How to Clean a Lawn Mower – Step-by-Step Guide
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When the spring sunshine brings warmth back to the garden, the gardening season begins. The first shoots push through the soil, leaves return to the trees, and the lawn around the house wakes from its winter dormancy. To prevent unruly, unchecked growth and to keep the lawn in great shape as a relaxation space and lounging area throughout the warmer months, regular mowing is essential.
Not only does it keep individual grass blades at the desired length, but mowing also improves airflow through the lawn, allowing more sunlight to reach every blade of grass. With the correct mowing technique, your lawn will become healthier and denser. And it's not just the mowing technique and the quality of your mower that matter — proper lawn mower cleaning plays an equally important role.
Cleaning Your Lawn Mower Made Easy
Admittedly, cleaning a lawn mower — especially a thorough deep clean — can be time-consuming and is undoubtedly one of the less enjoyable jobs for any garden owner. But the effort is well worth it. Not only will you spot weaknesses, signs of wear, and damage early on so you can address them promptly, but your lawn will also reward you with healthy, vigorous growth and a neat, even cut.
Even if it takes a little time, cleaning a lawn mower isn't difficult. What's more, if you carry out a few quick cleaning tasks regularly after each mow, you'll save yourself a great deal of time during the annual or bi-annual deep clean and service.
We'll walk you through the steps and safety precautions required. The order in which you complete them is flexible — however, steps 1 to 3 in particular should ideally be carried out after every mow.
How often should a lawn mower be cleaned?
A basic clean of the lawn mower is advisable after every mow. This prevents build-up of compacted debris on the cutting deck and air filters. Before winter sets in — or after the final mow of the year — a deep clean is called for. This ensures your lawn mower is ready for winter storage and will start up without any trouble come spring.
Why should a lawn mower be cleaned regularly?
There are several reasons why cleaning your mower on a regular basis makes good sense. It extends the lifespan of the garden equipment. It also keeps the cut looking clean and even. If the blades are rarely or never cleaned, grass and soil residue builds up into a hard crust during mowing. The result is that the blades become blunt and tend to tear the grass rather than cutting it cleanly. In the worst cases, the blades can even rip out entire clumps of grass. This leaves unsightly bare patches in the lawn, and blade heights can vary considerably, giving the lawn a very uneven appearance.
Guide: How to Clean a Lawn Mower
Before You Start: Preparing Your Lawn Mower
Switch off the mower and make sure it is completely disconnected from any power source. For electric mowers, unplug the cable; for cordless mowers, remove the battery; and for petrol mowers, it's best to remove the spark plug. This fully protects you against the machine accidentally starting up.
Step 1: Brush Away Grass Clippings
During mowing, motor-driven lawn mower models such as the petrol mower FX-RM5196PRO or the cordless model FX-E1RM20 automatically transfer the clippings into the grass collection box. However, a small amount of damp grass and soil will always cling to the cutting deck. If this residue is not removed regularly — ideally after every mow — a hard crust will gradually build up on the blades and across the entire underside of the mower.
Tilt the lawn mower to the side or backwards to access the cutting mechanism. Use a stiff brush for cleaning (no metal bristles!) and, if needed, a scraper, and scrub the cutting deck thoroughly.
Warning: Only tilt the lawn mower in a direction that keeps the spark plug pointing upwards. If the spark plug points downwards, the oil reservoir can leak. This can flood the air filter, carburettor, and cylinder head — in the worst case, this could cause irreparable damage to the engine. It also poses a serious risk to your lawn, the surrounding ecosystem, and groundwater.
Step 2: Clean the Lawn Mower Blades
Once the coarser dirt has been removed, clean the blades (and only the blades!) with a little water or a damp cloth. You can also use a garden hose for this, but make sure the water pressure isn't too high — if water splashes into the housing, it could damage the internal components.
Step 3: Clean the Casing and Grass Collection Box
Once the underside is free of grass and soil, brush or wipe down the other sides and parts of the mower. Avoid using water here, as it could run into the internal components and cause damage. A brush or a damp cloth is more than sufficient.
Step 4: Lubricate the Starter Cord
Once the entire mower is clean, lubricate the starter cord and the throttle cable with a suitable oil. This keeps the pull cord mechanism running smoothly when starting the engine.
Step 5: Inspect the Blades
While you're already cleaning the cutting deck, take the opportunity to check the mower blades. If the blades are beginning to show signs of bluntness, sharpen them. Why? Blunt blades don't cut grass cleanly, and the engine also has to work harder to achieve the same result. A flat file or an angle grinder are your tools of choice here. While sharpening the blades, always make sure there is absolutely no power running through the mower and that the engine cannot start accidentally.
If you're not confident sharpening the blades yourself, or you don't have the right tools, you can of course hand this job over to a professional. That way you can be confident the blades will be truly sharp once returned.
Step 6: Clean the Air Filter
With petrol lawn mowers, you should also clean the air filter regularly. If it becomes clogged, the engine's air supply is restricted, which can lead to faster wear or even be the reason the lawn mower fails to start.
The air filter should therefore be cleaned approximately every 2 months (depending on how frequently you use the mower). To do this, remove the filter from the mower and clean it either with a brush or by gently tapping it. Avoid using compressed air, as this can damage the filter. If it is very heavily soiled, you should also consider replacing the air filter altogether.
The engine cooling fins should be cleaned after every mow.
With FUXTEC, Servicing Your Lawn Mower Is Quick and Easy Too
In addition to cleaning, regular servicing of your lawn mower is also recommended. You can combine this with the annual deep clean. Are the spark plugs on your petrol mower still working correctly? What's the battery capacity like on your cordless mower? Do the air filters need cleaning or replacing? We share handy tips in our guide to proper lawn mower maintenance.
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