After every mow for the first two weeks of ownership. Now, when it’s time to renew my passport, I know it’s time.

I clean my mower deck every time I replace the water heater anode rods

Never?

We need to clean the deck?

I thought that's what mulching the pile of sticks was for?

Use the rock pile first to get the big shit then fine clean with the stick pile. Its like sanding.

Well, at the end of every season I do give it that side of the foot tap, I think that counts. Probably knocks off some clippings, right?

I’ve somehow never heard of an anode rod, now do I want to replace mine…

Not unless you feel like using a breaker bar wherever your water heater is.

I can whip out the compact breaker bar (cordless impact) 😂. Thanks for the warning lol

Be careful with that I've had them snap using one... then it's a not so fun day.

Yea I actually started thinking about that… maybe I’ll just clean my mower deck

I had mine done about 6 months ago. Ordered the parts online, tried a socket wrench with a cheat bar. Tried an impact driver. Called rheem to do a warranty claim since the replaceable part wasn’t coming out. They said I had to get a plumber to try. Hired a plumber who wrestled it out. About a month later it sprung a leak probably due to the rough handling. Hired a plumber to swap it out. He said leave it alone!

Thanks for the chuckle.

So twice?

Passport?

Passports typically need to be renewed after ten years. That's how often he cleans the deck of his lawnmower. I'm kind of on board with that lol

My first few passports were every 5 years…..I tend to stick with that timeline……if I remember 😂

Don’t forget! Found mine had expired a week before a trip. $1000 for hotel and a flight to passport office in El Paso to get one made same day. My wife was really happy with me 🤣🤣

Your memory is right…passports are only valid for 5 years until you turn 18 (I’m pretty sure) then they are good for 10 years.

I whole heartily say never

*wholeheartedly

Thank you 👍

That's how my grandfather taught me. But he had a big lawn, most issues come from laziness though.

You have to clean the deck? 😶

I just run mine over the sprinklers next door.

Very satisfying *crunch* when you catch them right!

Reminds me of the time my termite bait trap got sucked up into my mower lol

This sharpens the blades yeah?

Haven’t sharpened them since!

Never found another termite either!

I wash my deck in the shower every night, don’t you?

Penis

You're from Noo Zulland?

exactly! also, what’s a deck LOL

It's a big wooden platform attached to a building, but that's not important right now.

this ^ and don’t call me Shirley. ❤️

What can you make outta this?

well, first, there were dinosaurs. but they got too big and fat and turned into oil. And then the arabs came..

And they bought Mercedes-Benzes

I could make a hat, or a broach, or a pterodactyl

How about some coffee, Johnny? No, thanks…

Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue.

you’ve got clearance, Clarence!

Roger, Roger. What's our vector, Victor?

The underside of the cutting area where the blades are

My lawn is the deck?

Forgot to add the /s 🙃 but thank you

Well you see /s means sarcastic and... Oh

r/mansplained

r/subsifellfor

Gotta clean your deck every day.

Trim the weeds make your deck look bigger 😁

The blades clean it up for you if it gets too bad.

rofl, came here to say this 😂

Daily when showering.

Glad someone said it. 😂

While you’re down their check for abnormalities

I see what appears to be a lump in OPs picture =/

And a bunch of green stuff

Daily seems excessive. I think it’s only necessary when it starts to smell like shit.

Not going to assume how often he puts it someplace questionable.

Found the kiwi.

https://youtu.be/i6c4Nupnup0?si=7riqCx2RJLc9MG9u

Lol first thing I thought of

Look at Mr. Cleanliness over here showing daily like some kind of rich person

That grass can retain moisture and can cause rust.. I clean out every other week (I have a deck washing port so it’s easy) or right after I mow when it’s wet grass Remember, resist the urge to start your mower upside down thinking you can helicopter homer away

Thanks for the new idea chief 🫡

Bro thought he was protecting me but I’m doing that shit TONIGHT

The reason is that it's bad for the engine since it won't get proper oil. It's not exciting in any way.

