How to Store a Lawn Mower Battery for Winter

Few people have the luxury of climate-controlled sheds and garages, which means that most lawn mowers are stored where they're exposed to the low temperatures of winter. Winterizing your lawn mower is a crucial element of getting the longest life and best performance out of it. Winterize your mower after the last mow of every autumn, and store the battery using these protective and restorative tips.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wrench
• Baking soda
• Paper towels
• Water
• Wire brush
• Small dish
• Car battery charger
• Large plastic airtight container
• Towel

1. Remove the battery from the lawn mower. You may need a wrench to detach the battery cables from the terminals. When the cables have been removed, lift the battery out of its housing and set aside.

2. Clean the battery terminals with a baking soda solution and a wire brush. Mix up a soupy paste of equal parts baking soda and water in a small dish. Dip a paper towel in this solution and spread it over the battery terminals, being careful to not get the actual battery cells wet. Scrub the terminals with a wire brush to loosen and remove any corroded particles and dirt. Dry the cleaned terminals completely with an old towel.

3. Charge the battery to a full charge. The easiest way to do this is by connecting the battery to a home battery charger, widely available at hardware and automotive stores. Connect the red charger cable to the positive terminal and the black charger cable to the negative terminal, activate the charger and wait for the charge cycle to complete. If you do not have a battery charger and do not wish to buy one, take your battery to an automotive garage or supply store that offers this service.

4. Inspect the battery carefully all over to ensure that it is free of dirt and moisture. Use damp paper towels to wipe up any dirt, and dry the entire battery thoroughly with an old towel.

5. Place the battery inside a large plastic airtight container and put the lid firmly in place. Store the protected battery in a climate-controlled environment which is not prone to excessive moisture, such as a basement, indoor supply shelf or crawlspace.

Tips & Warnings

• It is best to winterize your lawn mower immediately following the last mow of the season.
• Batteries that are stored without a full charge are more susceptible to freezing. Such batteries can also be rendered permanently inactive if left without recharging for too long.