WORK LESS, PLAY MORE
Artificial grass will transform the way you clean your property. Its low upkeep will allow you to forget the pain of fertilizing, mowing, and watering. Rather, you’ll be able to focus on alternative projects instead of working on the grass.
While you save valuable hours working on your grass, that doesn’t mean artificial grass is totally maintenance-free. To keep your artificial surface looking the best, follow this guide.
SMALL CONSISTENT EFFORTS
How often you maintain your synthetic turf will depend on its use. Is it a putting green kept away from trees? Do you have children playing on your lawn? Do you have plants or trees on the property that will shed leaves and other debris onto it?
If your synthetic grass is in an isolated part of the property, further away from children, pets, trees and plants, you may have less to do when it comes to frequent maintenance. Of course, this also changes from season to season and relies on your geographical location. So, in a nutshell it really depends, but will eventually require some effort.
Here are some general guidelines we recommend.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF LOOSE DEBRIS
Loose debris like leaves or sticks can start to break down on the turf surface and cause premature wear and tear. Bigger limbs can even pierce the grass. Begin with removing things like children’s or pet toys and other bigger objects that are simple to remove with hand. Then you can make use of a leaf blower to remove any leaves and twigs. We suggest you blow all small debris using a leaf blower to one corner of your grass so you can collect for easier removal.
HOW TO DEAL WITH STICKY STUFF?
If you find paint, crayons, chewing gum, lipstick, or tree sap on your grass, you can begin by trying to gently scrape the object off the turf with a wire brush. Just be extra cautious that you don’t by mistake cut off the turf blades you are scraping because it can create bald spots. Begin from the base of the turf blade and brush the fibers in every directions. If the sticky items don’t come off, try freezing them with ice to solidify them before trying to them off again. You can also use mineral spirits and brush the fiber with a cloth by soaking the rag with the Mineral Spirits.
CLEANING PET WASTE
If you have cats, you know your grass is their bathroom. Many people worry that artificial turf won’t work with their pets, but that’s wrong! If you have pets, we recommend you obtain pet-specific systems by SWG. But, cleaning is still manageable even if you get normal synthetic grass. For example, when Fido uses the yard as his bathroom, you just allow the solid waste to dry before removing it, then cleanse the surface with water utilizing the garden hose and spray nozzle (never using the jet setting). Urine will drain through similar to any other liquid, you can also clean these surface with water. Furthermore, you won’t see any visible dead spots from their favorite bathroom area. Read this article to see some of the most frequent questions about artificial turf for dogs.
WHAT TO DO REGARDING LIGHT STAINS
Let’s face it — in life it can get messy at times. Sometimes that mess may happen on your artificial grass. Your favorite snack might find its way to your grass, or your child might spill a soda can… you know things like these happen. But washing simple stains like soda, alcohol, coffee, tea, urine, blood and other ordinary liquids are simple.
- Clean spills as quickly as possible making sure they don't leave a long-lasting stain. Blot the spilled liquid with a cloth, paper, or shop towels to start.
- Next, rinse the area with a mixture of water and mild household detergent for example dish soap.
- Rinse thoroughly with your hose to remove the soap.
- If the stain is still there, you can recur the process once or twice more.
CLEANING TOUGH STAINS
If the spillage is of something like motor oil, grease, ink, cooking oil, or even melted crayons, you know how tough it can be to remove. You should be cautious using any of these around your artificial turf, but if a spill happens, here’s what to do.
- Wear protective clothing and gear like heavy overshirts, pants, and gloves to avoid skin irritation. You should consider a respirator to avoid toxic fumes, too.
- After you have safety gear on, start by dipping a soft rag in mineral spirits.
- Gently clean off the dirty blades of artificial grass with the cloth. You must ensure the solution doesn’t seep past the grass blades because it can lead to serious damage to your turf’s backing system.
- Softly wash the surface with a hose and blot up any excess liquid with rag, paper towels, or shop towels.
- If the stain remains, let it dry for a day before trying again with mineral spirits.
PREVENTING DAMAGE
The majority of stains can be cleaned from your turf, but some objects can permanently damage the turf that you should take a lot of care to avoid. Here are the most common ones that can damage the most.
NO OPEN FIRES
Open fires and synthetic turf do not go well together. While you don’t have to concern yourself with your grass going up in flames, the smallest spark or ember can cause your turf to melt. If you want a fire feature on your yard, you should consider adding a gravel area or stone patio to build a fire break for a fit pit. Do not light fireworks or use anything else that might cause fire damage on your synthetic turf.
BE CAREFUL WITH CHEMICALS
Pesticides and herbicides can react negatively with your artificial grass, so be especially vigilant when utilizing harsh chemicals near the grass. These chemicals can leave areas of grass that look burnt or even change color from the reaction. Additionally, gasoline and all vehicle fluids should be kept away from your artificial lawn. If you are required to use chemicals or paint nearby the surface, we strongly recommend you lay down some heavy-duty protective cloth before starting these projects.
DON’T DRIVE ON IT
Artificial grass can endure heavy foot traffic, but driving on it with a vehicle is not encouraged. Because of the turning motion in the wheels, it can cause damage to the fibers and infill. Driving on it will make the fibers pull away from the backing material and lead to damage over time. Too much weight can cause the grass to flatten and cause ruts that will need you to resurface the turf.
USE CARE WITH SHARP ITEMS
Sharp items can tear or cut your synthetic turf. The sharper the item is, the more the damage will be. Be careful with sharp-edged yard tools, pointy furniture feet, and ordinary tools. If you are going to have patio furniture on your synthetic turf, you should consider utilizing furniture feet covers or installing a patio area for the furniture.
REGULAR CARE
The majority of San Francisco homeowners do not have to spend much time on the upkeep of their artificial grass. Still, we suggest you to consider implementing a routine maintenance schedule to keep your grass looking its best. You should eliminate loose debris, clean up spills as they take place, and give the surface a quick rinse if you haven’t received precipitation recently or live in a drought-prone area. Here is a simple 4-step procedure you can follow for Standard care.
Step 1: Remove debris from the turf frequently, especially after windy or stormy weather.
Step 2: Clean often with a hose. Cold, clean water will help wash away any dust or pollen. This step can sometimes be omitted if you live in an area with lots of precipitation.
Step 3: Brush the turf opposite the grain or pile direction to perk it back up. Cross brushing against the grain will also stop the fibers from matting.
Step 4: Let dry for at least 30 minutes before resuming normal activities.
Extra Credit: If it’s been a year since your installation, you should think about having your turf groomed by professionals, cleaned and infill levels checked by Southwest Greens Northern CA West.
MOSS MOLD AND MILDEW
If you have standing water on your artificial surface, moss, mold and mildew can occur. These generally look like black spots or dark areas on your synthetic turf. This should be removed by an expert by a SWG location nearest you.
Here is an equipment list that will assist you finish these steps effortlessly.
EQUIPMENT LIST
- Garden Hose: Useful for cleaning the lawn when the weather is dry and dust or dirt accumulates on the artificial turf.
- Leaf Blower: A leaf blower will be useful to remove light debris more efficiently. One that has a suction option is really useful, so you can utilize it like a vacuum cleaner too.
- Stiff Bristle Push Broom: You should definitely prevent metal rakes cause they will cause damage to the grass. Stiff Concrete push brooms are best to help make the artificial turf look its best.
PERFECT ALL YEAR
Synthetic turf is a great option for San Francisco homeowners and commercial property managers. We hope this maintenance guide will help you maintain your artificial turf.
If you are yet to get artificial turf for your lawn or putting greens yet, connect with us today for a free consultation.