Artificial Grass Maintenance: The Best Ways to Clean and Care for Your Lawn

Artificial grass is a fantastic, low-maintenance solution for achieving a lush, green lawn year-round, even in challenging weather conditions.

While it doesn’t require mowing or watering like natural grass, cleaning and maintaining artificial grass properly ensures it looks its best and lasts.

In this guide, we’ll explore the best ways to clean artificial grass, from regular upkeep to tackling specific issues like odours, stains and seasonal debris that may accumulate over time.

Let’s look at some ways you can ensure your lawn stays in pristine condition all year round with minimal effort.

Why Cleaning Artificial Grass Is Important

Although artificial grass is incredibly durable, regular cleaning can help to maintain its appearance, longevity and overall performance, ensuring it continues to look and feel as good as it was the day it was installed.

Leaves, dirt, and pet waste can accumulate on artificial grass over time, leading to discolouration, unpleasant smells, or even the growth of bacteria if left unaddressed.

Cleaning also prevents moss and weed growth, ensuring your lawn stays fresh, hygienic, and aesthetic. This provides a clean, inviting space for outdoor activities and relaxation.

Step-by-Step Guide: How To Clean Artificial Grass

1. Remove Debris Regularly

Use a soft-bristled broom or a leaf blower to remove debris such as leaves, twigs and dirt from your lawn. 

This prevents organic material from decaying and causing odours or encouraging moss growth. 

Using a plastic rake can effectively remove stubborn debris without damaging the synthetic fibres.

2. Rinse the Grass Often

 

However, it’s important to steer clear of harsh chemicals or solvents that may damage the grass fibres when cleaning artificial grass.

4. Remove Pet Waste As Soon As Possible

Artificial grass is pet-friendly, but any pet waste requires special attention to protect it and keep it looking and feeling fresh. 

Solid animal waste should be picked up and correctly disposed of immediately, and the area rinsed with a hose. 

For things like urine spots, use an enzyme-based cleaner designed especially for artificial grass to kill odours and prevent bacteria buildup.

5. Perform A Deep Clean Regularly

We suggest you perform a deep clean every few months to keep your artificial grass in good order. This involves:

• Brushing the grass with a stiff brush to restore the pile and remove any debris.

• Rinsing the whole of the lawn thoroughly with a garden hose.

• Applying a specialist artificial grass cleaner to sanitise and refresh the surface. 

Deep cleaning is especially important after winter or prolonged periods of heavy use, such as during the summer.

How to Deal with Common Issues

Odour Control

If your artificial grass develops unpleasant smells, especially from pets, we suggest you rinse the area with water mixed with a few drops of vinegar to naturally eliminate these lasting odours.

Alternatively, use a pet-friendly artificial grass deodoriser to effectively neutralise odours, leaving the area smelling fresh without harming pets or the environment.

Weed and Moss Growth

The drainage holes in most artificial grass can allow water and sunlight to reach the soil below, allowing weeds to grow around the edges or in seams throughout the year. To prevent weed and moss growth, install a weed membrane underneath your artificial lawn. Our artificial grass membrane collection helps to prevent light from reaching the weeds and blocks their growth without the need for chemicals.

Remove them manually or apply a water-based weed killer that won't damage the grass. For moss, use a diluted moss treatment and brush it off gently once it’s dried to prevent build-up and maintain the lawn's appearance. 

Regular upkeep will help keep your artificial grass looking pristine.

Preventing Flattened Fibres

Walking on the grass may cause flattened fibres over time, but brushing these areas against the grain with a stiff-bristled broom will help restore their upright appearance and keep the lawn looking fresh and natural.

Regular brushing not only revives the fibres but also helps distribute the infill evenly across the surface, enhancing the lawn’s cushioning, durability, and overall performance. 

Frequent maintenance ensures a consistently lush appearance, even in areas that receive the most activity and foot traffic.

Tools and Products for Cleaning Artificial Grass

Recommended Products

There are a number of products on the market that can be used to effectively clean and maintain your artificial grass and ensure your lawn looks its best throughout the year.

There are also some products which you might already have around the home, and we suggest considering some of these convenient options in your quest to maintain the perfect artificial grass:

• Mild detergent

• Enzyme-based pet odour neutraliser

• Artificial grass cleaner

• Weed and moss treatment solutions

Seasonal Maintenance Tips

In Spring

Ahead of the summer months, it’s important to clear away any winter debris that has accumulated and perform a deep clean to keep your lawn looking fresh.

Take time to check for any areas that might need running repairs, such as fixing loose edges or addressing uneven spots, and do this in advance before your garden’s busiest weeks. 

Regular brushing can also help restore the fibres to their upright position after heavy use or snow compression during winter.

For more in-depth tips, read our full guide on maintaining artificial grass during spring. 

In Summer

The summer months usually require you to rinse the lawn regularly to prevent dust buildup and keep it cool during hot weather.

Address spills, food remnants, and pet waste as soon as possible to prevent any stains or lingering odours that could become harder to remove later in the year.

Consider light brushing to keep the fibres looking vibrant, and ensure adequate drainage to avoid water pooling during unexpected rain showers.

We answer some important questions you might have in our blog about owning artificial grass during the summer, including how to clean it, having barbecues, and more.

In Autumn

As the autumn weather arrives, removing fallen leaves and twigs frequently is important to prevent them from rotting over the winter and damaging the grass.

Consider using netting during the autumn months to catch leaves before they settle, saving you time and effort in manually clearing them.

This is also a good time to inspect drainage systems and address any blockages to prepare for wetter winter weather.

In Winter

Avoid heavy snow removal to protect the fibres, as this could cause damage to the grass, which might be expensive to repair.

Instead, gently brush away light snow that has fallen and settled while ensuring the surface remains free from standing water to prevent freezing.

If frost develops, avoid walking on the lawn to prevent flattening or breaking the fibres. 

Regular, light maintenance will keep your lawn in top condition throughout the colder months.

Browse Our Collection of Artificial Grass

Whichever type of lawn you’re after, you can browse our complete collection of artificial grass, choosing from various styles, thicknesses, materials, and backings to find the right one for your home!