Your lawn mower takes a lot of abuse during the mowing season, and a little TLC in the off-season will nip potential issues and emergency repairs – or worse, having to replace it all together. If you take a little time to do a few simple maintenance tasks prior to storing it, it’ll be ready for action once spring arrives.
Disconnect The Spark Plug
Before proceeding with the following steps, it’s important that you disconnect the spark plug. Otherwise, the mower could start accidently, leading to serious injury.
Many newer mowers are equipped with a washout port that you simply connect to a garden hose for quick deck clean-outs. If your mower doesn’t have one, you can simply tip the mower over and gently brush out grass clippings, mud, leaves, and other debris. If debris is on the blade, use a stick or other tool to remove it ̶ never use your hands. Wash the deck with a garden hose. Allow time for deck to dry thoroughly.