Winter is a time of year that many people dread, and for good reason. It’s cold, it’s snowing or raining, and your lawnmower and garden tools are lying dormant in the garage until springtime. Many people believe when winter comes that just putting their lawnmower and garden tools away is all they need to do. There’s more to it than meets the eye. As the cold weather hits and the freezing begins to happen it’s a good idea to take some simple steps to winterize them now. If you do this you’ll be able to use them again next year without any problems. Follow these tricks and tips to keep your garden tools running smoothly next year!
Drain The Oil In Your Lawn Mower
This is one of the most important things to do! before the winter comes. Simply drain your engine’s oil into an empty milk jug or another container so you can reuse it. Make sure to recycle it when you are done. This will help the cold weather from solidifying your oil. Which can cause damage to your lawnmower or garden tools! Make sure not to pour used motor oil down a household drain because it leads to your local waterways.
Wipe Down All Surfaces
This is very important because rusting, although not visible yet on most metal objects, has already begun. It’s always a good idea to wipe everything down with an oily cloth before the winter sets in. This will help slow down the process of rusting and make it easier to clean off in the springtime. If any water gets into cracks and holes of these gadgets then they’ll likely get rusty overnight. So make sure you clean every surface completely!
Remove Spark Plugs
Spark plugs are another thing you don’t want to forget about. Before putting them back in their storage places remove each plug using a wrench or socket set. Put a little bit of oil in each cylinder where the spark plug was inserted. This will help keep rust and corrosion from happening next year. Removing your sparks plugs will prevent them from corroding as well as locking them in place. Once that happens there is no other option than replacement. That can be costly depending on what kind of equipment you have.
Maintain The Blades
It’s always a good idea to sharpen your lawnmower and garden tools’ blade before storing it for wintertime. This way if something does happen and you need to use them again right away, then sharpening the blades is minimal work! Just remember not to make any deep cuts into the metal because this could cause permanent damage. Always file down any rust or dirt that accumulates on these items too, so they’re nice and clean for next year!