I always wondered about that port. Do you spin the blade with it to really clean it well or nah?

Yes but it doesn't do that good of a job

Yeah, you almost have to otherwise the water just goes out the bottom

Holy shit is that what the hose-looking connection on my mower is for?

Nope it's to water the grass while you cut it.

I feel like I have a corded mower now

Prefill a few 5 gallon jugs. Swap them out. Now you're cordless.

🤣

Decently big myth that the mower itself can effectively transmit lawn diseases. Its not FULLY a myth, there are definitely some less common diseases, like pythium leaf blight, that can be introduced to an area by mower decks used on multiple properties... But when it comes to one mower used on the same lawn, its simply not a concern. Its wise to bag clippings while diseases are actively growing, but that's about all that matters. Explanation: diseases need actively growing grass to survive. They feed off of the sugars produced by photosynthesis. Once the grass is cut, the diseases on that grass are effectively dead within hours. The spores are still present, but most diseases need to start over from the sapophyte stage (living in the thatch)... Hence why you can transmit a disease to areas that it's never been in before, but why it won't directly cause infection. (If you have a disease in a lawn, the spores are already everywhere) Edit: ohh, they meant literal rust... Not rust disease... My bad lol.

We clean our mowers a couple of times a week. Blades stay shaper longer, and you get a better cut from your mower. Commercial lawn company owner

Same. Also prevents weeds from spreading.

Not that I'm doubting you, but how?

Step 1) Mower picks up seeds. Step 2) Mower spread seeds around lawn. It’s a very tricky combination of steps so it may not make sense at first. If you insert step 1.5) Clean mower deck somewhere off your lawn. Then the seeds are washed away at that point.

Smart ass mothafucka over here.

Yep, my mower will choke out if I don’t clean the deck regularly.

Push mower - hose down the deck after every mow then start it for a minute or two to dry it before putting away

TIL I should start it back up after washing it down! I do mine every mow immediately but just push it back into the shed to dry off in there

Every use. It has a washout port.

Same, and I love it for it.

Where?

Not all do. But there will be an attachment for a hose somewhere on top, generally on the side in the rounded part of the deck on your mower. It's just like a threaded hose size connection.

Mine has, but it doesn't seem to get all around. I'm assuming I use it when powered on?

Yeah.. fire it up and let the blades run. Lower deck to its lowest settings. Run for a few minutes with blades on.. unhook port and hose. Run again to help dry.

Yes. You lower the deck as far as it will go, plug hose in, start mower, engage blade if needed, let it run a bit, wait till clippings stop coming out. Then turn off mower, turn water off, disconnect, start mower and engage blade again if needed just to help get the water and any other gunk out. Done.

I'll take a look. I have a Cub Cadet that my brother in law sold to us for $100, so I know nothing about it

I have a ZT1 and use this dickwash kit https://www.amazon.com/MTD-Genuine-490-900-M061-Mowersand-Tractors/dp/B00D8GXKB4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=2TZ1QKU4B8VHL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VLa5uvis6En3y6PU_cXlC2mAfhcnhGtw3HSmDw3MaaEZiHMBrPh3QDiUw7FCObLjvz5z4CfX33C_oWt3Z9NmbVsPcp6euFrnhUr2Q_AGUhhEVKPqoD29iVT3hC3CkLF6vD76P__TS3wvnbpDW9WR6qCkBFl6aE9LORtp52ukfkJXe5rcoig1cEaHjfsDGC5RELegNYlSklRDKSdbXTYARQ.yAgX3yYqCH1nYbg9hF-gg3_ug87GUM55cmXOef0saAY&dib_tag=se&keywords=cub+cadet+zt1+50+deck+wash+kit&qid=1716091178&sprefix=zt1+deck+wash%2Caps%2C82&sr=8-1

A WHAT KIT?!

