Did you know that bike helmets expire? You might not have ever noticed, but after a few years of use, they can wear down and lose their effectiveness. The plastic degrades and the foam becomes compressed.
Even if it doesn’t look like it’s damaged, an old bike helmet is no good anymore. So what should you do with your old bike helmet? There are many ways to repurpose them into something new and creative! Here are some ideas for recycling your old helmet:
What Happens to a Bike Helmet That Expires
By law, bike helmets should be discarded if the foam is compressed to 1/16 of an inch or less. If the helmet is pushed or compressed to 1/16 of an inch or less, the helmet is too old to be reused. Expiration dates are determined based on the shape of the helmet.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, in the United States most of them expire in 3 years or less. Some Helmet Traditions Some companies recommend keeping the helmet for a couple years before donating it to charity.
Although not ideal, it can be helpful to take off the headguard (which can scratch and wear down), launder it, and toss it in the dryer to get some of the crud out. This is especially true if you have a thicker helmet that doesn’t fit well anymore.
Use an old helmet as a planter
You don’t always have to buy a new planter. You can use the old helmet you got from your dad when he was playing football. It doesn’t have to be a helmet. Anything that is big and round will work, like an old tire or a bucket.
First you need to poke some holes in it with a drill so that water can drain out of it. After you do this, fill it with dirt and plant your flowers or herbs. If there are any cracks left on the inside of the planter, seal them up with caulking so that water doesn’t seep in when it rains. Now you have an awesome new planter!
Battery-powered Christmas lights
If you’ve ever had a helmet that was out of commission, this is the perfect way to give it new life. You don’t have to buy a new helmet. You can transform any old cycling or other recreational headgear into festive battery-powered Christmas lights. It’s easy and gives your old gear a second life!
Turn it into a dog bed
Dog beds are expensive, and there’s a lot of dog-related stuff you can’t get rid of (like bowls, leashes, and poop bags). But what if you could make a comfy dog bed out of something you already own? That’s right! All you need is a bike helmet and some sewing skills. You can even customize it to your pup’s size or personality. This guide will show you how to convert a bike helmet into the perfect dog bed for any sized pup.
What you’ll need
An old bike helmet (but not your wife’s or kid’s) A shirt or towel Oven mitts Extra scrap fabric or other padding Scissors or a needle and thread Vinegar or some other adhesive Needle
Step one: Remove the existing straps and backplate. Find the original straps that hold the foam padding in place, and remove them. Wipe the helmet with a damp cloth to remove any excess moisture. You can also put some shampoo on the helmet before starting to ensure that you can remove all the foam.
Step two: Pull apart the straps Next, pull apart the straps that hold the foam padding in place and wipe the excess foam that has gathered on them.
Turning the helmet inside out
Step 1: Wrap the middle of the fabric around the helmet, leaving the strap and straps intact, ensuring that the opening at the back is in line with the buckle at the top of the helmet.
Step 2: Fold up the side corners and sew the edges with a close-up stitch (less than 1/8″). Sew all along the strap on the outside of the helmet.
Step 3: Put the side edge of the fabric inside the helmet, stopping at the buckle. You should now have a half-moon-shaped opening. Pin it into the helmet.
Step 4: Put the other side of the fabric inside the helmet and pin it.
Step 5: Take the pin from step 2 and sew a small round loop in the opening, where the fabric meets the buckle.
Step 6: Turn the helmet inside out again, placing the bottom of the flap on the fabric, as you would for a pillow.
Sewing the bottom of the helmet
1. First, take your helmet and pin it to the ceiling of your home. You want to find something that is flat, has no metal in it, and will not fall off during the process.
2. Then take your safety glasses, and your safety scissors (you may also need bobby pins or other things to hold the safety glasses in place) and cut a hole in the center of the helmet.
3. Use your safety scissors to cut along the lines that the helmet was previously attached to.
4. Be careful not to cut the leather. Just take a shallow cut along the outer edge of the helmet.
5. Open the helmet back up. Gently cut along the leather to remove it from the inside of the helmet.
6. Take a small piece of flannel (one of the sides will be facing out) and spread the flannel out over the helmet.
Making it comfortable for your pup
Dog beds come in a lot of different sizes, but there’s one design that’s common. It usually has 3 or more small compartments: one big compartment for a dog’s head, one for their tail, and one for their paws. A few dog beds have a single pocket for their tail.
