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What should I do before storing my mower for the winter?
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Before storing your mower for the winter, take a little extra time to take care of your equipment so it's ready to go next spring.
 Be smart about fuel
- If you store your mower inside for the winter (an attached garage or basement), run it completely dry the day you mow your lawn the last time for the season.
- If you store the mower in a detached shed, add a stabilizer to the fuel in the fuel tank. This method has a couple advantages over running the engine dry: In metal tanks, a full fuel tank prevents condensation so it prevents rust and keeps the carburetor float from sticking.
Clean the mower deck and sharpen the blade
Use a plastic scraper to remove the dirt and grass clippings from the underside of the deck and rinse well with a hose. Then coat the deck with silicone spray to reduce buildup next spring. Now is also a good time to sharpen the blade.
Remove the spark plug
Check the electrodes for wear and deposits, squirt a few drops of fogging oil in the cylinder, pull the starter cord a few times (on an electric-start mower, jog the engine with the key), then reattach the plug. If the electrodes are badly worn, replace the spark plug.
Perform routine maintenance
Fall is a convenient time to perform preventive-maintenance that keep a mower running longer. Check your owner's manual for specific recommendations. Change the oil (four-stroke engines only), replace the air filter (or clean it if it's an older foam type), and lubricate moving parts such as cables, levers, and wheels.
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