How do you wash a motorbike helmet - inside!?

I've just bin given my friends bike helmet - which is lovely and excellent condition, but needs a wash! Does anyone know how to do a good job inside? It smells of smoke and has make up residue on it.
Cheers

Now you know why you should always, no matter the weather, wear a rag on your head.... Use cotton and poly so the sweat gets soaked up.... Its a lot easier to was a rag than a helmet, as you have now learned.

take out the takey out sponge bits and wash them in warm water, then dry them and stick them back in. Or put them in the dishwasher, shove them back in and hope your friend doesn't notice that they're now a soggy, formless mess.

giv it to your mother they no everything

Some lids have removable linings...... but if yours doesn't I suggest you buy some baby shampoo and give it a good going over with that with some warm water in the shower .... once you've done that rinse out and place it in an airing cupboard for a couple of days..... it'll smell lovely after that!

The reason you use baby shampoo is that it will be kind to your skin should you not manage to rinse out completely.

If you still get a bit of a smell.... try neutradol....


<EDIT>

Just a point....and probably moot...... but, if the linings aren't designed to be removed for cleaning don't attempt to remove them... I'm sorry, but no amount of gaffa tape however strategically positioned would protect my bonce.... It's worth too much to take a chance... Get a new lid if it really is bad..... Take care of yourself!

you can get propper cleaners for them, i`ve used a hand held steam vacuum cleaner on a cooler setting,some lids all the lining can be removed,which makes it easier,try the manufacturers web site

fabreeeeese

I've had the same problem in the past. Febreeze etc doesn't work. i ended up taking out the whole inner from the helmet, pulling all the fabric and foam off the polystyrene moulding and bunging it all in the washing machine. There was bugger all to lose as I couldn't wear the helmet, it stunk too bad. I gave the poly and the helmet shell a bloody good clean with antibac spray then spent ages rebuilding the inner with discreetly applied gaffa tape. It worked a treat, pig of a job though and you have to make sure you don't break the poly moulding. Also, if the foam is old it has a tendency to fall to bits. Its worth a go, if it doesn't work you can get one of them Nitro helmets for about 拢40. They're pretty good, my Mrs uses one.

A word of warning, never rely on a borrowed/gift helmet, you can have no idea if the polystyrene shell is damaged 鈥?there need not be any visible evidence, I don't expect you will take that advice, so before you undertake the cleaning make sure that it fits you properly.

There are cleaners available that you spray on and leave for it to lift off dirt, you should use a specific because they have been tested for their (in)effect on the helmet's materials.

try using some of the home dry cleaning stuff. Works pretty good if you can't get the padding out

If you keep your head clean you won't have this problem!