Synthetic Grass Care and Maintenance

Handy tips for looking after your artificial grass

There are many benefits and advantages to using synthetic grass, one of which is the minimal maintenance required and the ongoing economic savings over a traditional turf lawn. Whilst artificial grass is very easy to maintain, some regular cleaning, care and general maintenance can prolong its life meaning you get even more from your investment. We here at Classic Backyards in Sydney have put together a handy maintenance guide for you.

Weeks after installation

During the first few weeks after installation, it is recommended that you regularly sweep the surface to move any excess sand into the underneath pile. After that time, your artificial grass becomes very low maintenance.

General maintenance for dirt, dust and pollen

A light groom with a plastic rake or brush is really all that is needed to keep your fake grass lawn in good shape. A broom can be used to prevent dust and dirt build up. A leaf blower can be used to easily remove loose surface debris.

You will find that rain water will do a great job in removing dust and dirt naturally. If there has been limited rainfall you can give the grass a quick hose with water to remove any surface build up quickly and easily.

If desired, you can use fabric softeners to reduce static build up and assist with maintaining the appearance.

If you notice organic matter has fallen on top, remove it promptly. Whilst your synthetic grass won’t grow weeds, organic matter which rests on top can host weeds if left unattended.

Stains

The good news is that the synthetic grass used by Classic Backyards is highly resistant to stains.

Any liquid spills should be promptly cleaned up. Soaking up with a sponge, mopping or wiping with a cloth are common techniques recommended.

The quicker you remove the stain the better. If needed, you can use a warm and very mild solution of household detergent to clean away any stubborn stains. This should take care of the most common spills including alcohol, soft drinks, tea, coffee, sauce, fruit juices, coca cola, milk, ice cream, butter etc.

Heavier stains such as motor oils, cooking oils, grease, shoe polish, lipstick, nail polish, crayons, ballpoint pen ink and sunscreen can be cleaned using mineral spirits. If you are using mineral spirits be sure to use them sparingly and don’t forget they are flammable.

If you do use any cleaning products ensure that your rinse them through with clean, warm water afterwards to clear off any residue.

Worst case, if your synthetic lawn does suffer damage which cannot be remediated, we can replace the section affected without needing to replace the entire lawn.

Animal and Pet Waste

The synthetic grass used by Classic Backyards is pet-safe and by following these tips you will be able to minimise any pet waste-related odors.

Pet urine can be washed through with running water and any “No.2′s” can be picked up with any residual washing away with warm water. Picking up “No.2’s” will be easier once they have dried. If needed, use a mild solution of household detergent to remove any residual.

If you do notice any odors which aren’t removed with a good hose of water or mild detergent, you can use a mixture of distilled vinegar with an equal amount of water. Once applied to the surface, be sure to wash away thoroughly with a hose.

Chewing Gum and Tree Sap

One of the best ways to remove ‘sticking’ stains such as chewing gum and tree sap is to freeze them. You can purchase aerosol cans of freezing refrigerant from online suppliers or you can even attempt to use dry ice (available online from Mr Iceman) if you like but please be careful. After the stain has been frozen, you can carefully scrape it away with a knife.

High traffic areas

If you have certain sections of your artificial turf that receive high traffic it can be beneficial to regularly brush the area with a synthetic bristled brush (please don’t use a metal/wire bristle brush as this might damage your artificial grass).

High traffic can lead to the matting or flattening of fibers so using a synthetic bristled brush to sweep against the grain to ‘fluff up’ the fibers again can keep them looking like new.

Feel free to brush your fake grass as often as needed, focusing on the high traffic areas more, it will assist with its aesthetic appearance.

As example of a synthetic bristled brush from Synthetic Lawn Supply.

Enjoy your artificial grass!

We hope these care and maintenance tips help you to enjoy your artificial grass by minimising any wasted effort trying to figure out what works best on common care and maintenance issues. By following the advice listed above you can extend the look, feel and age of your synthetic grass investment. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the advice contained in this guide is useful, Classic Backyards makes no guarantees or warranties for the information listed.

If you have any questions regarding how to care and maintain for your synthetic grass lawn please contact one of our staff today.