Can I Hose off My Lawn Mower?

Some people sweep and wash the kitchen floor daily, while others do it weekly and even monthly. It’s the same thing with lawnmowers and other tools for gardening. Some people prefer to clean lawnmowers after every use, while others will do it once a week.

Regardless of when you decide to clean the tool, you eventually have to clean it. One of the most common questions people ask is, can I hose off my lawnmower?

The answer to this question depends on your lawnmower.

If your lawnmower manufacturer recommends it, go ahead and do it but if you have an Ego cordless lawn mower or any other appliance where the manufacturer recommends against hosing, you should stay away from it.

What if the lawnmower manufacturer recommends it?

If your lawnmower is designed to be hosed off, it will wash out port fitted under the deck.  To clean the lawnmower, move the machine to a paved flat surface and remove the grass bag and lower the deck height.

You should then connect the hose to the deck then turn on the water. Start the mower then run the blade until the water runs clear. You should then remove the water hose, start the mower, run blade to dry the deck.

Tips to consider when cleaning the lawnmower

For you to properly clean the lawnmower, you need to consider several tips. These tips include:

Always wait until the engine has completely cooled down or at least safe enough to put your hands on the engine without getting burnt.

Remove the catcher (the part at the back that catches grass clippings) and hose it out to remove any leftover grass.

Wipe down the outside of the cached and place the catcher such that the moisture inside the catcher drains and dries out completely.

Clean the top of the lawnmower. You can do this using a brush, cloth, or garden hose. Remember you should do a quick clean to remove all the dirt, grass, or oil.

When cleaning, don’t spray water onto a hot engine as the sudden cooling can crack the engine block.

When cleaning the engine using a garden hose, keep direct water away from the exhaust, air filter/carburetor area, and the top part of the mower.

When it comes to cleaning the underside of the lawnmower, tip the mower so the spark plug points towards the sky. You do this by lowering the handle to the ground and securing the handle to the ground with a heavy object.

Keep the mower front wheels raised.

When tipping the lawnmower, never tip it on either side of the spark plug is not at the front as oil from the sump will run into the exhaust or carburetor making it hard for the lawnmower to start the next time you are mowing.

You should hose off any grass and dirt from under the lawnmower. When doing it, never put the hand under the mower. Also, disconnect the spark plug to prevent accidental starting.

Once you are done, give the lawnmower time to dry before storing it. You can dry the lawnmower with WD40, fish oil, or any similar product.

Can you powerwash the lawnmower?

Power washing is fantastic for washing the car, decking, and driveway, but highly discouraged for cleaning the lawnmower.

The reason for this is because the pressure is too high, forcing water into cables, bearings, the water turns, and underseals.

The high pressure also washes away the vital assembly grease on the axles causing the dry components to wear out prematurely.

Even if you don’t like cleaning the lawnmower, you should make an effort to clean the machine after every mow. This is because decaying grass produces acid which can damage your lawnmower when you let it sit for a long time.

Which way to tip lawn mower?

It’s okay to tip the lawnmower on its side with the carburetor pointing upwards.