How to Clean Artificial Grass
The maintenance schedule our installers hand to homeowners and property managers, plus the short list of things that actually damage turf.
How to clean artificial grass: blow or rake off debris, rinse with a hose, spot clean spills with warm soapy water, and brush against the grain with a stiff nylon broom so the blades stand back up. Rinse weekly, brush monthly, top up the infill twice a year, and keep heat, solvents and metal tools off it. That routine is the whole maintenance program, and it is what the warranty expects.
The maintenance schedule
| How often | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | Rinse with a hose, blow or rake leaves and debris off | Dust and pollen mat the blades; debris left on turf breeds weeds and mildew |
| Monthly | Brush against the grain with a stiff nylon broom or power broom | Lifts crushed pile in traffic lanes and redistributes infill |
| Monthly (pets) | Enzyme cleaner on relief spots, then rinse through | Breaks down urine crystals that plain water leaves behind |
| Twice a year | Deep clean: power broom the whole area, top up infill to the spec depth, check seams and edges | Infill migrates and settles; low infill is what lets blades lay over and wear |
| Yearly | Pull weeds at edges and drain holes, check for lifted nails or open seams, treat any moss | Small edge problems become big base problems if water gets under the turf |
That is the whole program. Artificial grass does not need mowing, watering, fertilizing or aeration, and the labor above is a fraction of a natural lawn. What it does need is the monthly brush, because pile that stays crushed in a traffic lane wears from the side, and the twice-a-year infill top-up, because infill is what holds the blades upright and protects the backing from UV.
How to clean artificial grass, step by step
- Clear the surface. Leaf blower on low, or a plastic rake. Never a metal rake; it pulls fibers.
- Rinse. A garden hose on a normal spray setting, working from the high side of the drainage fall toward the low side. A pressure washer is fine at 40 degrees or wider and 12 inches off the surface; a narrow jet blows out infill.
- Spot clean. Spills, sap and food: warm water with a few drops of dish soap on a soft brush, then rinse. Gum and tar: freeze with ice, then lift. Never solvents, bleach or petroleum products; they attack the polyurethane backing.
- Brush against the grain. Stiff nylon bristles only. Push against the lean of the blades so they stand back up. A power broom does the same job in a quarter of the time on anything over 500 square feet.
- Check the infill. Part the blades: infill should sit about a third of the way up the pile. Low spots get a top-up with a drop spreader, then a brush to work it down.
Pet areas
Dogs change the routine. Urine does not wash out with water alone; it dries to crystals in the infill and backing that smell every time they get wet again. The fix is an enzyme cleaner applied monthly and rinsed through, zeolite infill that captures ammonia, and a base that drains instead of holding. The full routine, including what to do about a run that already smells, is in the pet turf cleaning guide.
What damages artificial grass
- Reflected sunlight. Energy-efficient windows and polished metal can focus enough sun to melt polyethylene fibers. Shade the window with a screen or awning, or pick a line rated for the exposure.
- Heat sources. Grills, fire pits, cigarettes and hot tools. Keep them on hardscape.
- Sharp edges. Furniture legs without feet, metal rakes, snow shovels with a steel blade.
- Vehicles. Landscape turf is not a driveway. Parked tires crush pile permanently.
- Standing water. A base with no fall or a clogged drain hole. Water under turf grows algae and loosens seams; see the sub base guide.
Maintenance and the warranty
The Mighty Turf 16-year limited warranty applies to material that has been maintained according to the recommended procedure. In practice that means the schedule above: keep it clean, keep it brushed, keep the infill at depth, and keep heat and solvents off it. A property manager who can show a maintenance log has a warranty claim that goes through; one who cannot has a conversation. If you want the routine on a card for your crews or tenants, ask your rep.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean artificial grass?
Blow or rake off debris, rinse with a hose from the high side of the yard, spot clean spills with warm soapy water, then brush against the grain with a stiff nylon broom so the blades stand up. Do it weekly for rinsing and monthly for brushing, and top up the infill twice a year.
Can you pressure wash artificial turf?
Yes, with a 40 degree or wider tip held about 12 inches off the surface, working with the drainage fall. A narrow jet up close blows out infill and can lift seams.
How do you get dog urine smell out of artificial grass?
Rinse, then apply an enzyme cleaner made for turf and let it sit before rinsing through. Repeat monthly. If the smell comes back within days, the infill or base is holding urine and needs zeolite infill or a drainage fix underneath.
Does artificial grass need infill top-ups?
Yes. Infill migrates with rain, brushing and foot traffic. Check it twice a year by parting the blades; it should sit about a third of the way up the pile. Top up with the same grit that was installed.
What should you never use on artificial grass?
Solvents, bleach, petroleum-based cleaners, metal rakes, and heat. All of them attack either the polyethylene fiber or the polyurethane backing, and damage from them is excluded from every turf warranty on the market.
SourcesSynthetic Turf CouncilMighty Turf 16-Year Limited Warranty
Turf That Stays Easy to Keep.
PU-backed, PFAS-free lines with a 16-year warranty, factory-direct from Fontana. Infill, spec sheets and the care routine on one order.
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