Caring for a Corded Electric Lawn Mower

Cleaning

• Wipe off debris that's clinging to the bottom of the mower each time you finish mowing your lawn. Clean the flat surfaces of the blade too, but keep your hands away from the sharp edges. Debris can harden on the bottom of electric mowers and interfere with their performance if they’re not kept clean. Carefully scrape off any hardened debris with a putty knife or another flat-edge tool to avoid damaging the mower's surface.

Blade Care

• Inspect the blade as you're cleaning the bottom of your electric mower. Replace a dull blade or have it sharpened, especially if it has curled edges or nicks in the surface. Dull mower blades tear and uproot grass. They create jagged edges at the top of grass blades instead of smooth cuts. Lawns damaged by dull mower blades are more susceptible to developing diseases.

Vent Care

• Keep the top of your electric mower clean, particularly near the vents where the motor is located. If possible, remove the vent cover and clear out any debris you find. Otherwise, use canned compressed air designed to clean computer keyboards to blow debris out of the vents. Grass clippings can clog vents and keep air from circulating around the motor. A clog can cause the motor to overheat and shut down.

Cord Care

• Inspect the mower’s electrical cord before each use to ensure it’s not worn or cracked. Replace the cord if it's damaged. Try to keep the cord on the same side as you mow your lawn to create a consistent mowing path. This will prevent you from accidentally running over the cord.

Considerations

• Avoid letting your lawn grow for long periods without mowing it. Corded electric mowers generally aren't as powerful as gas-powered models. Therefore, it’s difficult to mow long grass with an electric mower. Mow your lawn in two passes if the length of the grass appears to be hampering your mower’s performance.