Alongside its aesthetic appeal one of the main reasons why people lay artificial grass is that it is relatively low maintenance. This means they will no longer be required to mow, weed, fertilise or do all those jobs needed to keep it in tip top condition. However, once your artificial grass is installed you still need to give it a little TLC to ensure it continues to look good for many years to come.
So, in this article we are going to tell you all you need to know about caring for artificial grass such as how to remove pet stains and the best way to carry out that small amount of maintenance needed to provide you with the outside space of your dreams all year round.
How to Care for Artificial Grass
When it comes to cleaning artificial grass there are two different ways of doing it. One relates to the basic ongoing maintenance and the other is a deep clean which needs to be carried out periodically. Both these are equally important when it comes to extending the lifespan of your artificial grass and ensuring it remains in pristine condition.
Regular brushing is one of the best forms of artificial grass care and essential if you want your lawn to look good throughout the year. If debris such as dust, leaves or twigs gets stuck in between the fibres of your lawn over time it will decompose and become soil.
When this happens you are likely to experience drainage problems and the fibres and latex backing could well become damaged. A quick brush on a regular basis will protect against this and plays a big part in keeping your artificial grass looking good.
Does Artificial Grass need any Maintenance?
This is a question we get asked all the time and it absolutely does. Our usual advice would be that weekly cleaning would suffice. However, during autumn if you have a garden with trees, you may well need to brush more frequently when their leaves start to fall. When it comes to deep cleans, we would suggest this is carried out on a monthly basis.
How Often Should You Brush Artificial Grass?
When you do your weekly clean, that’s when brushing your artificial grass should be completed. To start with, you need to use either a plastic rake or leaf blower to get rid of any larger bits of debris. After that, make use of a brush with stiff bristles and work against the grain to remove any remaining dirt that has buried itself deep into the fibres. When you brush against the grain it results in the fibres standing up giving your grass a fuller look.
The best type of brush for artificial grass maintenance is one with coarse bristles. You should never use one that has metal bristles as there is a good chance that they will damage your grass. If you fancy giving your grass that lovely green sheen then a quick hosing won’t do any harm.
How to Make Artificial Grass Look New
As we mentioned earlier approximately once a month you will need to do a deep clean on your artificial grass to make it look brand new. If your household has pets you may have to do this on a more regular basis.
When carrying out a deep clean start as if you were doing a regular clean by removing the debris and brushing your lawn. Then fill a bucket with a mixture of warm water and an environmentally friendly detergent which you work into the grass fibres with a brush leaving it for several minutes when you have finished. Then use either a hose or buckets of water to thoroughly rinse the grass and allow it to dry. By doing this you will help ensure that your synthetic turf will look its best all year round.
How to Maintain Artificial Grass with Dogs
One of the problems faced by people with pets is how to keep their artificial grass clean. Whether we like it or not it’s virtually impossible to stop dogs doing their business on your pristine new grass. However, don’t worry, one of the main benefits of artificial grass is that it is easy to clean.
Even though the plastic used in pet-friendly artificial grass can be cleaned easily, leaving pet urine or faeces unattended for too long could result in stains, so it is imperative that you carry out your maintenance on a regular basis. Let’s face it, you don’t want to end up with a discoloured lawn do you?
They always say prevention is better than the cure so try and train your pets to do their business in another area of the garden. Maybe install a gravel area for this purpose or maybe leave out a litter tray.
If this isn’t possible you should ensure you pick up any solids as soon as possible in the same way you would when taking your dog out for a walk. When choosing artificial grass for a home with pets it is best to opt for a shorter pile.
Where urine is concerned, not dealing with it immediately is not a massive problem as most of it will drain away. If any remains, then the best way to clean it 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.
What Can Ruin Artificial Grass and What is the Best Way to Remove Those Stains?
In the majority of cases, most stains can be removed by just rinsing your artificial grass with water. Irrespective of whether you are faced with food and drink stains from a summer BBQ, pet mess, or even something sticky like chewing gum, there are a number of different ways to deal with the problem.
Where drink stains are concerned, get rid of as much of the spillage as possible using a paper towel then simply rinse with water. In the case of food stains such as sauce or grease it is best to add detergent to warm water and use this to remove the stain by rubbing it with a cloth. If this doesn’t do the trick try an old toothbrush then rinse with water. If you are faced with sticky substances such as chewing gum, first chill the area with an ice cube, then attempt to scrape off the offending article.
How to Maintain Artificial Grass in Winter
Maintaining artificial grass in winter comes with its own unique challenges. In the case of snow, the best option is to let it melt and drain naturally. However, if you want to clear it yourself make sure you use plastic tools to avoid damaging the grass.
If you need to clear ice from your lawn, the only option you have is to allow it to melt naturally. Our recommendation is never use antifreeze, salt, or grit as there is a chance that they will mark the pile and in the case of grit there is a chance it will start to block the drainage pores in your grass.
Can You Pressure Wash Artificial Grass?
Yes, you can pressure wash artificial grass, but you should be careful and use a low-powered washer. However, if your grass uses infill to keep the grass upright it is not advisable to pressure wash it. If you pressure wash your grass, make sure you use the lowest setting, properly angling the nozzle so that the blades are kept upright.
Hopefully this guide has helped demonstrate the best way to care for your artificial grass. As we said earlier, one of the main benefits of artificial grass is that it is so easy to maintain. If you are considering artificial grass for your outdoor space why not take a look at the options we have available to you here at Artificial Grass Direct.
We stock a comprehensive range of premium quality synthetic turf so get in touch with our team today and find out how installing artificial grass can help you spend more time enjoying your garden rather than working on it.
