Conservatory Cleaning - Page 4

The exterior and interior of the helmet were then vacuumed with a soft brush attachment to prevent scratching the surface. Years of dead insects and dirt were removed with this simple procedure, with most coming from the interior under the liner. The surface and fittings were then wiped off with a soft cloth moistened with a mild soap. This will remove most of the dirt and accumulated grime from the helmet. Glass cleaner should not be used for cleaning leather surfaces. Mild soaps (not detergents) like Murphy’s Oil Soap and Ivory dish soap are more suitable for cleaning leather and lacquered surfaces.

Years of grime and accumulated dust are removed. Often, a slight surface polishing with a soft cloth after cleaning is all the helmet will require to bring it back to its original lustre and the patina (age to the fittings) is not affected. Cleaning cloths should be of soft cotton and rotated to clean areas so soils are not redeposited on the surface.