How To Clean A Riding Lawn Mower?

Last Updated on March 26, 2024 by Sharaj


A riding mower is essential if you own a large garden. It saves a lot of time and efforts, especially if you need to mow a significant area. But, keep in mind that such an outdoor tool is expensive.

Hence, you need to make sure it lasts for many more years to come. So, what is the key to a long-lasting power tool? Proper cleaning and maintenance. So, let’s learn how to wash a riding lawn mower?

Ensure Your Safety


Safety should be your primary concern whenever you are cleaning or servicing any garden tools, especially a riding mower. Such a machine is heavy and can cause injuries simply by starting without any notice. So, read all the instructions that came with it.

Choose a flat and well-ventilated area to wash the mower. Engage the parking lever before starting to clean it. The machine should not move forward unexpectedly because it can cause physical injuries.

Apart from that, you should remove the spark plug and take out the ignition key. It would help if you also disconnected the battery. Plus, do not clean the blade while it’s rotating. Once you understand all the points mentioned above and follow them, you are ready to wash the mower.

Washing Your Lawnmower


Can you pressure wash a riding lawn mower? It’s a common question among most of the garden owners. Well, a pressure washer is the best device to clean a riding mower. It would help if you also had a lift to clean the mower’s underneath. Raise its front side using the lift to access the lower area.

Use multi-purpose detergent to clean the mower’s deck. Spray the detergent solution and leave it on the mower’s surface for up to 10 minutes. Then, use a high jet water flow to rinse all the parts.

As the mower’s front part is in the air, you can easily clean its tires.

When you clean all the details, it’s time to lower the mower back to the ground. Now, you should start washing lawn mower’s top. Use a high-quality degreaser to clean the engine.

Now you know how to clean a riding lawn mower deck, but there are few points that you should remember while following the steps we mentioned above.

Tips For Washing Your Riding Mower


Tips For Washing Your Riding Mower

Do not wash the electrical components: Avoid all the electrical parts and connections while washing lawn mower using a pressure cleaner. We know that your motive is to keep your mower clean and maintained, but water can negatively impact electrical sections. So, avoid these sensitive pieces.

Leave the bearings: Do not point the pressure washer towards any of the bearings. It is obvious to understand that the water will not do good with these movables. They will stop rotating smoothly or might seize up in the worst case.

Allow the mower to dry: You need to ensure that the mower dries appropriately after washing. So, clean the machine early in the day. Then, leave the device outside and take it back to the garage once all the moisture is gone.

Other steps to maintain a mower: Keeping the mower clean is good, but is it the only point you should think about? External shine can make your mower attractive. But what about the internal components? So, let’s discuss some other topics to make your mower live a long life.

a. Steps To Follow After Mowing The Lawn


Follow the given points every time you finish a mowing session. Make sure you stick to all the safety procedures we discussed earlier. You can apply some of the given steps on self-propelled as well as electric mowers.

  • Get rid of all the dirt and debris: Dust is harmful to all the mechanical parts of your mower. So, use a brush to remove all the spoilsports. Make sure there is no grass or dirt accumulation in and around the filters and fuel filling parts.
  • Clear the deck: Use the brush to clear the deck and engine. Make sure there are no grass clipping or any other similar debris. Accumulation of such elements makes your mower less efficient.
  • Inspect all the deflectors and shields: Once the mowing session is over, you need to ensure that all the deflectors and shields are intact. If you find any damage, replace the part.
  • Check the wheels: Make sure all the tires are properly inflated. Add more air if required.
  • Check fuel and oil level: Checking the fuel level after finishing mowing sessions is a good idea. Top up the tank if required so that you don’t have to face any downtime in the future. Similarly, check the oil level so that you don’t forget it altogether.

b. Steps to Follow Every Season


Now you know what to do after mowing the lawn. But, there are some steps to follow every season. It might be once or twice, depending upon the usage and conditions.

Lubrication: You need to lubricate the pivot points and all other joints for smooth operations.

Inspection of air filter: Make sure the air filter is free from all the dust and debris. Clean this component if it’s serviceable. If you think the filter is heavily accumulated and clogged with dust, then it’s better to look for a replacement.

Blade sharpening: The mower’s blade should be sharp. Blunt edges cannot cut the grasses smoothly. Instead, they damage the greens and weakens your garden. So, we recommend that you sharpen the blade at least once every season to maintain efficiency. If you are a regular user, then follow the sharpening process twice every season.

Steps To Follow Once A Season


  • Check the mower’s spark plug at the beginning of the spring season. It’s the component responsible for starting your mower’s engine. So, replace it if you find this one faulty.
  • Remove all the fuel before storing the mower. Add a fuel stabilizer if you are not in a mood to drain the liquid.

Final Talk


Take care of your riding mower, and it will be long-lasting assistance. The tool will work for many seasons without asking for unnecessary repairs or replacements.

However, make sure that you keep the machine clean and maintained. By following the given points, you will save a lot of time and money. It’s fitting because riding lawn mowers are expensive, and so is their servicing or repairs.

About Sharaj

Leave a comment