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11 Easy Ways to Prep Your Mower for Winter


After a long mowing season, you may be tempted to just wheel your lawn mower into your garage or shed and drop a blanket over it and forget about it until the mowing season arrives. But this could be a potentially destructive and expensive mistake. To ensure your mower is operational in the spring, we have 11 easy ways to prepare a lawn mower for winter or off-season storage:

  1. Read the lawn mower owner’s manual.
  2. Clean the deck and undercarriage.
    A hose, putty knife and car wash detergent are sufficient tools for clearing grass and debris from the deck and undercarriage. Clean it down to the painted metal.
  3. Degrease.
    Spray a degreaser on oil stains. Allow the degreaser to sit for 10-15 minutes before wiping with a clean cloth. Rinse with a hose.
  4. Check the blade and replace, if needed.
    Look for bends, dents and other damage to the blade. To prevent risk of injury, the blade should be replaced right away if any damage is found. Also, a sharp blade is important to a proper cut. Dull blades tear the grass, rather than cut cleanly. A blade should be sharpened every season and replaced every one to three years, depending on usage. A universal lawn mower blade is not recommended, due to safety issues related to the metal used and problems with proper mounting. Only the blade recommended by the manufacturer should be used.
  5. Clean the fuel cap.
    Use a paintbrush to brush away particles and buildup on the fuel cap. Before closing the fuel cap, inspect blockage and replace it if there’s blockage.
  6. Replace the spark plug.
    Replace the spark plug at least one per season, even if it appears to be working fine. Over time, a spark plug’s performance will degrade due to carbon build-up and a weakened electrode. This degrades engine performance and requires the engine to use more fuel.
  7. Spray lubricant on any bare metal undercarriage parts to prevent rusting.
  8. Clean or replace the air filter.
    Lawn mower air filters prevent debris and dust from entering the lawn mower’s carburetor and engine. Foam filters may be cleaned with water and a small amount of detergent, but there is high risk of tearing. Pleated, paper air filters are known to deteriorate quickly so replacement is recommended.
  9. Replace the fuel filter.
    There is high risk of damage to fuel filters if cleaned so replacement is recommended.
  10. Replace the oil.
    Engine oil should be replaced at least once per season or every 25 hours of use. Like vehicle engine oil, it should be golden or amber in color when you check it. It darkens with use, due to carbon from combustion of the fuel.
  11. Add fuel stabilizer.
    Add fuel stabilizer to fresh fuel to prevent carburetor build up or clogging. Follow the owner’s manual for instructions on leaving fuel in the engine during storage, as this varies by manufacturer.
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