How to Clean Your Lawn Mower Deck

These easy maintenance tips will help keep your mower in top form

By Tobie Stanger

September 6, 2021

Cut grass flying out from under a lawn mower.

With lawn mower season still in full swing, make sure you’re cleaning your tool’s deck regularly for optimal performance. Properly removing grass clippings and other yard debris after each use is important for smooth, even mowing.

“Clippings can get stuck on the underside of the deck, reducing airflow that’s critical for mower performance,” says Misha Kollontai, the engineer who leads CR’s lawn mower testing. “These clippings can also lead to rust if the locked-in moisture—and potentially fertilizer—are exposed to the deck for too long.”

Follow these simple steps to clean the lawn mower deck:

If your mower has a washout port, the job is as simple as inserting a garden hose and letting the spray do its work. That’s easiest to do just after mowing, when the clippings are still moist.

Tobie Stanger

As a senior editor at Consumer Reports for more than 30 years, Tobie Stanger specialized in helping readers shop wisely, save money, and avoid scams. Her home- and shopping-related beats have included appliance and grocery stores, generators, homeowners and flood insurance, humidifiers, lawn mowers, and luggage. She also covered home improvement products, including flooring, roofing, and siding.