Welcome to NESR! Most features of this site require registration, including replying to threads, sending private messages, starting new threads, and uploading files. Click here to register.

Results 1 to 12 of 12

Deep-cleaning Race Gear

  1. #1
    Perpetual Amateur CEO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Boston
    Posts
    7,130

    Deep-cleaning Race Gear

    A lot of my gear has been sitting around and unfortunately some dampness got in there. There is mold in the gloves, suit, helmet liner, etc. Inside and out.

    I am probably going to get a new helmet and gloves and boots, but would like to clean this stuff up for spares and keep it in a fresh(er) area. And I def want to freshen the suit and keep wearing it.

    I searched some threads and saw a few comments on rubbing leather conditioner on suits but I want to know how to more aggressively clean these items including a full dunk and then some sort of cleaner. Anyone done this?

    Some rough ideas but no idea how this stuff would hold up:

    Suit - pull out armor, fill bathtub and dunk? then rub with lexol in and out, rinse, hangdry?
    Gloves - hand wash in sink? or run through wash in a laundry bag?
    Helmet - pull out all padding and run through wash? And spray and wipe inside and out?
    Boots - dunk in warm water, hand wipe in and out, let dry?

    Idk...

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Zip-Tie Alley Racing
    LRRS/CCS #103
    PPS | Dunlop | Boston Moto | Woodcraft & Armour Bodies | 35 Motorsports | Pit Bull | K&N

  2. #2
    Lifer jasnmar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Chichester, NH
    Posts
    4,409

    Re: Deep-cleaning Race Gear


    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  3. #3
    Perpetual Amateur CEO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Boston
    Posts
    7,130

    Re: Deep-cleaning Race Gear

    Quote Originally Posted by jasnmar View Post
    Hilarious that it's my own thread. This time is def worse (suit is more gross) but I see some good info there. Thanks!

    The questions for the other items still stand...

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Last edited by CEO; 10-29-20 at 05:30 PM.
    Zip-Tie Alley Racing
    LRRS/CCS #103
    PPS | Dunlop | Boston Moto | Woodcraft & Armour Bodies | 35 Motorsports | Pit Bull | K&N

  4. #4
    Awesomeness, Inc. MattR302's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    New Haven-ish, CT
    Age
    39
    Posts
    1,644

    Re: Deep-cleaning Race Gear

    A few guys on here from CT have used this guy to get mold and funk out of leather suits and such with great results
    http://cleangearofct.com/

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  5. #5
    Lifer FirstDuc-1098's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Central Mass
    Posts
    2,689

    Re: Deep-cleaning Race Gear

    CEO take a shower in it. Scrub it really good. Stretch it a little. Take it off and let dry laying flat. Then lube it up good with a leather cleaner/treatment.

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Shit Corey says:
    Quote Originally Posted by hondarider102 View Post
    I think that a smooth motor would help me be a bit smoother

  6. #6
    Lifer OneCheekRider's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    LA
    Posts
    1,600

    Re: Deep-cleaning Race Gear

    I recently had this happen when I left some gear in my topcase and forgot to close a water bottle. I washed my gear and the liner of the topcase by hand with (diluted) white vinegar and a brush to get the mold off, rinsed with water, hand washed again with detergent, rinsed, and hung to dry. It worked for me, but the mold was relatively minor.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  7. #7
    Lifer
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Bristol County
    Age
    37
    Posts
    3,470

    Re: Deep-cleaning Race Gear

    I wash my Sidi moto boots in the bathtub several times a year. Full submerge. Afterwards, leave them upside down for the evening/night to drain. One way is flip a chair upside down and put them on the leg ends. After the bulk of the water is out, then put boot heaters in and leave them by the furnace. I'm not sure if there's differences in the leather treatments though. The moto boot's leather doesn't seem as soft as street boots.

    Helmet gets washed in the bathrub too. I sometimes hand wash the padding at the same time, but I prefer to put them in the washing machine. I typically use Nikwax Basewash, but I'm not sure it's really necessary. The spin cycle will remove most of the moisture so they probably won't need the drier. If your helmet has softer materials in the padding, you may want to try hand washing first.

