Does a robotic lawnmower need to be cleaned?

The time required for lawn care with an electric or gasoline mower is considerable. In addition to mowing, grass clippings may need to be collected, and in between, fertilizing and thatching may also be essential. All these steps are largely eliminated with the purchase of a robotic mower. What remains, however, is the effort required to clean the device - right?

Robotic mowers - low maintenance and easy to care for

Unlike gasoline mowers, robotic mowers do not have filters, oil or other parts that require regular maintenance or replacement. Only the regular replacement of the blades is necessary. But what about cleaning the device?

Dirt has a negative effect on performance

If grass clippings, leaves or other dirt particles collect between the wheels or on the mowing deck, the robot's performance will sooner or later be impacted. The device will, in turn, consume more energy, i.e. it will have to return to the charging station more often, the uniform cutting performance will decrease with dirty blades and the noise level will increase.

To prevent this, regularly cleaning your robotic mower is recommended. Depending on the frequency of use, experts even recommend cleaning the industrious garden helper once a week. However, the intervals depend on several factors:

• weather conditions (more frequent when the lawn is damp)
• frequency of use
• lawn type
• soil conditions
• sdditional equipment features

What cleaning work is required for robotic mowers?

The problem areas with robotic lawnmowers are undoubtedly the wheels, the area between the wheels and the housing as well as the mowing deck. Less frequently, but still at regular intervals, you should also turn your attention to the charging contacts.

Leaves and dirt hinder optimal functioning of the wheels, so you should free them of disturbing annoyances regularly with a stick, a coarse brush or with the help of compressed air.

To remove grass residue on the underside of the device, be sure to refrain from using water. While even a downpour cannot harm the robot from above, the underside is not necessarily designed for running water. To remove dry and stubborn grass residue, it is also advisable to use a coarse brush or a plastic kitchen spatula, which can be used to scrape off most grime in no time.

Last but not least, periodically check the charging contacts. Dust and dirt also collect there from time and time, which can sometimes significantly slow down the charging process. Wiping them with a damp cloth or even sanding them down, if rust has formed, is enough to clean the contacts.

Equipment features prevent soiling

Although a robotic lawnmower drastically diminishes the time needed for lawn care, some lawn maintenance will be necessary. Have no fear though, there are features that can contribute to less cleaning.

• Self-cleaning wheels ensure that less dirt sticks to the tires. Even while driving, the wheels clean themselves, which ultimately has a positive effect on traction.
• Self-cleaning mowing decks, which are standard on some models, remove grass residue directly during the mowing process. Mulch has no chance of drying out, so regular cleaning is significantly reduced.
• Other models can easily be retrofitted with a mulch remover. The effect is the same as with the self-cleaning mowing deck, so a one-time investment will definitely pay off in the long run.

Keeping an eye on safety

When cleaning, your personal safety should always be the top priority. Manufacturers have installed a special safety switch specifically for this purpose. This prevents the blades from starting in an uncontrolled manner. Activating this switch should be the first action taken before cleaning the robotic lawnmower.

While the top of the robot often remains clean due to the rain, grass debris accumulates on the underside, increasingly gumming up the mowing deck. To remove it, wearing heavy duty, cut-proof gloves is mandatory. Otherwise, there is a risk of serious cuts from the razor-sharp blades.

Practical equipment features ensure that the cleaning effort for a robotic mower is further reduced. This leaves you plenty of time to devote to your garden and simply enjoy a perfectly manicured lawn.