Does Trimmer Line Get Brittle With Age?


A string trimmer is a great option for cutting grass, weeds, or other plants. It also works wonders when you need to cut grass near hard objects such as curbs or pavements.

However, how strong and good are the lines that these machines use? Do they last longer than steel blades? Does the trimmer line get brittle with age?

Trimmer lines do get brittle with age. They get brittle faster when exposed to the sun or cold temperatures at any point. You can strengthen trimmer lines by soaking them in water for 24 hours. 

This article explores how you can help your trimmer line to last longer. We will also look at how you can rejuvenate the trimmer line if it’s already old.

How Do I Keep My Trimmer Line From Getting Brittle?

Generally speaking, you can keep your trimmer line from becoming brittle by keeping it away from the sun. To keep it strong, you can also soak it in water for at least 24 hours before using it. Protecting the line from extreme temperatures also slows down its aging.

Trimmer lines are usually made from hardened, monofilament nylon. These nylon are generally tough materials, although they get brittle from age. 

You may speed up their deterioration if you do not care for the lines. Aged trimmer lines become brittle and break when you are trimming your grass. 

To keep your trimmer line from getting brittle, consider to:

Keep Away From The Sun

As I mentioned previously, one of the best actions you can take to protect your trimmer line is to keep it away from the sun. This is because sunlight can break down nylon. 

If we go a little scientific, sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) light. UV lights degrade and break down nylon by creating free radicals.

After prolonged exposure to UV light, nylon will usually weaken in color. It may also lose elasticity and become brittle.

You can avoid these issues by keeping your trimmer lines away from the sun and in the shade.

Keep Away From Extreme Temperature

Another way trimmer lines may break down is from exposure to extreme temperatures. This means you should not expose them to hot or cold temperatures. 

Under hot temperatures, nylon may look ok, but it may expand. Under cold temperatures, nylon may contract. Constant expansion and contraction will cause the nylon to lose its strength.

This means you want to keep your trimmer lines from high or low temperatures. Keep it away from hot temperatures during the summer and cold temperatures in winter. Do this, and your trimmer lines should deteriorate slower.

Does Soaking Trimmer Line Help?

Soaking the trimmer line in water helps in making the line stronger. This is because the nylon absorbs the water and regain some of its elasticity and strength. It also makes the line heavier, helping it to cut better.

Soaking the trimmer lines in water does help. The reason is that the nylon in the trimmer lines are hydrophilic. Hydrophilic means water-absorbing. 

When dry, trimmer lines become discolored and brittle. But once you soak them in water for 24 hours, the dry trimmer lines absorb the water and regain its elasticity.

A rehydrated trimmer line tends to resist issues such as edge fraying better. It also would not snap easily and can better slice through the grass or weeds, giving you a cleaner cut.

This means the lines become stronger and more durable overall. The lines can now handle the trimming jobs you have in mind.

A well-hydrated trimmer line also becomes heavy with water. This means the lines move with a stronger force when spun using the trimmer machine. 

This aligns with the concept of centrifugal force – the heavier the object, the more force it will have when spun. Stronger centrifugal force should translate into easier cuts when you use the trimmer.

How Do You Rejuvenate Trimmer Line?

To rejuvenate the trimmer line, you can soak it in a bucket of water for 24 hours before using it. Wipe dry with a cloth before attaching it to your trimmer.

To rejuvenate your trimmer line, you can follow the steps below:

Decide If You Need To Rejuvenate Trimmer Line

At times, you actually do not need to rejuvenate your lines. Only consider rejuvenating your lines if you notice fading colors. If you notice that your trimmer line breaks easily, it could be time to give it a nice bath. 

However, there could be other reasons for your line’s poor performance. If you want to learn more about this topic, check out this article I wrote

Fill A Bucket Full Of Water

Start by filling a five-gallon bucket with water all the way up. Use room temperature water. If the water temperature is too high, it may damage the line. If too cold, it may not rejuvenate the line well. 

Adjust the bucket and water to the lines you have. The bigger the spool, the bigger the water container.

Soak In Your Line In The Water

Submerge your trimmer lines in the water bucket. If your line is in a spool, submerge them as is. If your line is not in a spool, roll them up before submerging them. As the cable soaks up water, it should rehydrate, rejuvenate, and become stronger.

Wait 24 Hours At Least

As the cables soak up water and moisture, you may see it regaining color and looking stronger. However, allow the trimmer line at least 24 hours to soak inside before using it. 

This is because the moisture needs time to reach the core of the trimmer line. You may see the outer layers becoming rehydrated, but it does not mean the insides are. Allowing at least 24 hours ensures the whole trimmer line rehydrates and rejuvenates.

Dry Before Using

Take time to dry the trimmer line before attaching it to the trimmer machine. A dripping wet line may splash water around and make a mess. 

Pull out the length of line that you need, wipe it down with a towel, and attach it to the trimmer. 

Peter Toth

Hi! I'm Peter, the owner of BackyardGadget. Working around the house has always been a big part of my life. I've created this site to share my experience, and to help people choose the right tools for the job. Thank you for stopping by!

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