How to clean your ride-on mower

Whether you have a ride-on mower with a grass chute, grass box or a mulching system, it's a good idea to give it a clean after every use. Take care of your machine properly and it might just last you 15 to 20 years! Ensuring all components and cutting accessories are in good working order is a great way to keep your mower running smoothly. It will also help to prevent any parts from malfunctioning and in turn stop any accidents before they happen.

Steps

1. Safety precautions

2. Cleaning the deck and grass box

3. Cleaning the grass chute

4. Cleaning for winter storage

5. Tips for maintaining a ride-on mower

Required skills

No particular skills are required as long as you follow the manufacturer's instructions. However, it's important to remember that ride-on mowers are heavy and bulky machines, and do present a risk of accidents. It's important to get hold of the right tools and accessories to ensure your own safety. For example, a mower lift is a really useful tool for carrying out any maintenance work and should only set you back about £50. All ride-on mowers come with instructions on how to clean and maintain your mower. Here you should find annotated diagrams, alongside recommendations on how often to perform certain tasks.

Time required

30 minutes after mowing, 3 hours before winter storage.

Number of people required

1 person

Tools and equipment

• Mower jack designed to support the weight of your ride-on mower

• Blade stop

• Pressure washer

• Spray gun attachment

• Compressor

• Scraper tool or knife

• Wire brush

• Scrubbing brush

• Waterproof lubricant

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Protective gloves

• Safety shoes

• Safety goggles

Please note: this is a non-exhaustive list; be sure to match your personal protective equipment to the job at hand.

• Your ride-on mower should be cleaned after every mow and must be given a good clean before it is stored away for winter.

• Bring your mower to an area that will allow you to gather and get rid of grass clippings easily.

• The mower deck is the main component of your ride-on mower and may be located at the front or beneath your machine. If this part can be easily removed from the machine, it's best to clean this separately. This will only give you better results.

• If you want to use a mower jack to clean beneath your mower, be sure to invest in a jack that can handle the weight of your mower.

• You should just have to move the mower over the jack then use the handle to crank up your mower. A mower jack allows you to access the deck safely and easily.

• If you have a petrol-powered mower, remove the spark plug; if you have a diesel engine, disconnect the ignition.

• Put the blade stop in place as a safety precaution.

• Set aside the mulching deck if your ride-on mower has one. Use a scraper tool to remove dried-on grass.

• Wash all around the cutting deck using a spray gun or, better still, a pressure washer. Avoid spraying any delicate parts of the machine, such as the air filters.

• Clean the grass box paying special attention to the ventilation grids to ensure that the grass makes its way into the box.

• You will also have to clean out your mulching deck, if featured.

• The wheels and frame of your mower should be thoroughly cleaned. There's nothing worse than grass to speed up corrosion

• If you have a compressor, a once over with a blower will help your mower to dry off and get any remaining grass out of hard-to-reach spots.

• Otherwise, leave your ride-on mower in the sun to dry it off before coating the machine with a waterproof lubricant to help it cope with moisture.

• If your ride-on mower has a self-cleaning system, you'll find a quick connect port above the deck where you can directly plug in your garden hose. Quick and easy cleaning guaranteed!

• Of course you'll need to place your mower on a surface where you can easily collect and get rid of any water used for cleaning.

• This means you won't have to move your mower around too much as you go!

Preparing a ride-on mower for winter storage involves a much deeper clean than your regular wash down. Here are some of the extra tasks you'll have to carry out:

• Thorough cleaning of the cutting deck using a pressure washer (if possible).

• Removing the belt guard from the deck and removing any harmful material. Your pulleys and wheels will also need a good clean.

• The top of the deck as well as the area around the engine will also need to be cleaned using a compressor and blower or a brush.

• The grass box should be scrubbed thoroughly. You must get rid of all dried grass from the ventilation grids which could stop the grass from making its way to the right place. This part should ideally be cleaned using water.

Even mowers with a self-cleaning function will require a deep clean now and again. Annual cleaning isn't the most enjoyable task out there. However, in the springtime, you'll be glad to find a clean machine that's ready to go! You'll also save yourself some time as you won't have to pry off any dried-on grass.

You don't have to use water to clean your ride-on mower every time you mow. In fact, carefully going over the machine with a scraper tool and a wire brush should usually suffice for regular cleaning.

What's more, failing to dry your mower correctly can lead to rust build-up on the deck. Two or three good cleans a year with high-pressure water (followed by a thorough drying) should keep your machine clean and in good working order.