How to Properly Clean Your Lawn Mower Without Causing Damage

A frequently neglected aspect of lawn mower maintenance is the significance of keeping your machine clean. The importance of this habit cannot be overstated, as doing so not only impresses the neighbors, but also significantly extends the lifespan of your equipment! First, let's explore why learning to clean your lawn mower is important.

How does maintaining a clean lawn mower contribute to its durability? There are two main reasons: it prevents heat and corrosion.

In order to safely clean your lawn mower; use a lower setting if pressure washing or spraying with a garden hose. Ensure to not spray directly into an open gas tank, into the intake or carburetor, or into the engine directly through the spark plug hole, dipstick hole, and muffler.

Let's begin with the engine. Allowing grass, dirt, and debris to gather in areas they shouldn't, such as on the engine or beneath the engine cover, leads to excessive heat.

Remove the engine cover to reveal the flywheel underneath

Lawn mower engines, like other small engines, are air-cooled. They depend on cooling fins and a spinning impeller/flywheel to circulate air and cool the engine.

When dirt and debris cover these cooling fins, they can't perform their cooling function as intended, resulting in an overheated engine. In short, an overheated engine wears out much faster.

This is what underneath the engine cover looks like

Within the circled area are the cooling fins designed into the engine cylinder head; ensure there is no grass or dirt build-up here as well

The solution: always ensure the area beneath the engine cover is free from grass or dirt buildup. The cover is usually secured with a few fasteners, so make sure the engine is off and cool before attempting to remove it.

Once the area beneath the engine cover is clear, focus on the undercarriage or deck. The deck houses the blade and supports the engine.

After each use, it's crucial to remove grass clippings from beneath the deck. When grass sticks to the steel deck, it retains moisture and can eventually cause rust holes or even through-rot.

A clean lawn mower undercarriage free of grass clippings

It's best to use a putty knife or wire brush to remove this grass buildup after each use. Ensure the engine is off and tilt the unit with the carburetor facing up (the reason for this is explained in a previous post). Additionally, grass buildup hinders the blade's ability to effectively discharge grass clippings, ultimately affecting performance.

Another reason why its a great practice to keep your lawn mower clean is that you are better able to see oil or gas leaks on a clean mower deck. A leak should not be ignored and must be dealt with immediately to prevent potential issues.

So, in summary, if you want your lawn mower to last and perform at its best for many seasons to come, it is crucial not to neglect cleaning the areas mentioned above! Regular maintenance is key to ensuring the longevity and efficiency of your lawn mower, and keeping it clean is one of the most effective ways in doing so!

Click and print this card for future reference on how to properly clean your lawn mower

Never the Norm!