How to Clean a Weed Eater

by Alex Thorbens

One gardening tool which is widely used in many households today is the weed eater. It is available in a few different types. There are gas powered, corded, and cordless weed eaters. Whichever type you have, if you want your weed eater to serve you well then it is important that you maintain it properly. If it is well maintained, it will operate efficiently for easier weed control around your yard. The major component of maintenance that should NOT be avoided is cleaning.

A weed eater is not cleaned in the same way as some other lawn care machines like lawn mowers. You can damage your weed eater if you don’t clean it properly or if you just spray water on it. There are some precautions and safety rules that you should observe when cleaning your weed eater. Make sure you stay alert while cleaning, as there are some small mistakes you can make which might cause you to get injured.

Here are some tips to apply in order to clean your weed eater:

Disconnecting the Power Source

Weed eaters are powered by electricity, batteries, or gasoline. Before you start cleaning, it is necessary to remove the power source.
If your weed eater is powered by electricity, then you should unplug it from the electric outlet.
If it is powered with a battery, remove the battery.
If you are using a gasoline powered weed eater, then you should empty the tank, especially if you are moving the tool to store after cleaning it. But if you are not moving the tool into storage, you may leave the fuel in the tank. Just ensure that you switch off the machine before you begin cleaning.

Removing Dirt

Normally, after trimming the weeds and grass in your lawn there will be some debris, dust and cut grasses left on your weed eater. If you leave it all on the machine, the collection may cake up and make an even worse mess later on. So, start your cleaning first by brushing of the dirt and debris, weeds and particles of grasses. Use a stiff brush to do it so that it will be able to remove caked debris. Maintain a back and forth movement with the brush over stubborn debris and particles so that they will loosen and be removed.
If the debris and particles are resistant and require additional force in order to be removed then you should bring a small amount of soapy, warm water for dipping the brush. Important parts that you should brush and scrub with warm soapy water are the handles and deck of your gardening tool. When you brush out the debris with soapy water, don’t store it immediately. Make sure the tool is well dried. If you move it into storage when it is not dry it can become damaged or get rusted.

Cleaning the Filter

After using your machine for a collective total of 10 hours, it is time to wash the filter. The filter is covered and so you have to first remove the cover in order to wash the filter with soapy water. Use clean water to rinse the filter after washing it. Then air-dry it and apply motor oil on it before putting it back in its place. Remember to cover it again with the cover.

Cleaning the Spark Arrestor

After using your machine for a total of 25 hours, it is time to clean your spark arrestor. It’s normally cleaned with carbon cleaner and a wire brush. Return it back after cleaning.

Cleaning the Spark Plug

This stage is for owners of gasoline weed eaters. Use a socket wrench to remove the spark plug. Use a brake cleaner to remove dirt and debris from the head of the spark plug. Check the tip of the spark plug; if it is black, then it is time to replace it. If it is not black, then you can put it back.

Reconnect the Power Source

When you have cleaned the weed eater and you want to use it, reconnect the original power source. If you are moving it into storage, you may remove the battery and keep it somewhere safe or else empty the gasoline from the fuel tank.

The above article is a guest post provided by Pole Saw Advisor.