How to Run a Push Mower Safely at Home Easily

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How to run a push mower safely at home comes down to a few steps: clear the lawn of objects, keep people and pets away from the cutting area, check the guards and deflectors, start the mower on flat ground, and push it forward at a steady walking pace. Refuel a gas mower only when the engine is cool, and charge a battery mower according to its own manual. Turn off the engine or stop the blade before you remove a foreign object or do maintenance. The steps below follow the Ohio State University Extension fact sheet on power lawn mowers, which is linked at the end of this post.

Quick answer

Walk the lawn first and remove rocks, sticks, toys and other debris that the blade could throw.
Keep children, pets and bystanders clear of the mowing area, because foreign objects can fly from the mower.
Push the mower away from your body and keep all guards and safety shields in place.
Turn off the engine before removing an object, refueling a hot gas engine, or doing any maintenance.

Before you start

Begin with the lawn, not the mower. Walk the area you plan to cut and pick up anything that could be struck by the blade. The extension guidance says to remove debris before mowing, and the mowing area should be clear of people, animals, litter and debris. Many yards hide a garden hose, a dropped tool or a loose stone in tall grass, so a short walk saves a stop mid-mow. If the grass is very tall, mow in passes rather than in one long cut, since the deck can clog and the engine works harder.

Next, look at the mower itself. Check that the guards and safety shields are in place. The extension sheet says to keep all guards and safety shields in place, and to inspect and adjust the deflector guards and safety features, replacing any that are damaged. A deflector that is bent or missing lets clippings and stones leave the deck with more force. Check the blade for damage and make sure the deck is free of old clippings, because a clogged deck makes the blade work harder and can throw material unevenly.

Finally, choose your footwear and your spot. Wear closed shoes that cover your ankles. Do not mow in sandals or bare feet. Mark the starting point and choose flat ground where you can keep your balance. Do not start the mower on a slope where you can slip, and do not push it into an area where you would have to step backward while the blade is turning.

Fuel or charge the mower

Gas and battery push mowers are handled differently. For a gas mower, the Ohio State fact sheet says never to fill the gasoline tank when the engine is hot. Let the engine cool, then fill the tank outdoors and away from any open flame or spark. Wipe up any spilled fuel before you start the mower. For a battery mower, follow the charging instructions in your manual, and do not charge a battery in a way the manual does not allow. The product listings in the pack show how each type is powered. The PowerSmart EasyCut 18-inch uses a 144cc four-cycle engine with a pull cord start and lists a 0.21-gallon fuel tank and 10W-30 oil. The Greenworks 40V 16-inch uses a 4.0 Ah battery and a charger that is included. The EGO Power+ LM2112 lists a 56V 4.0Ah battery and charger, with up to 35 minutes of run time on a single charge according to its bullets.

A reel mower needs no fuel or battery at all. The American Lawn Mower 1204-14 listing says it is a manual reel mower with no gas or electric motor, and the Great States 304-14 says it requires no gas or oil. For a small lawn, a reel mower removes the fueling and charging steps from your routine entirely.

Start and push the mower

Start the mower on a flat, clear patch with the blade away from your feet. For a gas push mower, follow the start procedure in the manual. The PowerSmart listing says it has an auto choke and a pull cord start, and the SENIX listing says it has a primer and starts with a pull. For a battery mower, use the start button or switch described in the manual. The EGO listing describes push-button start, and the MZK listing describes a two-step safety start. Keep your hands on the handle and your feet clear of the deck.

Push the mower forward. The Oklahoma State and Ohio State material both advise against pulling the mower back toward you. Ohio State says to push the mower away from the body during a fall, so if you slip or lose your footing, release the handle and let the mower move away from you. Walk at a steady pace and overlap each pass a little, since the Great States and American Lawn Mower listings both say a reel mower works best on less than one-third of the grass blade at a time.

