So my helmet was disgusting after last month's road trip - bugs, dirt, you name it stuck in the vents. Tried hand washing twice but still felt grimy. Figured I'd finally try that helmet cleaning machine my buddy loaned me. Grabbed the unit, some distilled water, and mild detergent. Here's how the whole thing went down:

The Setup Stage

Step 1: Yanked out all the inner padding. Dunked those pieces in warm soapy water separately while I focused on the shell. Made sure the chinstrap buckle was locked tight - didn't wanna wreck that mechanism.

Machine Prep Work

Step 2: Filled the tank with distilled water about three-quarters full. Mixed in just half a cap of detergent - too much makes crazy suds. Almost overflowed it when sliding the helmet onto the holder arms. Pro tip: tilt it sideways while attaching!

Let 'Er Rip

Step 3: Hit the power button and that baby started humming. Watched high-pressure jets shoot through every vent hole for the full 15-minute cycle. Looked like a car wash in there with water swirling everywhere. Smelled like fresh laundry mixed with rubber.

The Draining Situation

Step 4: This part got messy. Unhooked the helmet over a bucket like the manual said. Brownish water poured out for a solid minute - nasty! Wiped down the whole interior with microfiber cloths until no drips remained.

Final Touches

Step 5: Air-dried the shell overnight near a fan. Popped the slightly damp pads back in next morning. Sniff tested - zero funk left! Way better than my sink scrubbing attempts. Still debating buying this machine though - takes up my whole workbench.