cutting shell, liner, or strap;
• modifying the retention system, including adding a chin cup;
• removing parts, and;
• attaching accessories that are not manufactured for your specific helmet model.

Pretty much anything you can do to your helmet will compromise its integrity. You wear a helmet to protect your brain, so don’t sacrifice that protection by lessening its effectiveness.

If you don’t like your helmet the way it is, get a new one.

Cleaning Helmet Vents

Helmet Vent Cleaning


Occasionally you will find that dust or small bits of debris has lodged in your helmet vents. You can use the same compressed air cans used for cleaning your keyboard to blow the debris from the helmets vents. You should remove any lining pads you can before doing this.


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Cleaning Your Helmet the Right Way

Glossy Finish. Most helmets are painted with an automotive type paint. Therefore, you should use the same type of products in cleaning or polishing your helmet as you would on your car. Use rubbing compounds to remove scratches and scuffs, but be aware that over polishing with them can cause light abrasions which can dull the helmet's finish. If you remove stickers or decals, you'll notice that adhesive residue will be left behind. To remove it, use alcohol swabs. Wipe away excess liquid immediately and wash the area with soap and water once the adhesive is gone. Be careful not to apply too much pressure when rubbing residue out. You're better off using multiple, light treatments rather than one heavy handed treatment which could scratch or scuff the finish.

Non-Glossy Finish. For flat finish (non-glossy) helmets, you're good to go using just warm water and mild soap. Use multiple treatments for dirtier areas. Again, don't use excessive pressure or rubbing compounds while cleaning the surface. Doing so could cause a glossy area which won't look all that great on a flat finish.