International België (nl) Belgique (fr) Danmark Deutschland Eesti Ελλάδα España McCulloch France Français Italia Latvija Lietuva Magyarország Nederland New Zealand Norge Suomi Sverige United Kingdom United Kingdom Österreich
McCulloch logo

How To Store Garden Tools

When the season finishes, it is important to make sure your trusty machines are tucked away safely and in the right condition to keep them working next season. This doesn’t just mean leaving them in a shed for a few months after use. There are certain steps that are important to make sure it is cared for properly before you can set it aside for the colder months. The majority of garden machines work in similar ways, in that petrol engines will require similar maintenance whether it is a lawn mower or a leaf blower. For detailed maintenance and storing information, make sure to consult your manufacturers manual. There are, however, a few things you can do to prepare your machines for a well-earned rest.

Petrol powered machines

Petrol machines can require a lot of maintenance. Typically, there are a lot of components that make the internal combustion work. As a result, there are then a lot of parts that will need servicing before you set your machine aside for a few months.

  1. Spark Plugs

    When you store your petrol machines, it is important to do a little bit of maintenance, but in order to do this you will need to remove the spark plugs. You can store the machine with the spark plugs fitted, however, before you store the machines you will need to remove them in order to work on the machine.

    By removing the spark plugs you can be sure the machine won’t start accidentally while you are working on it. For lawn mowers or hedge trimmers this is especially important, as the blades can be very dangerous. Once you have removed the spark plug, you can check to see if it is in good working order and clean/replace it if necessary.

    The centre electrode should ideally have a flat top; if it has been rounded off it will need replacing. You should also check if it has any cracks or chips. If it is in good shape but has been rendered black due to carbon build up or wet with petrol you will only need to clean it with a wire brush or adjusting the gap between the electrodes.

  2. Fuel

    Traditionally, petrol has a shelf life that will expire if you leave it in the machine for extended periods of time. At the end of each season it, therefore is important to either run the machine dry or to drain any left over petrol as it can go stale and will then struggle to start. The last thing you want is to return to your machine, having left it over the Winter, to find that it won’t start because of stale fuel in the engine. Fuel stabilisers can also work, however the machine would run much more efficiently with fresh fuel when the new season arrives.

    When storing petrol lawn mowers, make sure that you are storing it flat on the ground. Storing it vertically can cause residual oil or fuel to seep into the engine, which can cause a multitude of issues. Some lawn mowers have a feature that allows the machines to be stored vertically however make sure your mower can do this before storing it upright.

  3. Air Filter

    The air filter is a very important part of the petrol machine. The internal combustion engine that powers the machine requires air in order to function. As a result, if your air filter is clogged or dirty the machine will struggle to get the airflow required and then getting it going will be difficult. This is why, as part of the maintenance before you store your machines away, you should check the condition of the air filter and replace if necessary.

  4. Oil

    It is often recommended to replace the oil before you put your machine away for the winter. This is just to make sure the machine stays well lubricated during a large period of inactivity and then is raring to go when the new season comes along. A fresh oil change will get rid of any combustion byproducts that can affect your engine meaning that it remains in good condition when not in full time use.

  5. Store the Correct Way Up

    Before you finally consign your machine away to the depths of your shed, you need to make sure it is stored in the correct position. Petrol lawn mowers, for example, should almost always be stored in a flat position and not tipped on its side (any residual fuel or oil can seep into the engine, which can cause serious issues).

    Some machines have special design features that can allow you to stow your machine like this, however, not all machines have this capability. Be sure, therefore, to check the manufacturers manual, as it is important to make sure you are storing it correctly.

Electric or battery machines

In comparison to their petrol counterparts, electric machines do not require as much work to store, as there are fewer parts. That isn’t to say it is as easy as leaving it in the shed and forgetting about it for a few months. You still need to make your machine is tucked away properly to ensure it keeps working year after year.

  1. Cable

    If a cable powers your machine, it is worth checking that it is in good working condition, before consigning your machine to hibernation, After an extended period of use, the cable can get strained as it gets pulled in lots of directions. After a while, it is often worthwhile to replace the cable.

    You should also check, when you stow away machine away, that you haven’t wound the cable too tightly and haven’t put any undue stress on the cable when you leave it. If you leave the cable in a strained state, after a few months you may find it wont work.


  2. Battery

    For the most part, battery machines are fine to be stored, provided they are left in a good condition beforehand as they are. It is worthwhile to wipe the battery and keep the terminals clean before storing for Winter. You will be grateful for an efficient battery when the new season arrives.

    You should also keep the battery separate to the machine and in a fully charged state before it is stored. It is important that it keeps its charge over the winter break for the long-term health of the battery. If the battery loses its charge over the inactive months this could indicate that you may need a replacement battery for the next season. You should consult your manual for more bespoke instructions regarding your machine.

Keep clean and tidy

Regardless of the power source, there are important pieces of maintenance that are required. These can be very important to ensure that your machine works just as well as it has previously when you get it out of storage.

  1. Thorough Clean

    For all machines, before you prepare to park your machine safely in your shed for the next few months, it is important to give it a thorough once over. Depending on what it is used for cleaning the debris and detritus is important to the long-term health. Lawn mowers will need cleaning from any residual grass clippings and leaf blower vacuums will need cleaning to make sure there aren’t any leaves that might clog up the system. A petrol machine will typically have more parts to clean, however regardless it is still important to leave it in a good condition. Above all, if the machine has been cleaned thoroughly it will run much more efficiently than one that hasn’t.


  2. Cover Up

    The final thing you will need to do is cover the machine before storing it away. The last thing you want is for you to return to your lawn mower or leaf blower only to find that bugs or a buildup in dust has caused issues with your machine and caused a blockage or rust over the inactive period. It is therefore recommended to put a sheet over the top of it to make sure it can stay as protected as possible.

    Machines such as hedge trimmers and chainsaws will have their own blade cover so at all times when the machine isn’t running this should be in place to protect you from the sharp blades.

Copyright - 2017 Husqvarna AB (publ). All rights reserved.