Amazon Has A Tool To Keep Your Lawn Mower Clean And Grass-Free
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If you have a habit of mowing your lawn in the morning without waiting for the sun to dry the dew that's settled on the grass, you'll know that damp clippings are going to stick to all the crevices underneath your mower. Similarly, the blade might get grass stuck to it, and even the wheels are likely to pick up those clippings as you work your way across the yard. This is precisely why early morning is the worst time of day to mow your lawn. However, if you don't have a choice or it just hasn't stopped raining for long enough to dry the grass, you'll have to deal with cleaning the underside of your mower after use. While you could use your leaf blower or get out the garden hose, Amazon actually has a tool that can help keep your lawn mower clean and grass-free: The Walensee lawn mower scraper brush.
This two-headed tool has a stiff-bristled brush on one end and a scraper on the other. Even though the brush is relatively small, it should allow you to get into all the crevices under the mower deck quite easily. The scraper would appear to be quite useful if you haven't been in the habit of cleaning your mower after each use and there's a lot of dried grass that won't come off by just using the brush. While this product has many positive reviews, some customers have said that it's a bit flimsy and the scraper part will break with constant use, as it's just made of hard plastic. It seems to be fine for removing loose grass after you've just finished mowing, but it's not all that sturdy for getting rid of debris that's well and truly stuck on.
Why it's important to keep your lawn mower clean
Keeping your mower clean will prolong its lifespan and make it more efficient at trimming your turf. When wet grass is left to adhere to the underside of your machine, the moisture can attract rust, which will eventually cause deterioration. Making sure that there's no buildup under the deck will also help to prevent clogs and allow the blade to move freely. The other thing to consider is that dried-on grass can spread any lawn disease that you've been treating, something that could start the cycle all over again. For mowers with side-discharge, grass buildup can stop the flow, and even if your machine has a bagger, damp clippings may not all be expelled into it completely.
So, before you take your mower out to trim the back yard again, you might want to check under the deck to see if there's any debris stuck there. To safely clean your lawn mower, be sure to remove the spark plug first and empty the tank if yours runs on gas; for electric mowers, you can remove or otherwise disconnect the battery. Instead of using a screwdriver to chip away at old clippings, you might want to use the scraper brush instead, as it's been designed specifically for this task. If you're not stretched for time, the simple task of giving the underside of the mower deck a quick clean after each use is good practice, too. Otherwise, giving your machine a good cleaning at least once a month is definitely recommended.