You want your lawn care and garden equipment to last a long time because you only invest in the best. The ideal time to clean up and store your landscaping equipment is in late fall or early winter when all outdoor tasks are finished.
Forgetting to clean your lawn mower, trimmer, and other lawn care equipment can lead to frozen or clogged parts and rust. When you skip cleaning your outdoor equipment, you’ll be paying for it in the spring when you need to send these tools for repair.
We’ll help you break down key steps that keep your lawn and garden equipment protected throughout the winter.
Equipment Storage Basics
You may not know how to prioritize lawn equipment storage. However, learning the basics helps you to get the job done before freezing weather.
Cleaning your equipment before storing it is the secret to success. You’ll also be happier when you pull out your mower and other equipment, knowing that they are tidy and ready for the next growing season.
Here are eight simple steps to get you started:
1. Clean your equipment: Remove grass, mud, and other debris from all tools, attachments, and moving parts. Use bleach and water to clean off blades.
2. Wash all hand tools(use bleach and water to remove any diseases), dry completely, and lightly oil before storing them
3. Ensure all moisture is wiped dry to prevent freezing and expansion
4. Inspect all of your tools and equipment and repair any damage now
5. Look for rust, cracks, worn parts, loose bolts, and bent components
6. Tighten all hardware and replace parts before storage
7. Store your equipment in a dry, enclosed space, such as your garage and sheds to protect from freezing temperatures
8. Hang small tools on walls; keep larger attachments off damp floors.
Once you’ve handled the basics, it’s time to focus on your Brinly attachments.
Read more: How Brinly’s Yard Sweepers Make Fall Clean-Up Simple & Efficient
How to Prepare Brinly Attachments for Winter Storage
You may not know how to clean and store your Brinly lawn attachments for winter. However, we offer these simple steps:
1. Fertilizer Spreaders: Empty all leftover fertilizer or other materials so it doesn’t attract moisture and corrode parts. Rinse the hopper and dry thoroughly. Lubricate spreader plates and control cables. Store your spreader indoors to prevent freezing, snow exposure, and rust.
2. Tow-Behind Carts and Lawn Rollers: Drain water from poly rollers before temperatures drop below 32°F. Wipe down light debris to prevent scratching and mold. Brinly rollers are designed to stand upright or store compactly.
3. Dethatchers and Other Attachments: Remove built-up debris to prevent mold and rust; check and tighten tines and hardware; lightly oil on metal surfaces to prevent corrosion; store flat by hanging on hooks or in vertical positions to reduce floor clutter.
After prepping your attachments, it’s time to clean and store your power equipment.
Learn more: The DIYers’ Ultimate Fall Lawn Care Checklist
Additional Equipment Storage for Engines, Mowers, & Power Tools
While you may already have cleaned and stored your lawn and landscaping equipment, you mustn’t forget about your mowers, blowers, and other power equipment before winter.
We’ll help you prevent dead batteries, gummed-up fuel systems, and spring troubleshooting.
Here are three steps for preparing your power tools for winter storage:
1. Winterize your mower by stabilizing fuel or run the tank dry; replace the air filter, change oil, and remove the battery for long-term storage; and clean the underside and deck to prevent corrosion.
2. Store battery-powered equipment by charging batteries to recommended levels; store batteries indoors—not in freezing garages or sheds; keep all chargers dry and dust-free.
3. Clean blades and guards on all handheld power tools; lightly oil moving parts, coil cords neatly, and store them off the floor.
After prepping your power equipment, consider how Brinly attachments streamline the rest of your equipment storage tasks.
Make Equipment Storage Easier with Brinly Attachments
You want to take care of the lawn and garden equipment you’ve invested in and you want them to last a long time.
One way to protect your equipment is to clean and store it properly over the winter. It not only will give your equipment more years of use, but it’ll also prepare you for spring.
Invest in Brinly’s lawn care and garden attachments that are easy to clean and store—and will provide you with long-lasting help on your property.
You can buy your next Brinly attachment at these fine retailers.
Sources:
BHG.com, 7 Items You Should Never Leave Outside in the Winter.
BlueSparrowLandscape.com, Winterizing Your Garden Tools and Equipment: Essential Tips for Longevity.
SodSolutions.com, Why Winter Storage Matters.
StihlUSA.com, How to Winterize Your Stihl Mowers.