Cleaning and Maintaining Artificial Grass

Brush against the direction of the pile with a stiff bristled broom or a power brush. This lifts fibres that traffic has laid flat and redistributes the infill sand evenly. Brushing with the pile just polishes the flattening in.

Pay extra attention to walkways, the strip by the back door and anywhere furniture sits, because those are the areas that flatten first and give the lawn a worn look.

Shaded, damp corners under a fence line or a north facing wall can develop a green film. Rinse it off and treat with a moss killer that is safe for synthetic surfaces. Keeping leaves off in autumn prevents most of it, because it is decaying organic matter that feeds the growth.

Solids get picked up, then the area is rinsed. For odour, a pet safe enzyme cleaner two or three times a year is enough on a properly draining lawn. Food and drink spills come out with warm water and a mild washing up liquid. Chewing gum can be hardened with a bag of ice and lifted off. Never use bleach, white spirit or solvent based cleaners, which will damage the fibre and the backing.

Autumn is leaves, weekly with a plastic rake or blower. Winter, leave snow to melt rather than scraping it, and never chip ice off with a shovel. Spring is the deep brush and an infill top up if walkways look thin. Summer is a rinse in hot weather to lay dust and cool the surface. Also check the perimeter edging once a year and keep barbecues, fire pits and reflected glass off the lawn, as heat is what actually damages the fibres.