    I wash my moto pants in the washing machine. They're mostly nylon, but have big leather parts in the knee. I had a pair where the leather absolutely disintegrated and became crumble. I'm not sure if that was me failing to re-moisturize ever, using too aggressive of a laundry detergent, or just coincidental/age. At the time, I was using Arm and Hammer, but their option that has Oxyclean in it. I'm two pairs of pants past those. They still go in the washing machine and the leather seems fine. I've been better about putting conditioner on it occasionally, and I switched to the Basewash.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    nedirtriders.com

  8. #8
    Soul Rider Paul_E_D's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    western, MA
    Age
    53
    Posts
    15,000

    Re: Deep-cleaning Race Gear

    Quote Originally Posted by aldend123 View Post
    I wash my Sidi moto boots in the bathtub several times a year. Full submerge. Afterwards, leave them upside down for the evening/night to drain. One way is flip a chair upside down and put them on the leg ends. After the bulk of the water is out, then put boot heaters in and leave them by the furnace. I'm not sure if there's differences in the leather treatments though. The moto boot's leather doesn't seem as soft as street boots.

    Helmet gets washed in the bathrub too. I sometimes hand wash the padding at the same time, but I prefer to put them in the washing machine. I typically use Nikwax Basewash, but I'm not sure it's really necessary. The spin cycle will remove most of the moisture so they probably won't need the drier. If your helmet has softer materials in the padding, you may want to try hand washing first.

    I wash my moto pants in the washing machine. They're mostly nylon, but have big leather parts in the knee. I had a pair where the leather absolutely disintegrated and became crumble. I'm not sure if that was me failing to re-moisturize ever, using too aggressive of a laundry detergent, or just coincidental/age. At the time, I was using Arm and Hammer, but their option that has Oxyclean in it. I'm two pairs of pants past those. They still go in the washing machine and the leather seems fine. I've been better about putting conditioner on it occasionally, and I switched to the Basewash.
    Yup, I just went through this with my moto gear. Washing machine on heavy cycle did a fine job. Pants are leather on the inner legs. No problems.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Paul_E_D


  9. #9
    Wizard loudbeard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Rehoboth MA
    Age
    41
    Posts
    5,432

    Re: Deep-cleaning Race Gear

    I use O3 Sani Sport for my hockey gear periodically. They do all sorts of gear also, it’s basically a big cabinet they hang your stuff in. Very cool. Very hip.

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    I went to MMI I know what Im doing here chief

  10. #10
    suburban ghetto living... black's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    boston burbs....
    Age
    49
    Posts
    2,106

    Re: Deep-cleaning Race Gear

    reach here... but I know with hockey gear I take it to a hockey shop and they have an ozone"closet" they leave it in there for an hour? costs me 25$ gets rid of the smell at least.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    hmmmm......

  11. #11
    Unsafe At Any Speeds Jim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    :lurk:
    Posts
    12,504

    Re: Deep-cleaning Race Gear

    this may not be enough for your stuff, but here is my winter cleaning routine:

    gloves and boots go in a Home Depot bucket with warm water and dish soap. soak for a day, then they get covered in leather conditioner, and put on my boot/glove dryer.

    helmet liner (you're an Arai person too) gets removed and hand washed with dish soap then air dried.
    Motul makes a nifty helmet interior spray which does wonders. i use it heavily around the mouth area, as it gets gross from rain & sweat.

    suits get a heavy coat of leather cleaner/conditioner.

    i've used McGuire for years, but noticed it makes the suit and gloves slippery. i've switched to Motul's perfect leather conditioner this year and it works way better. it absorbs nicely and doesnt leave a greasy film.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    EX 105
    Sponsors: Motul, Michelin, K&N, Woodcraft

  12. #12
    Unsafe At Any Speeds Jim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    :lurk:
    Posts
    12,504

    Re: Deep-cleaning Race Gear

    make sure that suit doesnt have dry spots on it, if it's been sitting untreated. dont want to find out the hard way that the leather wont hold up in a slide.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    EX 105
    Sponsors: Motul, Michelin, K&N, Woodcraft

Similar Threads

  1. For Sale - Gear | Cleaning out the gear locker
    By REDST in forum For Sale
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 05-05-19, 07:42 PM
  2. 2003 R6 race bike and gear
    By rmac119 in forum For Sale
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 09-11-12, 09:47 PM
  3. advice on race safety gear?
    By feralchimp in forum Pit Area
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 05-03-11, 08:47 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •