Regardless of whether it is electric, battery-powered, or petrol-powered: For a hedge trimmer to function smoothly for a long time, it needs regular care, maintenance, and cleaning. Read here how to properly clean and care for your hedge trimmer.

For you to enjoy your hedge trimmer for a long time, it is necessary to take good care of the device. Electric hedge trimmers have different requirements than petrol or battery-powered hedge trimmers. Read here how to clean, care for and maintain your hedge trimmer.

You can find a simple guide to cutting a hedge here.

Before cleaning the hedge trimmer, make sure you are safe. It is essential to wear protective goggles and hard-wearing protective gloves when working.

Also, before cleaning an electric hedge trimmer, unplug it to prevent the hedge trimmer from accidentally switching on. When cleaning a battery-operated hedge trimmer, simply remove the battery from the device before starting work. In addition, always lock the blade so that the cutting edges do not move unexpectedly and injure you during cleaning and maintenance.

You should take a close look at the hedge trimmer, especially after long periods of storage and before particularly demanding operations, and repair any minor damage immediately. An intact hedge trimmer is a prerequisite for safe and successful work.

Clean and maintain battery-operated hedge trimmers

Remove the battery from the hedge trimmer after each use. To clean the battery, first, wipe it with a damp cloth and then dry it thoroughly. Store it separately from the hedge trimmer and charger.

Before use, make sure that when the battery is inserted, all LED lights show the correct light signals, which means that the device is running normally. You should rectify faults immediately. When doing this, follow the operating instructions for your hedge trimmer.

With electric hedge trimmers, it is essential to check the plug and the cable regularly – ideally before and after each use. These should not be brittle or damaged. Damage to these areas can hinder your work and also pose a risk of fatal electric shock.

If you discover damage to your electric hedge trimmer, be sure to take it to a specialist who can replace the electrical components. In addition, have the gears and connecting rods checked by your trusted specialist dealer every 50 hours of operation. He also exchanges the carbon brushes; this should be done after 100 hours of operation.

Before starting work, let the hedge trimmer idle to check the carburetor. Adjust if necessary. Make sure the tank is intact and that no gasoline is leaking. Check the spark plugs regularly and replace them every 100 hours or so.

Regardless of the drive, there are some parts that you should check on every hedge trimmer before and after use to be able to work well with your hedge trimmer in the long term.

These include:

The rubber coating of the handles: If there are cracks here, you can repair the handles with sturdy adhesive tape. Under no circumstances should you leave these cracks untreated, otherwise the handle could come off during work and injure you.

The seat of the screws: The screws should not be too loose or too tight. You can recognize the latter by the fact that the cutting blades of the hedge trimmer are very stiff. In this case, simply apply a little oil or anti-rust agent to the screw.

Knives: Blunt knives will hinder the work and damage your plants. If you find that the cutting sides of your hedge trimmer are dull and uneven, take the time to sharpen the knives to sharpen the hedge trimmer.

Cleaning hedge trimmers after work

Caring for the hedge trimmer includes cleaning the device after the work is done.

With the hedge trimmer switched off, remove leaves, branches, and other parts of plants.

Then simply wipe off dirt with a damp cloth.

Spray the cutting edges with a maintenance oil or with a resin solvent. Then switch on the hedge trimmer briefly to distribute the care product.

With a battery-operated hedge trimmer, remove the battery after each use and store it separately from the hedge trimmer and the charger. The storage location should of course be dry.

You should allow a few minutes for this quick cleaning after each use. In this way, you extend the life of your hedge trimmer and also do preparatory work for the basic cleaning.

Thoroughly clean the hedge trimmer 

Thorough cleaning of the hedge trimmer is particularly advisable if the device is not going to be used for a longer period, i.e. especially in late autumn, when the garden has been made winter-proof. By thoroughly cleaning the hedge trimmer, you ensure that the hedge trimmer is ready for use again immediately after it has been idle. More intensive cleaning is also advisable after every third to fifth use during the gardening season.

Important:

Cut off any power supply to the hedge trimmer beforehand to reduce the risk of injury.

1. First, unscrew the cutting edges so that you can clean them thoroughly.
2. Remove coarse dirt on the knife halves with a brush.
3. Stubborn resin can be easily removed with a resin remover. Spray the knife halves with it and rub the agent thoroughly with a dry cloth.
4. To maintain the cutting edges, apply a little maintenance oil to the knives and rub them in thoroughly.

If you carry out the basic cleaning in autumn before the winter break, you can use a little more oil to maintain the cutting edges and protect them from moisture.

With petrol-powered hedge trimmers, make sure to empty the tank before storing it. Then run your petrol-powered hedge trimmer with an empty tank to use up the petrol in the carburetor. Dispose of the fuel properly. Also, clean the air filter and the air intake port.

Briefly clean, check, a splash of maintenance oil – regular maintenance of your hedge trimmer only takes a few minutes and ensures that you can enjoy it for a long time. A good reason to take a moment after each use.