A dog bed can also have a rectangular or “cubed” shape, which is ideal for small dogs. Here, smaller dogs can still rest comfortably, while bigger dogs have enough room to lay their whole bodies down. And a cube shape can help prevent injuries from running into the corners and edges of the bed.
It’s important to always make sure the back end of the dog bed is facing the same direction as the rest of the dog.
Finishing touches
You want your dog bed to look as cool as the headgear you’re using to make it. These are just a few of our favorite finishing touches: Add a bit of sparkle and shine with some old belt or laces. Use removable carpet padding to add a more plush feel. Use a waterproof heavy-duty fabric to add that extra layer of protection.
Make sure the helmet is clean and dry, and use masking tape to ensure a clean, straight line. You should also take some measurements. For instance, if you have a 3-inch (or larger) hole at the top, you can only fit about a foot and a half of cushion into that space.
DIY Planter Pot
Not only does it look cute but it will work great in your home and garden, especially on your entryway table! Many Bicyclists will insist that their helmets can be used as planters for potted plants, but please keep in mind that they are not considered a watertight container.
A good idea is to turn it upside down and clean out any dirt from the cracks and crevices, and you are good to go. For those with crock pots already, a bike helmet can serve as a great way to keep the crock pot safe while it cooks, too.
Make it into an art piece
There are many ways that you can customize your bicycle helmet. You can paint it, draw on it, or cover it with stickers. One of the most popular ways to customize a helmet is to turn it into a work of art. Here are some tips for how to turn your bike helmet into an art piece
Preparing the helmet
First, let’s get started with a little prep. You will want to remove the outer shell and the inner liner from your helmet. Removing the shell Step one is to remove the outer shell from your helmet. You will need the help of a screwdriver, metal cutters, and a pair of pliers. S
ome helmets are made of easy-to-remove foam, and if this is the case with your helmet, you can skip this step. However, if your helmet is made of rigid plastic, you will need to remove the outer shell using your tools.
Step one is to remove the outer shell from your helmet. You will need the help of a screwdriver, metal cutters, and a pair of pliers. Some helmets are made of easy-to-remove foam, and if this is the case with your helmet, you can skip this step.
Drawing a design on the helmet
The first step is to draw a design onto the front of the motorcycle helmet. You can use tracing paper to create your design. Use a Sharpie pen or a permanent marker to draw your design on your helmet. I drew a picture of a tree and filled in the white space with flowers and leaves.
You can also add a flower to the crown of your helmet by painting the front white. After you have your design drawn, it’s time to paint it on. It’s important that you paint the helmet in a way that will not damage it over time.
Paint the helmet in a smooth texture instead of a splatter paint. If you want to add a little more texture, you can apply the paint with a foam brush or sponge. Apply and paint! Once you have your helmet painted, you should take some time to appreciate your work.
Adding stickers to the helmet
Packing tape or clear packing tape Scissors Sharpie markers Paint and brushes Stickers One of the simplest and cheapest ways to customize your helmet is to add stickers to it. You can use stickers in many different ways. You can use them to decorate the exterior of your helmet. Or you can use stickers to create a unique sticker pad. Alternatively, you can use stickers to decorate your helmet’s interior.
Designing a unique look
Start off by thinking about what you want your smart bike helmet to look like. Take note of colors and styles. Once you have a general idea of what you want your bike helmet to look like, you can begin brainstorming the design.
Cat House
Have you ever found yourself needing a cat house, but you didn’t want to buy one? I know how it feels. Instead of breaking the bank on something you don’t actually need, why not convert an old bike helmet into a new cat house? It’s cheap and easy.
Related posts:
The 10 Best Bike Helmets for Commuting of 2021
The 10 Best Smart Bike Helmet of 2021
The 10 Best Motorcycle Helmet with Bluetooth of 2021