Part of having a beautiful lawn is performing the proper maintenance on your lawn mower. A regular tune-up will ensure your motor runs smoothly and prevent against costly repairs in the future. You don't need to take your lawn mower to a specialist for a tune-up, in fact by following the instructions below you can do your own tune-up right at home.

Change The Oil and Air Filter
Keeping your mower running smoothly and efficiently means regularly changing the oil and air filter. You should start by reading your owner's manual to see what type of motor oil your mower requires- typically a 4-Cycle or 2-Cycle. When you have the new oil ready to go it's time to drain the old oil from your mower.

You should have an oil basin and a backing tarp or newspaper material to catch spills. Turn the mower on its side and pull the drain plug. Let all the oil seep out into the basin, making sure to consistently change the tilt angle to get out as much used oil as possible. Next, lock the drain plug securely back into its place and flip the mower back on its wheels. Add the new oil to the motor.

There are two types of air filters. There are paper filters which are quite simple to change. You loosen the cover screw and replace the old filter cartridge with a new one. There are also foam air filters. For this one,you want to remove the screw holding it in place and pull out the foam filter. You will need to clean the metal parts that the filter surrounds. The foam air filter should be saturated in a light coating of fresh motor oil and then installed.

Replace The Spark Plug Each Year
Changing the spark plug once a year will ensure your motor is working at its most efficient level. Take the cap wire off of the spark plug. Use a pair of pliers or a wrench to unscrew the plug. You can typically get the size of the plug off of the side of it or in the lawn mower's owners manual. Screw the new spark plug in place and reinstall the cap wire.

Sharpen The Blade
Keeping your lawn mower blade sharp will ensure you always get the cleanest cut. Twice a year you should sharpen the blade. Try to do this at times your mower is low on fuel as you will be tipping it over for an extended amount of time. Remove the blade and check it for bending or breaks. If there are any breaks or if the blade is bent it needs to be replaced. Otherwise, sharpen the blade, ensure it's balanced, and reinstall it on the mower.

Clean Out The Carburetor
Overtime a buildup of outside debris, like grass and twigs, can cause reduced performance of your lawn mower's engine. Using a simple carburetor cleaner every few mows on the outside of the carburetor will prevent debris buildup.

Every so often it's a good idea to pull the carburetor off the mower and thoroughly clean the inside. There is typically a couple bolt that holds it in place. Once you remove it from the mower be sure to put the carburetor on old newspaper or cardboard to collect any excess gas that is still inside.

Take the carburetor apart. It will split into two pieces. Spray the carburetor cleaner throughout the inside of these pieces to remove grime and dirt buildup. Once done use a rag to wipe out the inside of the carburetor bowl and reinstall the carburetor onto the mower.

Doing a lawn mower tune-up at home is something that every owner can do. By following these simple steps listed above you can greatly increase the life of your mower and the health of your lawn.

Your lawn mower is probably the most used outdoor tool you have. Keeping it in a good running condition will ensure it starts up when you need it. Below we're going to go over 6 must-do maintenance tips to keep your lawn mower running season after season.

#1- Brush Off Your Mower When You're Done
This is so simple, but many people just don't take the few seconds to do it. After you finish mowing the lawn, brush off the loose clippings on top of the mower deck. This will prevent any build-up that could lead to rust and will prevent debris from entering the motor components. To make this easy, you can keep an old broom in the same radius as where you park your mower, for easy use to dust off the clippings!

#2- Remove Packed Grass Under The Deck
Allow your mower adequate time to cool down after use. Once cool, flip the mower over. Ensure the carburetor and air filter are pointing upwards so you prevent debris from getting into them. Take a wire brush or used a gloved hand to remove clumped up grass from underneath the mower deck and the blade. It's much easier to remove freshly cut, damp grass from your mower than it is to remove dried up clumps when you have a problem later.

#3- Deep Clean Twice A Year
Keeping up with brushing off your mower and removing grass clumps regularly will help reduce the amount of time you need to spend doing your bi-yearly deep-cleanings. A deep-cleaning involves using a bucket of hot, soapy water, and a soft brush. This is best done when your gas tank is close to empty, as you will need to have the mower on its side for an extended amount of time. Use the hose or pressure washer to spray off stuck-on dirt and debris under the mower deck, and use the soft brush to thoroughly clean both the top and bottom of the mower deck.

#4- Sharpen The Blade Twice A Year
Having a sharp blade is one of the most important components of any good lawn mower. A dull blade can lead to uneven cutting, shredded grass blades that turn brown, and can constantly require manual removal of grass clumps during mowing. Take the time to sharpen your blades so they slice through the grass quickly and effectively.

#5- Replace The Spark Plug Each Year
Changing your spark plug each year is as important as changing your mower's oil. Simply disconnect the cap wire and remove the spark plug with a pair of pliers or a wrench. The size of the spark plug should be written on it. If there is not a size listed, be sure to refer to your product manual. Once you have the new spark plug it's fairly simple to reinstall. Use your pliers or wrench to tighten the new spark plug in place. Then be sure to put the cap wire back on it. Start up your mower to see if it runs to ensure you installed the new spark plug correctly.

#6- Replace The Air Filter At Least Once A Year
A dirty air filter that is clogged up can put more stress on your motor and can make gas burn less efficiently. You can prevent these problems by simply changing your lawn mower's air filter at least once a year. There are two types of filters, paper and foam. The paper filters should get changed when they start to get dirty. The plastic foam filter can be removed and washed out with soapy water. It's best to let the foam filters air dry and then cover them evenly with about 2 tablespoons of motor oil before reinstalling them.

By following these 6 lawn mower maintenance tips you will set yourself up to get the longest life out of your trusty lawn mower.