How to Wash Your Mower Deck (and Why)
Perhaps you’re not the kind of person who’s overly concerned with keeping their equipment spotless all of the time. We usually aren’t! But when it comes to our lawnmower decks, we try to make an exception. Washing your mower deck is important to protect the condition of your equipment and maintain your lawn’s health.
Why Should I Clean My Mower Deck?
You're probably more likely to make the effort of cleaning your mower deck if you know why you’re doing it, so let’s review how this practice affects your mower and your lawn.
First, you know those annoying grass clippings that tend to stick to the wheels and deck? Well, they look unsightly on your equipment, but they’re a nuisance beyond that. If enough grass clippings accumulate, the buildup can prevent your grass from standing upright, and you won’t get a clean cut.1
If your mower blades can’t cleanly slice the grass, they’ll shred it instead, damaging your lawn.
When your lawn isn’t completely dry, it’s even worse. Damp grass easily forms clumps that will build up quickly underneath your deck. When that happens, your deck will retain moisture, creating the ideal environment for rust to form. If your goal is for your mower to stay rugged and running for a long time, rust is a huge issue.
Additionally, the act of mowing essentially slices open your grass blades. This can make them vulnerable to things like fungus, and if the clippings underneath your deck are carrying that fungus, you can spread it out to the rest of your lawn. 1
These factors should convince you of the importance of keeping your mower deck clean.
How Frequently Should I Clean My Deck?
The answer to how often you should wash your deck can depend on your specific situation. We recommend cleaning your deck as part of your midsummer mower maintenance routine, and you generally shouldn't need to do it more often than two to three times a year.
However, if you have a larger yard or if your yard is in a wet or low spot, you’ll want to clean at least four times a season.
Plus, if you ever mow when your grass is wet or if you mow very long grass, you may want to wash your deck each time you use your mower.
Ultimately, use your best judgment and be flexible. Depending on how dry or how large your lawn is, you can increase or decrease the number of times you’ll need to wash your deck during the mowing season.
How Do I Wash My Lawnmower Deck?
Once you know why you should wash your mower deck and how often, it's time to get your hands dirty. We'll walk you through how to remove that dried grass and other debris from your lawnmower deck for a healthier lawn, happier equipment, and a cleaner cut.
Some mowers have a built-in washing feature that makes cleaning their decks easy. We recommend doing this immediately after you get done mowing so that the clippings won’t have time to harden. Put your mower on a clean, non-grassy surface, adjust the deck to its lowest height, connect the hose, turn on the water, and engage the blades.
If you’re working with a push mower without a built-in washing feature, begin here:
- Remove the gas in your tank or run the mower dry of fuel.
- Take out your mower’s spark plug.
- Put your mower on its side with the air filter and carburetor pointing up.
If you have a riding mower, do this instead:
- Engage the parking brake on your mower and put chucks behind the back tires.
- Lift the front end of your mower with a lawnmower jack.
- Once your mower is tilted high enough that you can clean it, secure the jack position to keep it there.
With those steps complete, it's time to clean.
- Use a garden hose or a pressure washer to loosen grass clumps on your deck’s underside.
- If there’s debris that can’t be removed with water, use plastic tools, like a brush or ice scraper, to scrub it away.
- Give your deck a final rinse. Then be sure to dry it completely so that rust doesn’t form.
Check Your Mower Blades
Since your mower deck is accessible right now, it’s a great time to check your mower blades. You want to keep them sharp enough to slice your grass cleanly but not so sharp that they can cut your hand. (Ironically enough, over-sharpened blades dull quickly.)
If your blade is dull but appears to be in good shape otherwise, you should be able to have it sharpened at your local machine shop (or you can do it yourself). However, if you see any rust spots or large chips or dents, you’ll want to replace it.
Be sure to check out our replacement lawnmower blade options below.
Keeping your deck clean going forward
If you want to make future cleanings easier, you can spray a light coating of silicone lubricant—or even vegetable oil—inside your mower deck.
Additionally, at the end of mowing season, give your deck one last cleaning so that grass buildup, rust, and mold won’t be sitting on it throughout the winter.
Following these steps will increase your mower’s longevity while also benefiting your lawn.
Final thoughts
Now you know how to clean your mower deck and why it's important. Unfortunately, that means you've run out of excuses not to do it. So get out there and start cleaning! Don't forget: your lawn (and mower) are counting on you to take good care of them.
(Before you hop back on your mower, why not brush up on mower safety with this article? After all, the health of your lawn and equipment are important, but not as important as yours.)
[REVISED 4/2023]
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