You can’t just load your lawn mower into a moving truck the way you left it right after you last worked with it. And you shouldn’t do it either for a number of safety reasons. Before you can load a lawn mower into a moving truck, you’re going to need to prepare it properly for safe transportation.

Here are simple steps to preparing a lawn mower for a move:
1. The very first thing you need to do when moving a lawn mower is to drain completely its gas tank and its oil tank and transfer those liquids into appropriate containers.

Gas and oil are hazardous materials that top the list of non-allowable items when moving home. And as you know well, professional movers cannot and will not transport dangerous items of any kind.

Dispose of the lawn mower liquids in accordance with the local environmental regulations. Or you can give them to a neighbor who also owns lawn care equipment.

2. Clean well your lawn mower – The second step to preparing a lawn mower for moving is to clean it from any remaining dirt and grass cuttings before loading it up on the moving truck. The idea, of course, is to prevent your other belongings from getting dirty and to keep the inside of the moving vehicle in decent condition.

Use a large sponge and water to wash your mower and pay special attention to its wheels and undercarriage.

3. Remove all attachments and blades – For safety reasons, you’re going to need to remove the blades from your lawn mower before you load it up for transport. Consult the user’s manual of the machine if you’re not sure how to do it properly.

Use extra caution while handling the blades to avoid injuries. Use thick gloves while removing the cutting elements, then place the original protective covers over the sharp blades to secure them. Finally, wrap them up in large sheets of bubble wrap and pack them separately in a cardboard box.

4. Disconnect the spark plug – The final step to preparing a lawn mower for a move is to disconnect its spark plug so that it can’t accidentally be started during transport. Even with its gas siphoned, a lawn mower can still be started in some cases because of the fuel fumes built-up in the tank.

Follow these tips and your lawn mower will be shipped safely!

Safe moving!