CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Good care and regular cleaning extend the life of a helmet.
Cleaning:
KEP Italia helmets are supplied with a KEP CLEAN cloth, which is recommended for cleaning the helmet. For daily cleaning, use a damp KEP CLEAN (or any other soft, clean cloth) and leave the helmet to dry naturally at room temperature before storing the helmet in the Kep Italia transport bag.
The internal lining, made up of one fully detachable element, can be cold washed by hand or in the washing machine. Avoid the use of all chemical detergents or solvents, especially for the shell of the helmet.
Care:
It is not meant to grab the helmet by the peak as for example with a baseball cap. The visor is flexible and is part of the safety of the helmet. The visor can also be replaced by the user. Unfortunately, this makes the visor vulnerable to damage. The peak cannot support the weight of the helmet. This can damage the coating or the brackets of the helmet and the visor.
Helmets with python skin overlay:
this luxury material is extraordinarily stylish and beautiful. All the skins selected by KEP Italia are given a non-aggressive waterproofing treatment that ensures the python skin maintains its elasticity, softness, naturalness and beauty over time.
For this reason, this type of natural material may alter over time, especially in colour; proof of the naturalness and authenticity of the materials used. It is important that helmets with python skin overlay avoid lengthy exposure to the sun (the skin may dry out and fade in colour); keep them away from radiators and other heat sources; avoid contact with liquids because some will be absorbed (animal skin is a natural material, after all); protect the helmet from the rain; do not use any detergents to clean the helmet; take particular care not to damage the python skin overlay because it cannot be restored.
In the event that the overlay gets wet, leave the helmet to dry naturally at room temperature; never use hair dryers or other artificial heat sources. The wet python skin will appear darker in colour, but will maintain its original pattern. If the overlay gets dirty, clean it with a soft and slightly damp (water only) cloth.
Helmets with natural leather overlay:
all the considerations made for helmets with python skin overlay are also valid for helmets with natural leather overlay, though exposure to rain is less of a worry. In any case, after long periods without use, it is recommended to clean the surface with a woollen cloth to restore its original beauty. Light scratches can be removed using a leather wax in a neutral colour or in the same colour as the leather.
Maintenance:
when not in use, it is best to store the helmet away from direct sunlight and from heat sources and it is recommended to replace it in its original packaging. One further, important piece of advice is to store the helmet in a position from which it is unlikely to fall, or even to store it at ground level; this prevents the helmet from taking any avoidable knocks that may damage the helmet and reduce its protective capacity.
Another note: it is best to avoid the application of stickers, glues, labels and varnishes.