10 Things You Should Never Do Before Storing Your Mower

If you’re wrapping up mowing season and getting ready to store your mower, there are a few things you don’t want to skip—or do wrong. Putting a mower away while it’s dirty, full of gas, or not properly checked over can lead to all sorts of issues come spring. You might be setting yourself up for a mower that won’t start, runs rough, or breaks down sooner than it should.

Here’s what you should avoid if you want it to last longer and fire right up next season.

Leave Old Gas in the Tank

Old gas breaks down fast, especially over winter. It turns gummy and can clog up your carburetor or fuel lines, leaving you with a mower that sputters or won’t start at all.

Instead of letting it sit, either run the mower until the tank’s dry or use a fuel stabilizer. Stabilizer can help gas last a little longer, but draining it is still the better bet if you’re putting it away for months.

Skip Cleaning the Undercarriage

Letting grass and gunk sit on the mower deck all winter is asking for rust. Moisture stays trapped, especially underneath where you can’t see it, and that’s where corrosion starts.

Before you store it, flip the mower (spark plug wire disconnected) and scrape off the buildup. A putty knife or wire brush works fine. Leaving it dirty means your deck won’t last as long.

Forget to Disconnect the Spark Plug

Leaving the spark plug wire connected might not seem like a big deal, but it can be dangerous while you’re cleaning or working on the mower. There’s always a small chance it could spark and start the engine.

Always disconnect the spark plug wire before any maintenance. It also keeps the mower from accidentally starting if someone pulls the cord while messing around in the shed or garage.

Store It With a Dead Battery

If you’ve got a riding mower or battery-powered model, don’t leave the battery connected or sitting in the cold. Cold weather drains it, and leaving it dead for too long can ruin it for good.

Remove the battery and store it somewhere dry and cool—preferably indoors. If you want it to last, give it a charge every few weeks to keep it from going flat during the off-season.

Ignore Dull or Damaged Blades

If your blades were already dull or chipped, storing them that way doesn’t fix anything. You’ll be pulling out a problem in the spring, and you’re more likely to forget about it until you’re halfway through the first mow.

Now’s the time to sharpen or replace your blades. It’s one less thing to deal with later, and it gives you a cleaner cut from the first use next season.

Skip the Oil Change

Old oil sitting in the engine all winter can cause sludge and corrosion. Contaminants settle and thicken, which puts extra strain on the engine when you crank it up again.

Changing the oil before storage helps your engine last longer. Do it while the engine’s warm so the old oil drains easier. Fresh oil over winter is much safer than letting the dirty stuff sit.

Forget to Check the Air Filter

A clogged or dirty air filter is easy to forget about, but it’s a small fix that makes a big difference. If it’s packed with grass and dust, it won’t work well come spring.

Pull it out and check it. Foam filters can be washed and dried; paper ones should be replaced if they’re dirty. Don’t wait until your mower’s running rough to deal with it.

Leave It Out in the Weather

Even if your mower’s “covered,” leaving it outside under a tarp isn’t ideal. Moisture still gets in, and that leads to rust, fuel problems, and a shorter lifespan overall.

Find a spot in a shed or garage if you can. If you have to store it outside, make sure it’s raised off the ground and wrapped in a real waterproof, breathable cover—not plastic that traps moisture.

Overlook Tire Pressure

Tires lose air over time, especially in colder temps. If they sit flat all winter, it can ruin the shape of the tire or damage the rims.

Check the pressure before you park it for good. Inflate them to the right PSI, and if it’s a riding mower, move it once in a while to avoid flat spots.

Skip Greasing Moving Parts

Dry bearings and joints can seize up while sitting unused. That first mow of the season will be harder on your mower if the moving parts aren’t protected.

Before you tuck it away, grease the wheels, cables, and other pivot points. It takes just a few minutes and saves you the hassle of dealing with stuck parts later.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.