How to clean artificial grass

Harsh weather conditions, endless mowing, and pesky weeds are just some of the reasons that growing numbers of garden owners are turning to artificial lawns. Fake grass is a great way to do away with the hassle and still keep a lawn that looks and feels natural. Although there’s no mowing or fertilising to contend with, artificial lawns still require some upkeep to stay looking tip top. Thankfully we’re here to guide you through the best way to clean and maintain artificial grass.

Raking and Brushing
One unavoidable job will be keeping your lawn free of the garden rubbish that inevitably builds up. Fallen leaves, twigs, and blossoms can be tidied up with a rake, while a stiff broom can be used to sweep up any smaller bits of debris. Just be sure not to use metal rakes or brooms, as these can damage the individual blades of grass. We recommend you go for tools made of more flexible materials such as plastic or bassine.

Vacuum Cleaning
You may be tempted to use a vacuum cleaner to suck up garden debris, but we wouldn’t recommend it. While low-powered garden vacs reduce the risk of damaging the grass fibres, some artificial lawns use infill materials such as silica sand or rubber as a kind of substitute soil. Using a vacuum will result in the infill being sucked up along with the rubbish, which will have a negative effect on drainage and the straightness of your artificial grass. Our advice: stick to raking and brushing.

Washing
During the wetter months of the year, rainfall will take care of washing your artificial grass for you, but come summer a garden hose will be essential. Once a week give the lawn a good rinse to wash away any dust and dirt that builds up during dry weather. Artificial grass cleaning products are available and safe, but not strictly necessary; let good old H2O do the job for you!

Children and Pets
If you have kids who regularly play on the grass then you will probably find that it is starting to look a little flat or matted in places. This is where the process of brushing has a secondary benefit, encouraging the blades to stand up straight, which will help to keep the lawn looking lush.

Pet owners might have concerns about lingering odours as a result of their cat/dog/guinea pig doing its business in the middle of their artificial lawn. Usually a blast with the hose will prevent this, but if you do find a stubborn smelly patch then just use a mix of baking powder or vinegar in water to get rid of the whiff.

By following these simple tips, you should have no trouble in keeping your artificial lawn looking smart for years to come. For any other questions, we’re always here to help.