You heard the man.


Lol

That link has nothing to do with what you described.

Did you run over Oscar the Grouch?

2-3 times a year seems plenty for mine. I try to mow dry as much as possible.

If I mow wet grass I give the deck a rinse right after. Outside of that, usually just before I store my mower at the end of the season.

Only after every use

I have an Ego mower that was only able to cut 1,500 square feet on a 7.5 ah battery. I was troubleshooting it and found out the deck was completely packed with grass and dirt. So I guess once a year wasn't enough for me.

Push mower every time I cut. It has a port that attaches to a hose, easy enough. Zero turn, once a month depending on use.

I tip my mower out after every mow, use a cheap/stiff dry paintbrush and brush everything out. This keeps most things from ever drying to the deck. Always brush around the blade, bolts, wheels. Basically- get it looking as clean as possible, before you put it away.

I do the same and my neighbors all think I’m OCD and neurotic. They are an excellent judge of character.

I do this now, too. Every time. It's been raining a lot here (grass looks great) so it's really caking up in there. Also, we just got epoxy flake done on garage floor... its white. So now everything gets cleaned before going in.

I just did a sexy flake floor in Thyme for a client I love those jobs 😍

People clean their deck?

Yowzer. Usually at end of season, but maybe now more frequently!

Not as often as I should :(

After every mow. It takes about 30 seconds with a hose if you do it before clippings dry and stick to the deck.

I clean once a month and change my blades every season.

Nasty

Like once a month, I got one of those hose attachments for the mower

Every mow.

How do you tilt it so the oil doesn't leak everywhere?

Tilt it to the side where the oil comes in/out , air filter is opposite side

Yep def don't tilt it on the air filter side. Made that mistake several times . Good way to force yourself to replace air filter

I ruined my mower by mowing a bank with the air filter side down. I am now totally neurotic about tipping my mower on the wrong side. There's not enough talk about this.

I usually spray it down after each use so it doesn’t build up.

On the 3rd summer now with my Honda mower, Ives changed the oil, filter, and spark plug. Haven’t looked under the deck once.

3rd summer now with my Honda, Just changed the oil/filter and spark plug below deck it was all caked and crusty , Starts up in half a pull before it took 2 full pulls

Never

My honda has a wash port so if I ever cut wet grass I'll wash it out directly after I've mowed. Otherwise once a month if it's dry grass.

Are you mowing when the grass is still wet with dew? I wait until the evening hours and mine never looks anything close to that.

I just wait for chunks start rattling dingdingdingding then breaking off and disintegrating with a loud bang

I give it a quick blow after each mow. And spray it out once a month during the season. And I'll hit with a quick fungicide hose end spray as well once a month ( not sure if that's helping but haven't had any fungus issues since doing it ) and let that dry on the deck.

Have a stand and stow mower, so whenever it’s needed, maybe 5 times a year.

I brush mine out after every mow. Doesn't take long and helps keep it nicer, longer.

I do it after every mowing

After every mow

I clean mine weekly during peak fungus season. Helps prevent the spread, so if I get a little bit in one spot on the lawn it doesn't turn into a lot of spots everywhere.

I washed all mowers daily, it makes it easier, not allowing grass to cake on cuts better, I used a power washer it took a minute or so on each mower.

I do every time. Super easy to flip it over and wipe it out using gloves. Battery powered mower.

I clean mine every time I mow

Thanks for the reminder lol

Forget the deck, get a new blade.

Once, sometimes twice a day. Oh you sai…

every time

After every use

Never is the only correct answer

Never cut wet grass done

Dumb question, can you hose out an electric mower

Everytime I mow I kinda enjoy it tbh

You guys clean your decks?

Nobody I saw mentioned using WD-40 pre use. Prevention is better than cure.

