How to Clean and Maintain a Cordless Lawnmower

Like all garden power tools, cordless lawn mowers need regular cleaning and maintenance to ensure they remain in good working order.  

That said, it’s much easier to maintain a cordless mower than it is to maintain a petrol lawnmower! 

For model specific maintenance information, always refer to the product’s instruction manual, and if in doubt, seek professional support.   

Safety first 

It goes without saying, but please ensure that both the mower’s battery and any safety key are removed prior to any cleaning and maintenance. We also strongly recommend using gloves to protect your hands. 

Remove any loose dirt and debris 

Start by gently removing any loose debris from the body of the mower, then use a damp cloth to wipe away dried on mud and dirt, being careful to stay away from the motor and other electrical parts. 

Don’t forget to give the underside a thorough clean too with a brush and damp cloth. You may find that there is a thick layer of mulched grass stuck to the whole underside of the deck. If this the case, then use a small paint scraper (or some mowers come supplied with plastic scrapers for this purpose) first to carefully scrape the dried grass off before damp cleaning. Make sure you have your gloves on and be careful around the blade. 

Visual inspection 

Visually inspect the mower, noting any cracks, bumps and scrapes to the outer casing. Then move to the handle, making sure it’s still sturdy and able to support the weight of the mower. Finally, carefully turn the mower onto its side and look at the underside, noting any damage or rust to the blade.  

If your mower has a grass box, also check that for wear and tear and remove grass or dirt that may be blocking any ventilation holes. It’s important not to overfill your grass box when mowing, so as not to restrict the flow of air through the mower.  

Make sure that the batteries are in good condition and charge fully using the supplied charger.  

Pro tip: If there is rust present on the blade then a quick oil and rub with a cloth and either some WD40, olive oil or Vaseline will remove the loose rust and restore your blade.  

Repair or replace broken or damaged parts 

It is important to repair or replace any broken and damaged parts to keep the lawn mower in good working condition and your grass healthy. This includes keeping the blade sharp and balanced.  

Pro tip: An unbalanced blade can cause an unusual vibration in the mower.  

Depending on usage, you should expect to replace your blade once every twelve months. Or if your blade is steel, you can always get this sharpened instead at your local cobblers, with a whetstone or at a local DIY shop.  

It’s worth checking your product’s instruction manual (or go to the product listing on the manufacturer's website) to see if the blade supplied with the mower is reversible. If it is, then you should get another year of cutting from that blade. All you need to do is remove the blade, following the instructions in the manual, and then flip and refit it the other way around. 

When the time comes to replace your blade, always replace with a genuine spare part and follow the instructions in the user manual that came with your mower. If you no longer have the manual, most manufacturers will have their manuals available to download from their website.   

Leading brands like LawnMaster® stock a wide range of spares and accessories. 

Pro tip: You can tell if your blade is blunt by inspecting the grass in your lawn. If the grass is turning brown at the very tips and/or has a ragged edge at the tip, then the blade has started to tear the grass rather than slice the tips off cleanly.