Last Updated on January 10, 2023
Fake grass, or an artificial lawn, can be an excellent investment for people who don’t have a lot of time for lawn maintenance but want their garden to look incredible. The right choice of artificial grass will look lush and green all-year-round. Plus, artificial grass can last for up to 15 years!
However, just like anything you plan to hold on to for some time, artificial grass needs to be regularly cared for and well-maintained if it’s going to stay in great condition.
Knowing how to clean artificial grass ensures that you can easily remove pet waste and keep your lawn looking wonderful for as long as possible. Today, we’re going to cover some of the steps you can take to keep your lawn in perfect condition.
How Do You Clean Debris Off Artificial Grass?
If you’re planning on keeping the same fake grass for anywhere up to 20 years, there’s a good chance that you’re going to have to clean it from time to time.
The strategy you use for cleaning your artificial turf will depend on the kind of debris you’re dealing with. For instance, if there’s snow or ice on your lawn, you should usually just leave it to melt and drain away naturally. Alternatively, if there’s pet waste ruining the look of your grass, then you might need to get rid of it.
When you clean artificial grass regularly and follow the guidelines provided by your manufacturer on how to care for fake grass, it should last for years. The more time you spend maintaining your artificial grass, the better it should look.
Just remember that dealing with pet waste, weeds, and other marks from your pets is very different when you have fake grass. Knowing how to protect the plastic and fibres and remembering to simply brush your fake grass from time to time can make a huge difference.
The good news is that artificial lawn is often much easier to care for than traditional grass. You won’t need to mow your lawn constantly or make sure that you’re watering the seeds evenly. All you need to do is figure out a strategy for getting rid of various kinds of dirt. Let’s start by looking at how you can remove large debris from synthetic turf.
Getting Rid of Different Kinds of Debris
If you want to get rid of things like twigs or branches, and even pieces of rubbish that have blown their way into your garden, that’s simple enough. You don’t need any cleaner for this. Just pick the large debris up and discard it in your recycling bin. This should keep your green grass looking great for longer, and it only takes a couple of minutes.
Performing regular maintenance with a leaf blower can be a good way to keep your lawn clean by getting rid of smaller twigs and leaves. Remember to put all the trash you collect into a pile and then put it in the trash bin. Avoid using a leaf blower at its harshest settings on your lawn, which could damage the grass.
When it comes to pet problems, like mounds of waste, all you need to do is remove the pet waste as you would from natural grass. Using doggie bags is often the best bet here. You may also want to rinse the area down with some water from a bucket or a hose to keep it from staining. It’s particularly useful to rinse the area with water when you’re dealing with liquid waste.
Regular exposure to dog urine can harm your lawn or synthetic turf over time. If you’re having any special events soon where people will be coming to visit your house, you may prefer to wash the entire area with fresh water. Vinegar and water can remove unwanted odours and help to prevent discolouration.
Dealing with Common Messes
Most of the time, dry waste can be easily cleaned from an artificial lawn with just a brush. Most experts recommend cleaning your grass with a brush anyway, as this will help stop dirt and other debris from building up over time.
If it’s rained recently, or you’ve had a buildup of ice on your artificial grass, you’ll need to wait for the ice or snow to melt before you begin cleaning. You can also rinse the snow away to avoid too much dirt from being left behind on your lawn. However, keep in mind that you can cause more ice if it’s still freezing when you’re clearing snow and ice.
Speak to your artificial grass manufacturer to see if there are any extra steps you can take to protect your artificial lawn. Preventing the buildup of snow can be an excellent way to avoid long-term damage to the grass.
If you spill drinks or food on your grass, try to avoid using any harsh cleaning chemicals or substances. Although an artificial lawn won’t be destroyed in the same way as a real lawn with most chemicals, it can burn or discolour when exposed to things like weed killer and bleach. The best way to clean your artificial turf is often by using non-toxic ingredients.
You might be able to find a recommended artificial grass cleaner online by speaking to your turf manufacturer.
Use the Right Tools
Remember, cleaning and maintaining artificial grass isn’t the same as looking after a natural lawn. Most of the time, with a natural lawn, you won’t need to clean after your grass is exposed to pet urine or weed killer. An artificial lawn doesn’t require as much effort to take care of, but it helps to have the right tools to look after your installation.
A good brush, rake, or broom will be good for maintenance when you’re trying to remove solid debris, like twigs and branches. Alternatively, you can use a garden hose with an adjustable amount of pressure to clear liquid spills and other damage. Avoid using a pressure washer instead of a hose in your garden, which can damage your turf’s structure.
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In some cases, you might be able to rake your artificial grass or use a vacuum cleaner instead of a brush. However, you will need to be very careful about the amount of air power you expose your artificial grass to. It’s often easier to care for your lawn with a stiff-bristled brush.
Vacuum cleaners will potentially damage the surface of your grass and remove any dust and sand from the ground area, which will make your lawn look less natural.
What Disinfectant Can I Use on Artificial Grass?
Cleaning artificial grass isn’t always as simple as it seems. If you have chewing gum or other tough stains to think about, simply rinsing the surface with water won’t be enough. You might need to talk to the company that installed your artificial grass before you start looking for a detergent for cleaning. Find out what the fibres of your grass are made from to avoid damaging them.
Standard weed killer chemicals generally aren’t a good idea with artificial grass. You shouldn’t have to kill any weeds on your artificial grass anyway, as by installing artificial turf, you’re removing the ability for weeds to grow. Although you may occasionally notice the odd weed around the outside of your turf, you should just be able to pull these out.
When you need to remove difficult stains from your grass, make sure that you rake away any debris before starting or using your broom to sweep up leaves. Next, apply a very small amount of disinfectant or stain remover to the area. If you’re getting rid of chewing gum, you can use a basic enzyme spray or disinfectant. Always read the label to check the product is safe for your pets and your grass.
Ideally, avoid any cleaning substance that might harm synthetic products or plastic, as this could break down the fibres of your grass while removing the stain and smell.
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If you’re not sure which products are safe for your garden, stick to a homemade solution using water and vinegar. This is an easy way to clean away smells and stains without causing any long-term damage to your artificial grass.
If you have a particularly hard time removing gum after applying your detergent, try using a pallet knife to carefully scrape the gum after the substance has had time to sit on the surface for a while.
Final Quick Tips for Lawn Care
When possible, it’s best to keep on top of the dirt on your artificial grass as much as possible. It’s much easier to apply a natural cleaner and simply rinse the surface of your grass than it is to try and scrape away a dried-on stain. Keep leaves and twigs off the surface with a broom or rake, and remember to clean up after your pets as quickly as you can.
Make sure stains aren’t allowed to grow sticky over time. Spills of various liquids and foods can sometimes attract unwanted pests to your garden. Cleaning quickly will help to prevent an influx of bugs.
When performing lawn maintenance and learning how to clean artificial grass, ask your lawn manufacturer for advice on dealing with weeds or preventing weeds from sprouting through the turf so you don’t have to expose the grass to dangerous chemicals.
Use your broom to brush away snow when it builds up for too long, and follow your artificial grass “how to clean” guide when dealing with tough substances like gum.
Are you using artificial grass on your lawn? How do you maintain it? Share your tips in the comments!
Rebekah is a writer who loves to explore new products and find hacks that make life easier. She has a knack for all things home improvement, health and fitness. So you’ll often find her on Pinterest or browsing Houzz for ideas.
She’s always looking for the next thing to fix up around the house or what gadget might be just right for her lifestyle. Rebekah enjoys exploring new recipes, taking care of her family, and making sure she stays healthy with regular workouts at the gym.