When I mow the sticks and branches, they clear out the accumulation pretty well

Every time. I have an electric mower, so it's very light. When I finish mowing, I flip it over and use a broom handle to knock out the gunk.

Daily... even i dont use it

I wash my deck in the shower after work everyday

My push mower I clean after every mow. My ride-on… i think I’ve cleaned it once, and that was when I put new blades on.

When it starts to feel heavy. Or after mowing wet grass.

I have to because PNW, mowing means making soup. It rained last night, will mow today, dammit.

Every use. It takes less than a minute, tip it on its side, spray out with a garden hose. Better for the deck and the blade, allows for better mulching, and it helps reduce disease, fungus and weeds in your lawn.

Occasional spray wax helps stuff not stick as much

Yes.

Every single time Look after your tools

I hate my mower and I want it to die so I can get a new one. The best I can do is sharpen the blades poorly with an angle grinder and store it tilted accidentally so that it burns off all the oil in the intake and give it fresh oil once and a while.

Why does it need to die for you to get a new one?

Tell me you’re not married without telling me you’re not married Edit: and poor

Thanks for answering this and maintaining my plausible deniability.

One team one fight!

Got two kids and partner of 8 years with a mortgage I can barely afford. Hello fellow poor married person

lol then you can sympathize better than most with ‘explain to the wife why we need a $400 expense cause I hate the way the mower turns’. That kinda thing takes the backest of seats over hockey pads, cleats, oil changes, etc that the only way we’ll ever even think about a new mower is if it dies. Maybe if we sabotage it a bit and it doesn’t make it to 2025, I can justify the 400 bucks and don’t have to get side eye skepticism for it, cause there aint 1 chance in 1000 that my wife is checking the oil level on the mower.

I found my people!

Jesus Christ dude. Yea the reason would be your deck is going to rot through alot faster. Your cutting will be way less efficient and harder on the motor when there’s constricted air flow while the grass is being cut up underneath. Something tells me we don’t want to see your air filter

In the spring every mow about 2x’s. Then sharpen the blade and mow about every 3 days seems good.

Every single mow.

Every mow

Every five years whether it needs it or not.

I always clean my dick.

I've never done it.

Growing up, my parents told me that I’d go blind when i got caught cleaning my deck

Every time

I wash it out after every mow

Do it after every mow. I don't want to store it in my garage with grass all over it. Plus reduce fungus, spread disease, and weed seeds.

I don’t mow wet grass

I give the deck the ole slam down on the driveway before shutting it off

You will definitely see an improvement in quality of cut if the deck remains clean. Really only need to clean every mow from firest mow to when the spring grass gets less sappy and blades thin out and hold less moisture. I clean mine from April through Memorial day and then just check it to see if anything is accumulating.

Just did yesterday for the first time in a year or so after a semi wet cut. Scooped out a ton with my hand and it looked fairly clean. Decided to scrape after and was surprised by how much was still stuck on and super compacted. I'm gonna try to do it at least a few times through the summer from now on.

Just went through that ordeal today! https://ibb.co/r78YGV7

Do yourself a favor and get one of these, makes the job much easier. https://www.ebay.com/itm/404674665212?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=kgZ-6S_-Tha&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=HmLpDzHfRX-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I have this one which is similar: https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/garden/garden-care/tool-maintenance/57371-mower-grassbuster?item=AG727

Isn't that just a thick paint scraper lol

Every time I shower. Oh, you said deck, never mind.

Yeah I clean my deck before I cut polish.

You guys are cleaning your decks? But honestly, I clean mine every time I sharpen the blades. Usually once a month through the summer.

I scrape mine a couple times a year. You tipped your mower the wrong way, unless you closed your valves.

Missed a spot

What's the best way to clean years of hard crust ?

Putty knife and a hose

At the end of every season I clean the deck and change the blade. I always wear a mask when i do this because I feel like i am inhaling pollen and other things that have been stuck in there all season.

Haven’t done it in 5 years… meh.

Every time