Before putting your lawn mower away for the season, experts recommend giving it a little maintenance so it’s ready to go when spring arrives. Ahead, you’ll find tips on how to winterize your lawn mower from the experts in the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute.
The good news: Most lawnmowers today don’t need quite as much TLC as the mower you probably grew up with. That said, a few simple steps can help ensure your mower fires up next spring and keeps working effectively for years to come. Pros recommend a little cleaning, getting the fuel or battery situated for the off-season, and sharpening the blade. This is just the minimum—there are a few extra tasks you may want to check off the list before storing the appliance for the season.
Not sure if it’s time to put your mower away for the season? It depends on your grass type and your climate. You can certainly mow less frequently in the fall than you do in the summer. Keep an eye on your grass and continue mowing as long as it keeps growing.
Ahead, learn how to winterize your lawn mower. For more tips on getting your home ready for the upcoming season, read up on expert-recommended ways to keep your home running smoothly all winter.
Step 1: Clean the deck
After the final mow of the season, pull out the garden hose or pressure washer to blast away any buildup of grass clippings and dirt from underneath the deck. If left there all winter, moisture from the debris will cause rust and corrosion.
Before turning the mower on its side, take out the spark plug, so there’s no chance of the blade suddenly spinning to life. A blast of water is usually enough to clean the deck, but you might need to take a paint scraper or bristled brush to dried-on clippings.
Our experts recommend spraying the cleaned deck with a silicone-based lubricant, like WD-40. This will prevent corrosion over the winter and delay the buildup of clippings during the next growing season.
Step 2: Drain or stabilize the fuel
This step applies only to gas mowers, as opposed to those that run on a battery. If you let your mower sit all winter with gas in the tank, water from condensation will combine with ethanol in the gas, causing clogged fuel lines and engine corrosion.
If you plan to store the lawn mower in a detached garage or shed, our experts recommend adding fuel stabilizer to the gas tank. Run the engine for a couple minutes so that the stabilized fuel can work its way through the carburetor.
For consumers who keep their mower in an attached garage or basement, it’s best to drain the gas tank to eliminate any fire hazard. Instead of trying to siphon the gas into a separate container, simply run the engine until the tank is dry. If you don't like the idea of wasting gas, you can always use your lawn mower to mulch fall leaves, which will save time on raking and add a layer of natural fertilizer to the lawn.
Got a battery-powered lawn mower? Take the battery out for indoor storage over the winter, since cold temperatures can shorten its lifespan.
Step 3: Sharpen the blade
You don’t want to resume mowing in the spring with a dull blade. For starters, the lawn will look ragged. On top of that, the dull blade will tear at the turfgrass, making it susceptible to disease. Take the blade to the lawn mower repair shop for sharpening. If you don’t already own a second blade, pick one up now so that you’ll always have a second blade handy while the first one is in the shop for sharpening.
Maintenance Maybes
Today’s lawnmowers don’t need as much routine maintenance as machines in the past, but there are a few other items to be aware of. Refer to your user’s manual for specific instructions. Note that these measures only apply to gas lawn mowers, which underscores the fact that battery-powered lawn mowers are the low-maintenance way to go.
- Change the oil. Even some gas lawn mowers don’t require oil changes. But if yours does, follow the instructions in your user’s manual. Periodic oil changes will extend the life of the engine.
- Inspect the spark plug. Replacing spark plugs used to be part of the annual maintenance checklist. These days the plugs usually last a few years, if not longer. Do a visual inspection before stowing the mower for winter. If you see carbon build-up or a lot of rust and cracking, it’s time to replace the spark plug.
- Check the air filter. The filter protects the engine from dirt and debris. If your is very dirty, clean or replace it. Reusable foam filters can be washed with soap and water. Paper filters need to be replaced.
Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.
