Storing Your Lawn Mower in the Winter

Now that you've winterized your lawn (see winterizing Your Lawn), it's time to prepare your lawn mower for winter as well.  Winterizing a lawn mower means prepping it up for the season’s storage. When you properly winterize your lawn mower, you can save hundreds of dollars from costly repairs and add years to the enjoyment of your lawn mower. 

Steps to Preparing a Lawn Mower for Winter

1. Empty the gas tank. This will prevent remaining gas from clogging your carburetor. And that can save you hundreds in repairs down the road.  So before you store your lawn mower for winter, turn on the mower until it eats up all the remaining gas and stops on its own. Restart the engine. If the lawn mower doesn’t start, you have successfully drained the gas tank.
2. Change the oil. Refill your oil tank with fresh oil, and make sure the amount is sufficient: not too much, not too little. Dispose the old oil properly as described by hazardous waste management policies in your area. Do not pour it down the sink, sewer, or ground. If you can, find gas stations in your area that collect old oil for proper waste disposal.
3. Clean or change the air filter. It is recommended to replace air filters at least once during the mowing season.  You can clean the air filter if it is made of plastic, but buy replacements for filters made of paper.
4. Remove the spark plug. After it's removed, pour lubricating oil through the plug hole and crank the engine a number of times to distribute the oil. Now, reinstall the plug. If your spark plug, however, is quite old, you need to buy a replacement. You know you need to replace it if the lawn mower reaches a hundred hours of use.
5. Clean the undersides. Grass clippings and other foreign materials may have stuck between blades, so scrape them off to prevent rusting. You can also hose them down for easy dislodging. Scrub the undersides and the surface area to remove rusts using a steel wool. To remove greasy materials, use warm, soapy water. Allow the lawn mower to dry before storing. Remember to wear gloves when cleaning the lawn mower to prevent hand injuries.
6. Sharpen the blades. Although you can have them sharpened before re-using, it is better to sharpen them during winterization to save some time. You can either sharpen the blades on your own or send them to a professional. Apply protective oil to keep the blades from rusting during the cold months.
7. Store the lawn mower in a secure place. You can keep it in your garage or basement, or wherever it is safe. Cover it with plastic and place mothballs near the lawn mower, so no rodents will take residence in it.
   

Synonyms: winerizing, winerize, winterise, winerise, witerize and witerizing are typos for "winterizing" and "winterize."