Dear lawn expert,
The end of the season before the winter break is approaching and it is time to get the lawnmower ready for the winter break. With the right care, accumulated dirt and operating fluid residues should be removed before they cause damage. But even a little maintenance in the autumn will ensure that your machine is in top shape again after the winter and starts the next gardening season well with you.
By the way: Since your lawnmower should be taken to the dealer regularly for inspection and maintenance anyway - this extends its lifespan and, in the case of petrol engines, can reduce emissions by up to 50 percent and petrol consumption by up to 30 percent - you can use the winter break perfectly for this.
How do you make your lawnmower winter-proof yourself?
First of all: Attention safety!
- Before doing any work on your petrol-powered device, disconnect the spark plug cable.
- The power cable of your electric mower should be pulled
- The battery must be removed from your cordless mower.
First, the mower housing is up:
- Disconnect the spark plug cable
- Then turn the mower over. If you have a petrol-powered mower, make sure that no fuel or oil gets into the air filter, carburetor or muffler.
- Then sweep out the housing, you can easily use a hand brush for this
- Stubborn grass residues can be removed with a spatula, for example. A spatula made of plastic or wood is best for this. This will not damage the lawnmower's paintwork.
- Finally, wipe everything clean with a damp cloth. Cleaned spark plugs can be reused.
- Grass clippings also have no place in cooling fins and in the exhaust area. The best way to clean your machine is with a brush and water. If it is particularly dirty, you can also use a garden hose. However, you should be careful here - after all, you want to make your lawnmower winter-proof and not damage it. Therefore, do not direct strong water jets at bearings, seals or engine parts.
- Moving parts should be greased to ensure everything runs smoothly next season.
- Making the lawnmower winter-proof also means taking a close look at the mower blade. It should be intact before you use it for the first time in spring. If cracks and notches are visible, it must be replaced. In general, it is advisable to remove the blade completely and check it. And not just when you want to make your lawnmower winter-proof - but preferably regularly after around 25 hours of work. This will ensure optimum mowing performance at all times.
- If your knife has simply become blunt, you can sharpen it again with a whetstone .
- The same applies to the air filter. Only heavily soiled parts need to be replaced. Finally, the oil change follows.
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There are two opinions about filling the tank. One is to empty the tank because the petrol will gum up. However, this could lead to rust and scale. If you add an additive to the petrol , this will prevent gumming up.
Additionally for a petrol mower:
- You should check the oil level and condition before every mowing session. However, it is necessary to change it at the end of the season at the latest. This can be done cleanly and conveniently with an oil suction pump. It is best to place the lawn mower on a surface so that the environment is not polluted by any operating fluids that may leak out.
- Petrol becomes resinous over time. This is why many people empty their tanks in the fall. However, it is better to fill the tank and add an engine-care additive (Fuel Fit) that prevents resinification.
- You can turn electric and battery-powered mowers upside down to clean the mower housing. Petrol mowers should be placed so that the spark plug is facing upwards so that the oil does not run into the carburetor, air filter and muffler.
- Before cleaning your petrol lawn mower, you must disconnect the spark plug cables. Then you can remove the spark plug and clean it of soot. You should replace very dirty ones with new ones.
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Once all maintenance work has been completed, your lawnmower is ready for winter. Now it just needs a good place to store it during the cold season. The best way to do this is to cover your machine and place it in a dust-free, dry room. The storage position should be the normal position.
Additionally for a battery-powered mower:
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Even with a cordless lawn mower, you should clean the machine thoroughly and then grease the moving parts.
But first : Remove the batteries from your cordless lawn mower and cover the contact points with tape before cleaning.
The batteries of your cordless lawn mower should now be charged to about 40 to 60 percent and stored in a dry room at 10 to 15 degrees. This way, the batteries remain intact, retain their storage capacity and are fully operational again next season. -
If the batteries are permanently installed in the cordless lawn mower, you will need to winterize the entire device. In other words, you should store the entire lawn mower in a warm, dry place.
Additionally for an electric lawn mower:
A big advantage is that it doesn't require too much care and should generally run maintenance-free. Of course, checking the fill level and changing the oil is completely unnecessary. However, you should follow a few things to ensure that your electric mower runs smoothly next spring.
- Of course, it is best to clean the mower after every use, but this should especially be done after the last lawn cut of the year. The grass catcher and the blades in particular should be cleaned properly, because the remaining grass residues can start to ferment after a while. The acids that are produced will not be good for the plastic of the mower.
- Be careful when removing dirt: As you can imagine, the electronics of the lawnmower do not react well with water. For this reason, you should definitely avoid using a water hose when cleaning! Instead, use a damp cloth or a brush. A standard hand brush is usually sufficient.
- The electric lawn mower has an integrated battery, which is why it is better not to leave the mower outside for long periods of time. This is especially important in winter, as the low temperatures can damage the battery. So the basement or garage - in any case a frost-free location - should be chosen for storage in winter.
Here’s to a good winter and fresh lawn soon,
your lawn expert team
