How to Clean Artificial Grass

One of the main benefits of artificial grass is the fact that it requires so much less care than the natural equivalent. No more mowing, weeding, fertilising, watering or anything else.

However, that’s not to say you don’t need to look after it. In fact, artificial grass is an investment that can last for years, if not decades, if you do so correctly. And what’s even better is that it takes minimal effort! 

Artificial Lawn Care

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.

Cleaning Artificial Grass?

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 in particular you may need to do it more frequently as the trees shed their leaves. When it comes to deeper clean, every 4 weeks or so should be fine under normal circumstances.

How to clean artificial grass

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

• It’s important that you don’t use a metal-bristled brush as this could damage your artificial grass.
   
• Optional - 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, the advice is the same, but remember that drainage may not be as fast, so consider using less water.

How to deep clean artificial grass

Sometimes, usually once every 4-6 weeks (or more frequent in the summer months, or if you have pets) your artificial grass will require a deeper clean. 

• Complete steps 1 and 2 as above
   
• 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.

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• It’s important that the detergent you use is safe to use on plastic and is not harmful to plant, insect or animal life.
   
• Use a hosepipe, or just buckets of fresh water, to rinse off the turf and allow it to dry in the sun.

How to remove dog and cat stains from artificial grass

Modern artificial grass is so good that your pets won’t know the difference! The downside to that is they’ll happily still do their business on it. Fortunately, the plastic used in artificial  grass is easy to clean. However, if it’s left too long then urine and faeces can potentially cause stains.

• 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 that’s not possible, then much like grass, you should try and pick up any solids as quick as you can. If you have a pet, artificial grass with a shorter pile length would be a good choice.

• For urine, it’s not a huge problem if you don’t get there right away, as it will mostly just drain away. But if you spot it, the best way to clean it is with a hose or a bucket of water.

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​In some cases, you might find it leaves a smell. If this is the case, the easiest way to remove a pet urine smell from artificial grass is with warm water and soap. If it’s really stubborn, white vinegar also works well.

How to remove stains from artificial grass

In most cases, a rinse with water should be enough. Whether it’s food and drink stains from a summer BBQ, the aforementioned pet mess or even something like chewing gum, there are plenty of ways to deal with the problem.

• For chewing gum or other sticky substances, try chilling the area with an ice cube and using a putty knife to scrape it off.
   
• Drink stains. For these, the best approach is to remove as much of the liquid as you can with a paper towel and then rinse the rest away with water.
   
• Food, sauce or other stains. If the stain is stubborn, use water and detergent and rub it in with a cloth. If this doesn’t work, try scrubbing with an old toothbrush. Again, rinse away with water.

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, if you need access then this may not be an option. 

• If you must clear snow from the turf, use a plastic shovel to remove most of it, leaving around 1 inch of snow on top.
   
• Now, using a stiff brush, brush the remainder to the side.
   
• It’s very important not to use any metal tools on your artificial lawn as you risk damaging the pile and/or the latex backing.
   
• If it’s just ice you’re dealing with, the only real 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 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.

For more information about how to clean and look after your artificial grass, don’t hesitate to contact us. And if artificial grass sounds like something you’d like for your garden, book a home visit today.