How do you recondition the outside of a football helmet?

Question

Our youth football league is using helmets that are stained and dirty looking. How do I get the outside of the helmet looking good again? I have tried various household cleaners but they still look dirty. Would it be better to repaint it? If so, what kinds of paint do I need to get?

Answer 1

well 2 tell u the truth the dirtyness and stains represent that youve hit and been hit. so its really not good to try to erase them.

Answer 2

You don't.  

You send them to a company that specializes in reconditioning helmets so they can inspect them for cracks and other breakdowns in the integrity of the helmet.  They need this treatment every couple of years because the repeated blows they take weaken the helmet, it's not a design flaw, it's the way they are designed.  The helmet absorbs the damage so the skull doesn't.

I appreciate you're trying to save the league money, but do not mess with safety equipment and leave that to the pros.  No amount of money being saved is worth the little guys getting concussions.

Answer 3

How about polish?