If you have recently installed artificial grass, or are in the research stages, you might be wondering how to clean artificial grass once it has been installed.
When properly maintained, artificial grass can last up to ten years – even longer if it’s been cared for correctly.
While artificial grass is known as the low-maintenance, attractive alternative over actual grass, that does not mean it is without maintenance altogether.
Let’s look at the few things you can do to ensure your investment will last for years to come.
Regular Maintenance of Artificial Grass
Follow our handy step-by-step artificial grass maintenance guide to make your grass last.
- Remove any leaves and other bits of rubbish
It is important to regularly remove leaves, plant debris and other rubbish that might have found its way into your garden. This avoids it breaking down into your grass and will limit weeds rooting and growing.
While you might be tempted to get the vacuum out, it is recommended to use a rake, stiff brush or a leaf blower to get the job done.
- Brush regularly
While it might sound a bit odd, regularly brushing your artificial grass will help it look its absolute best. Make sure to brush against the pile direction, as this will help return the blades to an upright position, therefore making it look less flattened and trampled. Areas with a lot of foot traffic will require more brushing. If you have a very large area covered with artificial grass, a power brush might help speed up the job.
- Hose It Down
For any stubborn debris or other messes, you can hose down your artificial grass to get it clean. While we’d not recommend washing the grass with a pressure washer on its highest setting, a gentle spray down can help remove dirt, pollen, bird poo and other spills. You can buy specialist cleaning products if you want to do a deeper clean, but we’d advise against harsh chemicals and cleaners that can damage the grass.
- Clean up any spills and pet waste promptly
You might be wondering how to clean artificial grass with dogs when you have a pet that will use the grass to go about its business. While artificial grass can definitely withstand this type of use, it is recommended to clean up any dog waste when it happens, as this will make the cleanup much easier. Hose down any remaining faeces to make it easier to clean. You could give your dog(s) a designated area to do their business so that cleanup is easier to manage. Due to the drainage in artificial grass, dog urine will go right through and flush away.
Similarly, we recommend making sure any bird droppings are cleaned up regularly. Although chances are that these will disappear when the grass is being hosed down. Any particularly stubborn spots can be cleaned up separately.
If you have accidentally spilled food or drink, make sure to deal with these promptly as certain foods can stain your grass. It can also attract unwanted ants or other insects. Make sure not to use harsh cleaning products when dealing with food spills.
- Deal with Weeds
If you have any weeds coming up, it’s recommended to deal with them quickly to avoid them spreading. Weeds can be dealt with by using a water-based weed killer. You could also preventatively use a weed killer to keep them at bay before it becomes a problem. Make sure not to use anything too harsh that can compromise the integrity of the grass and blades.
Additional Tips to Keep Your Artificial Grass Clean & in Top Condition
There are some additional steps you can take to make sure your artificial grass remains clean and in the best condition.
Avoid Heat
While it may seem obvious, it is recommended to make sure your artificial grass does not come in contact with high temperatures from things like barbecues. Make sure to host any barbecues on paved areas in your garden.
Protect High Traffic Areas
You can take extra steps to protect high traffic areas. Besides regularly brushing the blades of grass up, you could consider place mats or stepping stones.
Periodically rotate your garden table and chairs to redistribute the weight of it all.
Check for any Damage
We recommend doing spot checks for any damage over the years. Check for issues such as tears, loose seams or drainage issues. Artificial grass needs to be kept dry as best as possible for longevity – so any issues with drainage should be dealt with to avoid it impacting the quality of your artificial grass.
If you do find any loose seams or tears, make sure to deal with these to avoid any further damage or additional issues down the line.
We hope you found our tips on how to clean your artificial grass useful. If you have any questions about installation, make sure to read our step to step guide on how to lay artificial grass.