How To Clean Your Motorcycle Helmet Visor Without Scratching It

Keeping a clear vision and protection is much ensured through the visor of a motorcycle helmet. A motorcycle helmet visor is one of those essential parts of your equipment. Through riding, visors tend to accumulate dirt, bugs, grime, and other road grimes, besides their not-so-equal hindrance to visibility. The process of keeping your vision clear for such a long time speaks a lot about cleaning the visor now. But, on the other hand, sometimes cleaning with the wrong methods might put scratches on the visor which may take away visibility and safety. This guide will carry you through methods of cleaning motorcycle helmet visors, which will leave the visor spotless and streak-free without any scratches. 

Importance of Cleaning the Visor Well

Seeing well becomes very difficult when the helmet visor gets scratched. Distorted vision causes glare from headlights, making night riding even more dangerous. Ensuring a clear, scratch-free visor provides a better experience riding securely. Good maintenance skills could save many repairs and purchases on replacing.

What You Need To Wash

Before cleaning commences, gather all the things above:

• Mild but soft microfiber cloth that cannot cause scratches.

• Warm water to assist with the loosening of dried debris like bugs and dirt.

• A non-corrosive pH-balanced cleaning agent or mild dish soap cuts through grime damage to the coating on the visor.

• A Humphrey's spray-on bottle is also of use for easily applying cleaner.

• Soft cotton cloth or a sponge is used for gentle scrubbing.

• Optional Helmet cleaner made just for the use of helmets.

• Compressed air (optional) is useful for blowing away loose dust before cleaning.

Cleaning Steps for Motorcycle Helmet Visors: 

Step 1: Remove Visor If Removable

Most helmets today come with a quick-release mechanism that allows you to release the visor with no trouble. With such removal, you can easily clean it and avoid letting water enter the vents or padding of the helmet. If you're not very clear on how to remove it, you can check on the manual that came with it.

Step 2: Give the Visor an Initial Rinse

Before giving the visor a wipe, rinse under lukewarm running water or use a damp microfiber cloth to loosen debris left in the visor. This will keep dry particles from scratching the visor when you start scrubbing. 

Step 3: Use a Cleaner

Place a few drops of non-abrasive dish soap into warm water in a bowl or spray bottle. If you are using a commercial helmet visor cleaner, make sure that it is safe for any anti-fogging or anti-scratch coatings. Avoid ammonia-based cleaners, which would damage the visor.

Step 4: Let It Soak

When the deeply stuck dirt doesn't release easily, soak a soft microfiber cloth with the cleaning solution and leave the cloth on the visor for 5 to 10 minutes. The solution will dissolve severe dry residues, which now can be brushed off easily with a little scrubbing effort.

Step 5: Lightly Wipe the Visor

Using a clean cloth made from microfiber or a soft sponge instead of a circular motion to wipe slowly in one direction; circular motions create swirl marks. Beginning from the top to the bottom to keep dirt from dragging down across the visor. 

Step 6: Rinse Well

Rinse the visor under lukewarm water or wipe it with a fresh damp microfiber cloth to eliminate soap residues. Ensure that nothing is left behind as such residue will create a streak or haze.

Step 7: Dry with a Microfiber Cloth 

Wipe your visor dry with a fresh microfiber cloth. Do not use paper towels or rough fabric, as both can cause fine scratches. Let the visor air dry before returning it to your helmet. 

More Tips to Help Keep Your Visor Scratch-Free

Avoid Strong Chemicals 

Glass cleaners, acetone, alcohol, or anything like, that ruin the anti-fog coatings, thus weakening it.

Use a Helmet Bag or Visor Pouch 

Store your helmet inside a protective bag or visor pouch just when it's kept so that random scratches don't occur from other objects.

Do Not Use Your Glove on Your Visor 

On the contrary, never wipe dirt or water off your visor with your glove while riding because it will cause micro-scratches from the grinding of debris into the surface. 

Carry a Visor-Cleaning Kit 

Even a small spray bottle with a mild cleaner and microfiber cloth is good to touch up occasionally while standing on the motorcycle. 

Shake it Out 

Leaving your helmet out in the sun for long hours would cause deterioration of visor material and coatings. Keep it indoors in a cool and dry area when not in use. 

Cleaning Intervals for Your Helmet Visor 

In short, it depends on how frequently you use it and where are you mostly riding. For someone who rides frequently on a dusty road, or during the bug season, it is best that you wash your visor after every ride. For the rest of us who use our bikes occasionally, doing it once every week would suffice. 

What to Do if Your Visor Is Already Scratched 

If it has some minor scratches on the visor, try polishing it by a plastic scratch remover specifically made for motorcycle visors; but if deep scratches affect the visibility, then the visor has to be replaced. You have to check your visor before riding to see if it's in good condition. 

Conclusion 

Having a clean visor on the motorcycle helmet and free of scratches is very essential for safety and riding comfort. Such careful cleaning procedures as those described here will keep your helmet visor clear for a considerably longer period of time and preserve its protective capabilities. Always remember to use soft materials and never harsh chemicals when cleaning, since it will establish good habits toward visor maintenance. Gradually, where the maintenance of the visor becomes habitual, a good condition will maintain the properties and the clear vision, thus allowing a much safer and more pleasant ride for you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to clean a helmet visor without scratching?

In cleaning a visor, moisten it with water, apply a couple of drops of mild liquid soap on a moist cloth or any soft, non-abrasive material, and gently wipe away everything that does not want to be there!

How do I protect my visor from scratches?

For permanent protection of the visor, a ceramic coating would be one of the best applications. Right now they are way more widespread and not that expensive to have applied by a professional, and many manufacturers also sell easy-to-put-on DIY kits. 

What is the best cloth to clean helmet visors?

Our Microfibre Helmet Cloth is ultra-fine twisted fibers weighing 600gsm, perfect for keeping your helmet looking brand new and your visor clear! By twisting, these fibers eliminate scratching by lifting and encapsulating bugs and grime away from your helmet and visor during the cleaning process.

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