Artificial grass is a great option for home and business owners who want the fresh look of a green lawn all year without the hassle of daily maintenance. These yards don’t require watering, lawn mowing, or fertilizing, but they do need some occasional attention. A little goes a long way and carrying out just a small amount of light maintenance work once a month can save you a huge job at the end of the year.

With a little bit of routine care and cleaning, you can have a gorgeous green lawn that will last for years to come. So, let’s take a closer look at the care and maintenance to keep it looking fresh. Luckily though, it’s easy enough to do it yourself.

Tips for Artificial Grass Care & Maintenance 

• Never use hard chemicals or strong detergents like bleach on your grass
• Keep motor vehicles off the artificial grass
• Trim surrounding foliage to reduce debris from overhanging trees and plants 
• Don’t keep or use sources of heat on the artificial grass
• Avoid putting mirrors or reflective surfaces anywhere that could potentially reflect sunlight onto your grass

How to Care for Artificial Grass 

1. Removing Mild Stains

You need to be prompt. Cleaning up a spill quickly is the best way to ensure it won’t leave a long-lasting, stubborn stain. Blot up the spilled liquid with a towel or with a dry absorbent like kitty litter. Rinse the area with a mixture of water and a mild household detergent. If you need a stronger stain removal aid, use a 3% solution of ammonia in water instead of the household detergent. Thoroughly rinse the cleaner out using clean, cool water.

2. Removing Stubborn Stains

Substances like motor oil, grease, pen ink, cooking oil, suntan oil, and crayon can end up on your turf, and they often prove to be a bit more stubborn than the everyday substances mentioned above. If a stain doesn’t respond to mild household detergents or an ammonia mixture, try using mineral spirits to draw out the stain. Gently rinse the area, and blot up the excess liquid.

3. Removing Sticky Stuff

Tree sap and chewing gum can also end up stuck in artificial turf, but luckily they’re relatively easy to remove. Dry ice or aerosol refrigerants can be used to freeze the sap or gum off, and it can then be scraped off the grass.

4. Removing Pet Waste

Allow solid waste to dry before you remove it. Artificial grass will drain most liquid. So, if desired, to avoid a stench, douse the turf in cool water from a hose on urine spots. Apply a turf neutralizer if needed.

5. Clean, Rinse, Brush, Repeat

Monthly you should remove debris from the grass. This is especially important after high winds or thunderstorms. Removing leaves, branches, and other debris will protect your grass from damage. Rinse the turf regularly. Use a hose with cool, clean water to remove dust and pollen. If you live in an area that receives rain often, you won’t have to rinse the grass with a hose nearly as much. Brush the grass against the grain in high-traffic areas. Cross brushing against the grain will help the grass to avoid becoming matted and keep it looking strong and fresh.

Equipment You’ll Need

First and foremost, a hose — if the area in which you live receives rain frequently, this is less of a necessity, but still helpful for rinsing the grass at will. A leaf blower is also helpful, or a lawn vacuum, for eliminating fallen leaves before they become ground into the artificial turf. A rake will also help to keep the fibers unmatted — but avoid damaging metal bristles, and use synthetic or plastic bristles instead.

Conclusion

These are just a few simple steps to maintaining an artificial lawn so it stays in top condition for longer. Artificial grass is a worthy investment and like all investments, it needs care and maintenance to keep it in optimal shape. Regularly cleaning, rinsing, and brushing in high-traffic areas are important aspects of care and maintenance and will certainly pay off in protecting a beautiful yard of artificial grass.

If you have any other questions about how to care for your lawn or if you would like to discuss the benefits of artificial grass in more detail, then get in touch with the Artificial Turf Factory Outlet today.