What Is The Best Way To Clean A Lawn Mower?

Hi,

As an experienced gardener, you should always have your mower ready and sanitary for the next mowing season.

Without regular and proper maintenance, grass and debris will build up among different components and the engine, which causes overheating and destroys your machine.

What is the best way to clean a lawn mower? This article will recommend the practical method. Let’s read!

What Is The Best Way To Clean A Lawn Mower?

Using a powerful pressure washer is the most effective way to clean your lawn mower. However, it would be best to be careful when running this device through the engine and the deck, as high pressure may damage them.

If you opt for this method, below are simple steps to follow:

Remove Grass Clumps And Debris

Use a leaf blower to remove dust and debris. It’s best to perform this task in an open area. Also, ensure you use safety glasses as dirt may fly into your eyes.

Select Washing Method And Soap

Wait until the engine cools down completely before washing your machine.

You can consider adding soap to your pressure washer if it has a dispenser. Look for mower-friendly cleaning products to prevent potential harm.

Clean The Engine

Don’t use too much water for this part to avoid water entering the carburetor and harming it. If possible, try to maintain low pressure.

Clean The Deck

Be careful when cleaning this part with a pressure washer because sealed bearings can’t withstand high forces.

Rinse And Dry Your Machine

After cleaning with water and soap, rinse your mower thoroughly. Remember to dry it completely before using it again.

Add Lubricant

Applying lubricant to your machine is advisable to avoid erosion and rusting.

Tips for cleaning your machine

How Often Should You Clean A Lawn Mower?

Whether it’s a walk-behind or riding mower, you should clean it twice a year if you often mow short dry grass.

If you regularly cut the grass that develops well, cleaning your lawn mower 3 – 4 times per year is advisable.

On the other hand, if you use your machine in the rain or wet weather and often cut damp grass, it’s better to check and clean it regularly, especially for riding models.

Wet grass may form clumps below your mower’s deck, which affects the mowing efficiency.

Moreover, wet conditions may encourage your grass yard to develop more quickly. As a result, you need to mow it more regularly.

The frequency you use your machine determines how often to clean it. Otherwise, the debris and grass clumps will cause the engine to be damaged.

If you often cut long grass, you should check your mower deck after each mow to remove stuck clumps.

The frequency of cleaning

Should You Clean The Underside Of A Lawn Mower?

The answer is yes! It’s essential to clean the underside or deck of your lawn mower.

Grass clippings can adhere to the deck and wheels. When they accumulate too much, they will turn the blade away, which results in untidy grass.

The blade will shed the grass and destroy your yard if that’s the case. If you often mow wet grass, it’s much worse. Damp clippings form quickly, encouraging them to accumulate inside the deck more quickly.

As a result, it creates the ideal moisture retention environment, leading to rust. Moreover, the bottom of the deck may spread infectious fungus to your yard due to stuck clippings inside.

Always keep the underside of your machine clean and buildup-free to prevent damage to your lawn.

How Do I Make My Mower Deck Non-Stick?

If you notice grass sticks to the deck after each mow, applying the following method is best to prevent this issue.

Clean The Deck

You must clean the deck of your mower if the grass covers it. Switch off the engine and take out the spark lock before carefully lifting and turning your machine on one side.

Remove the grass clippings inside and around the mower deck with a plastic scraper. It would be best to utilize a powerful air compressor to treat stubborn clumps. Avoid using water to clean the deck, as it may cause rusting.

Use Vegetable Oil

Vegetable oil essentially acts as a lubricant. When you use it on the deck, it will leave a nonstick layer to prevent grass accumulation.

Mow Dry Grass

Cutting wet grass causes more clippings, and they will stick to the deck. Therefore, you should mow the dry lawn to lessen the buildup of debris underneath your machine’s bottom.

Maintain Your Machine Regularly

After treating a protective coat, you must always keep your mower in good condition.

Keep the deck dry, avoid moisture buildup, and prevent water from metal parts to increase the shelf life of the coating.

If you are a novice gardener, you can watch this video to have more guides to maintain your machine:

What Can I Spray On My Mower Deck To Keep Grass From Sticking?

If grass still sticks to your mower deck after you’ve tried some ways, let’s consider the following spray.

Fluid Film

It’s worth noting that this spray won’t obliterate all buildup, but it can help you reduce this bad situation.

Furthermore, the fluid film is a cheap solution to create extra protection for the deck against rust.

DuPont Teflon Non-Stick Spray

It’s one of the most effective products to prevent grass from sticking to your mower deck.

After application, it creates a dry-film layer on the surface under the deck to keep grass clipping from building up.

Non-Stick Cooking Spray

You can try this solution because it’s relatively affordable and easy to follow.

Although it’s only a temporary fix, this spray dramatically lowers the number of cuttings that stick.

Some people use engine oil, but it is harmful to your grass. Instead, utilize cooking oil regularly to see the results.

What Can I Use To Clean My Lawn Mower Blades?

Grass clumps may cause your mower blades to be dull, which makes them cut unevenly, even if the edges are relatively sharp.

As a result, your lawn will look shaggy and unkempt even when you try to mow again and again.

Additionally, grass and debris can collect moisture, causing corrosion that might erode the blades.

The essential thing to remember is that grimy mower blades might contain germs and other microbes that can harm grass.

For all these reasons, you can use a powerful garden hose to remove dirt and grass clumps after mowing.

Besides, you can sanitize the blades with an all-purpose cleaner or household disinfectant products.

Tips for cleaning the blades

In A Nutshell

What is the best way to clean a lawn mower? It’s to use a powerful pressure washer to blow away grass clumps and debris.

However, be careful when washing the engine and deck since these parts can’t withstand high pressure.

If you still have questions about this topic, feel free to comment below.

Thanks for reading!

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