- Drain the gas tank of gasoline-powered engines or use a gasoline stabilizer.
- A few drops of oil squirted inside the spark plug hole (after you remove the spark plug) will help lubricate the cylinder.
- Replace the spark plug with a new one.
- If your equipment has a battery, clean the battery terminals, which usually corrode during the season. A wire-bristle brush is a good tool for doing this.
- Remove the battery and connect it to a battery maintainer to keep it charged over winter. Store in a protected location such as a cool basement.
- Sharpen mower blades following these steps:
- Check the blade for major damage and replace as needed.
- Remove grass and debris from the blade with a moist cloth. Dry before beginning to sharpen the cutting edge.
- Remove nicks from the cutting edge, using a grinding wheel or hand-file. If using a grinding wheel, match the existing edge angle to the wheel. If hand-filing, file at the same angle as the existing edge.
- Grind or file until the edge is 1/32-inch, about the size of a period. Sharpening to a razor edge may cause the edge to fold over during use resulting in a poor cut. Particularly with a grinding wheel, avoid overheating the blade as this may damage it.
- Clean the blade with solvent or oil for optimum winter storage. Avoid using water which promotes rust.