Preparing Your Equipment for the Off-Season? Here’s How to Winterize a Lawn Mower

Mowing season is over and Winter will be here soon and with it comes a long list of prep work for the colder months. One often forgotten item on the checklist is winterizing your summer tools.

It may seem easy to store away your lawnmower and let it sit until winter. This is a great way to damage your mower and cause major issues when you need it in spring.

To make sure your lawnmower starts up when you need it, winterize it so that when spring comes out you’ll be mowing the lawn instead of repairing your mower.

Winterizing is an important process in maintaining your outdoor power equipment.

Safety Tip: Remove Spark Plug to Prevent Starting

Before working on any machine like a lawnmower, you should make sure that it can’t turn on while your working on it.

The last thing you want is to have even the least likely of sparks cause a horrible accident. That is why you should remove the spark plug before digging into any of the inner workings of the lawnmower.

You can do this right after step 1.

1. Remove the Fuel Or Battery

When fuel sits in any container, it has a chance to dry up or worse. This is more than a waste of fuel, it can also leave horrible gunk inside your mower that can make it impossible to start.

If you have a detachable tank, remove the tank and transfer the fuel. If you have another machine that uses the same mixture of fuel, you can transfer it there.

Otherwise, run the lawnmower until it runs out of fuel. If it is electric, remove the battery.

Now, remember to remove your spark plug!

2. Clean Mower and Filters

Cleaning up your mower means less chance of nasty caked-on material for you to deal with in Spring. This is especially bad if this is in the mowing deck or near any moving parts.

Check the filters as well, now would be a good time to change them so that you have clean filters ready at the first sign of a good mowing day.

3. Change the Oil

Getting the oil changed is a quick and easy way to ensure that you don’t have any buildup gunk to clean come spring.

Unlike fuel, your oil won’t spoil. As long as you have cleaned out any unneeded debris, which you will with an oil change, it will be safe for a few months.

4. Sharpen and Treat the Blades

A quick cleaning and sharpening of the blades can work wonders. Adding rustproof treatment can also be a lifesaver if you have to store the lawnmower in a semi-outside area.

Proper Storage

Once you clean and treat everything you can, make sure you store the mower properly. This means in a relatively dry and warm environment. At the very least, out of contact with the snow or rain.

If you have a cover, this can be helpful for keeping dust and debris off of it.

Preparing for Winter

Now that you know how to winterize a lawnmower, that is one more item knocked off the to-do list. Soon you’ll be able to cozy up by the fireplace and enjoy the winter months in peace.

Taking care of your property, from your lawn and home to your tools, is a great way to keep your home looking neat and beautiful. Interested in more tips and guides to help around the house? Follow our blog to stay up-to-date on tips, tricks, and everything else related to outdoor power equipment!