Artificial Grass Care Guide

One of the main benefits of artificial grass is the fact that it requires so much less care than real grass. No more mowing, weeding, fertilising, watering or whispering sweet nothings to the grass to make it grow – hurrah! However, it still needs a little TLC to keep it looking its best. In fact, artificial grass is an investment that can last for years, even decades, if looked after correctly. And what’s even better is that it takes minimal effort! Here, we share with you all the tips and tricks you need to know when caring for artificial grass.

There are two different ways to clean artificial grass: one is your basic maintenance, and the other is a periodical deep clean. Both are important for keeping your turf in tip-top condition and to extend its life. The easiest way to keep your artificial grass in good condition is to brush it on a regular basis. Organic matter such as dust, leaves, twigs, petals, bugs and other debris can become lodged between the fibres and over time this will decompose and form soil. This can lead to drainage problems and damage to the fibres or the latex backing. 

How often should you clean artificial grass?

A lot of people ask us this and generally, a weekly brush should do the trick. During autumn you might need to do it more frequently as the trees shed their leaves. When it comes to deep cleaning your artificial grass, every 4 weeks or so should be fine under normal circumstances.

How to clean artificial grass

1. First, use a plastic rake or even a leaf blower to remove larger pieces of debris.
2. Use a stiff bristle brush and go against the grain of the artificial grass to remove the remaining dirt and detritus buried deeper into the fibres. Brushing against the grain will also help the fibres stand up and make the grass look ‘fuller’.

• Tapi Top Tip Avoid using a metal-bristled brush as this could damage your artificial grass – a coarse haired bristle brush will do the trick.

3. Optional step! In Britain, the rain usually does this for us... but if you want to put a bit of shine back into your artificial grass in the summer, run the hose over it and let it drain.If you have artificial grass on a balcony, remember that drainage may not be as fast, so consider using less water if you choose to do this.

How to deep clean artificial grass

Sometimes, usually once every 4-6 weeks, your artificial grass will require a deeper clean. You may need to do this more frequently in the summer months, or if you have pets.

1. Complete steps 1 and 2 above as if you were doing a regular clean.
2. It’s time to give your grass a shampoo! Mix a bucket of warm water with eco-friendly washing up liquid or detergent. Using a brush, work this into the fibres of the grass and let it sit for a few minutes.

• Tapi Top Tip It’s important that the detergent you use is safe to use on plastic and isn’t harmful to plant, insect or animal life, so double-check the label first.

3. Use a hosepipe or buckets of fresh water to rinse off the turf and allow it to dry in the sun (so choose a sunny, breezy day to do this).

How to remove dog and cat stains from artificial grass

Modern artificial grass is so good that your pets won’t be able to tell the difference! The downside is they’ll happily still do their business on it. Oh dear. Fortunately, the plastic used in artificial grass is easy to clean, but if left too long then pet urine and faeces can potentially cause stains, so it’s better to act fast. No-one likes a yellow lawn!

• The first step is a preventative one. Some dogs and cats can be trained to do their business in a specific area. Try setting aside a gravel area or even a litter tray and training them to do it there.
• If Rover or Fluffykins insists on leaving you a present on your lovely artificial grass, you should try and pick up any solids as quickly as you can – just as you would do with real grass. Artificial grass with a shorter pile length is the best choice for homes with pets.
• For urine, it’s not a huge problem if you don’t deal with it immediately, as it will mostly drain away. But if you do spot a little piddle puddle from your four-legged friend, the best way to clean it up is to wash it away with a hose or a bucket of water.
• In some cases, you might find that pet mess leaves a smell behind. The easiest way to remove the smell of pet urine from artificial grass is with warm water and soap. If it’s really stubborn, white vinegar also works well.

Looking after your artificial grass in winter

Winter brings its own set of challenges to your artificial lawn. If it snows, the best thing to do is allow it to melt naturally. However, it’s very easy to clear snow from artificial grass if you need to. Remember to only use plastic tools on your artificial lawn; metal tools risk damaging the pile and/or the latex backing.

• To clear snow from the turf, use a plastic shovel to remove most of it, leaving around 1 inch of snow on top. Then, using a stiff brush, sweep the remaining snow to the side.                         
• To clear ice from your lawn, the only option is to allow it to melt naturally. We recommend against using antifreeze, salt, or grit as these can all end up leaving marks on the pile. The latter two may also block the drainage pores over time.

​Can I pressure wash my artificial lawn?

We get asked this a lot and the answer is… it depends.

If your artificial grass has infill (which most do) then the answer is a firm no as this is what creates that soft, cushioning feeling to the turf. It’s easy for a pressure washer to move (or even remove!) this and you don’t want to do anything to jeopardise the integrity of the turf.

If your artificial lawn doesn’t have infill, then you can use a pressure washer. However, we recommend using the widest angle tip you have, spraying at a shallow angle to help prop the fibres up, and most importantly, keeping the tip of the wand at least 12 inches from the turf.

As you can see, cleaning and caring for artificial grass is easy! If an artificial lawn sounds like something you’d like for your garden, explore our range of artificial grass or book a home visit today.