Match the cutting height to the grass. The listings give different height ranges. The PowerSmart is listed from 1.5 to 3.9 inches in five positions, the Greenworks 40V 17-inch from 1.25 to 3.13 inches in six positions as its specs state, and the MZK from 1 to 4 inches. Set the height before you start, not while the blade is running.

Keep people and pets clear

The mowing area should be clear of people, animals, litter and debris. Foreign objects can fly from the mower, so keep bystanders well back. The extension guidance says children should be indoors or kept away from the cutting area. Pets should also be out of the yard while you mow. If a child or pet comes into the area, stop the mower, turn off the engine and wait until the area is clear before you start again.

Keep the mower’s power cord, if it has one, out of the path of the blade. Do not run a corded electric mower over the cord, and do not let anyone walk behind the mower while it runs.

Clear a clog or remove an object

If the mower hits an object or the deck clogs, turn off the engine before you do anything else. The Ohio State sheet says to turn off the engine before dismounting, removing a foreign object or performing maintenance. Disconnect the spark plug on a gas mower, or remove the battery on a battery mower, before you put your hands near the blade. Use a stick or scraper, not your hand, to clear the deck. Let the blade stop completely before you check for damage.

Do not bypass a safety feature to keep the mower running. The extension sheet says to keep all guards and safety shields in place, and to replace any that are damaged. A blade that has hit a stone or root may be bent or chipped, so inspect it before you restart.

Stop the mower safely

Release the handle or switch to stop the engine or the motor. Wait for the blade to stop before you move the mower or walk around its front. If you need to leave the mower on a slope or in the yard, store it on a flat surface and keep the fuel or battery in the manufacturer’s recommended condition. For a gas mower, the PowerSmart listing says the oil type is 10W-30 and that oil is not included. For a battery mower, store the battery as the manual says.

Common mistakes

Mowing with a guard or deflector missing or bent.
Pulling the mower back toward you instead of pushing it forward.
Removing debris from the deck while the engine or motor is still running.
Refueling a gas mower while the engine is hot.
Letting children or pets stay in the mowing area.

Which push mower to start with

If you are buying a mower for a small lawn, the listings in this group give you three paths. A gas push mower such as the PowerSmart 18-inch gives a steel deck and a 144cc engine. A battery push mower such as the Greenworks 40V 16-inch or the EGO LM2112 removes the fuel step and uses a battery and charger. A reel mower such as the American Lawn Mower 1204-14 has no engine at all. Whichever you choose, use the steps above, and check the manual for the start, refuel and charging details specific to that mower.

FAQ

Can I mow in wet grass?

The American Lawn Mower and Great States listings both advise against using a reel mower when the grass is wet, because the cut is uneven. The SENIX listing says its mower cuts through wet grass without clogging. Check your own mower’s manual for wet-grass guidance.

How high should I set the blade?

Set the height before you start, using the range in the listing. The American Lawn Mower 1204-14 lists 0.5 to 1.75 inches, while the Scotts 2000-20S lists 1 to 3 inches. For taller grass, raise the height or take extra passes rather than mowing a large amount at once.

Do I need to wear special clothing?

Wear closed shoes that cover the ankles and eye protection. The RAHQHD listing for a related blade head advises ankle-high shoes and safety glasses, and the same principle applies to any mower.

Can I run the mower with a guard removed?

No. The extension guidance says to keep all guards and safety shields in place, so do not run the mower with a guard removed.

What do I do if the mower hits something?

Turn off the engine, disconnect the spark plug or remove the battery, and let the blade stop. Inspect the blade and the deck before you restart. A bent or chipped blade should be replaced or repaired before you mow again.

Bottom line

Clear the lawn, check the guards, push forward, keep people and pets away, and turn off the engine before you touch the blade. Refuel or charge only as the manual says, and never refuel a hot gas engine. Those few habits cover most of the risk in running a push mower at home.

Sources

Ohio State University Extension, Power Lawn Mowers (AEX-591210)