I dug up my 3/4 (brand new never worn) helmet for some winter riding. Its been in the basement 10 years. Its got that basement mold smell. Like everything else you leave in a basement, cardboard ETC.
I cant leave it out in the sun because its winter.
I was thinking of sticking it in the microwave to zap the mold. Can a helmet get damaged in a microwave? Not going to keep it in long enough to melt the plastic parts. Just a few short 20 seconds bursts

Or any other ideas? The liner is non removable. Didnt want to spray bleach on it.

Edit I forgot about the metal D rings so there goes that idea. Open to ideas about killing the mold in the liner

 

You may end up creating a Super Mold with all that radiation! LoL! I just wear a bandanna underneath my helmet- and try to keep moving before the flies gather!

 

10 years old is too old for a helmet, throw it out buy a new one

 

The metal parts of a helmet (snaps, strap rings) will cause a fire hazard in a microwave

you can hose it down with peroxide though
Go to Sally's Beauty and buy 20vol clear developer...it's peroxide
You can buy brown bottle peroxide (pharmacy, grocery store, etc) but it will be half the strength and 3 times the price


..L.T.A.

 

If you microwave the helmet, please take a video to post here. This, I gotta see.


Actually, I would get a bucket with hot water, a little bleach, and some laundry soap. Scrub it around and let it sit in this mixture overnight. Rinse with clean water and use a hairdryer on low heat aimed at the inside of the helmet to dry

 

10 years old?
Make a planter of it!!

 

 

I agree, make a planter out of it........but, I have my Bronson helmet. It is so ugly, when I'm on my sporty, it looks good.

I wipe mine out with 1/2 white vinegar and water. Damp, not wet. When dry, I Then sprinkle it with baking soda and place it over a 25 watt (appliance bulb) for low heat over night. Then I brush off the baking soda and wipe it down inside and out. I then put it on, wear it into the garage and fill it with dirt and plant my daisies in it. Actually, I do wear it once in a while, but it is a hell of a lot older than ten years, more like 60!

 

The "standard" "rule" is that helmets are only good for 5 years. Heard that first from my MSF class 5 years ago but verified it online. My Shoei X-12 is 5 years old now, but virtually like new and never dropped, probably won't replace it anytime soon. But in OP's case, sounds like its time to ditch that old lid.

 

So a 10 year old brand new helmet is no longer considered safe? The internal material has degraded?