LESS WORK, MORE PLAY
Synthetic turf will transform the way you clean your property. Its low upkeep will enable you to forget the pain of fertilizing, mowing, and watering. Instead, you’ll be able to concentrate on alternative projects rather than maintaining the grass.
While you save countless hours working on your grass, that doesn’t mean artificial turf is entirely maintenance-free. To keep your artificial turf looking the best, follow the directions provided.
SMALL CONSISTENT EFFORTS
How frequently you clean your artificial turf will rely on its use. Is it a putting green kept away from other plants? Do you have children playing in the yard? Do you have plants or trees on the property that will drop leaves and other debris onto it?
If your artificial turf is in an open space, away from plants, trees, children, and pets, you may have your work cut out when it comes to regular maintenance. Of course, this also varies from season to season and relies on your geographical location. So, in a nutshell it really depends, but will eventually need some maintenance.
Here are some broad guidelines we recommend.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF LOOSE DEBRIS
Loose debris like leaves or sticks can start to break down on the grass surface and cause premature wear and tear. Bigger limbs can even stab the turf. Start by taking care of things like children’s or dog toys and other larger objects that are simple to remove by hand. Then you can utilize a leaf blower to remove any leaves and twigs. We suggest you blow all small debris utilizing a leaf blower to one edge of your lawn so you can collect for simple removal.
DEALING WITH STICKY STUFF
If you have paint, crayons, chewing gum, lipstick, or tree sap on your turf, you can initiate by trying to gently rasp the material off the grass with a wire brush. Just be extra cautious that you don’t by mistake cut off the turf blades you are cleaning because it can create bald spots. Start from the bottom of the grass blade and brush the fibers in every directions. If the sticky items don’t get off, try freezing them with ice to solidify them before trying to them off again. You can also utilize mineral spirits and brush the fiber with a cloth by drenching the rag with the Mineral Spirits.
CLEANING PET WASTE
If you have pets, you understand that your grass is their bathroom. Many people worry that artificial grass won’t work with their dogs, but that’s false! If you have pets, we recommend you get pet-specific systems by SWG. However, cleanup is still manageable even if you get regular synthetic turf. For example, when Fido uses the grass as his bathroom, you simply allow the solid waste to dry before removing it, then wash the surface with water using the garden hose and spray nozzle (never using the jet setting). Urine will flow through similar to any other liquid, you can also cleanse these areas with water. Plus, you won’t see any more dead spots from their favorite bathroom spot. Read this article to see some of the most frequent questions regarding artificial turf for dogs.
WHAT TO DO WITH LIGHT SPOTS
Let’s face it — life can get a bit messy at times. Sometimes that mess may happen on your artificial grass. Your favorite snack might find its way to your turf, or your child might spill a juice box… you know things like these happen. But cleaning up simple stains like soda, alcohol, coffee, tea, urine, blood and other ordinary liquids are simple.
- Clean spills as fast as possible so they don’t leave a long-lasting stain. Blot the spilled liquid with a rag, paper, or shop towels to begin with.
- Up next, clean the surface with a combination of water and mild household detergent such as dish soap.
- Clean thoroughly with your hose to remove the soap.
- If the spot is still visible, you can recur the process once or twice more.
GET RID OF STUBBORN STAINS
If you’ve had a spill of something like motor oil, grease, ink, cooking oil, or even melted crayons, you understand how difficult it can be to eliminate it. You should be meticulous using any of these near your synthetic grass, but if a spill happens, here’s what you can 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 protective gear on, start by dipping a soft cloth in mineral spirits.
- Gently clean off the dirty blades of artificial grass with the cloth. You must ensure the solution doesn’t get past the grass blades because it can cause serious damage to your turf’s backing system.
- Gently rinse the grass with a hose and blot up any excess liquid with cloth towels, paper towels, or shop towels.
- If the stain is still there, let it dry for a day before trying again with mineral spirits.
PREVENTING DAMAGE
Most stains can be cleaned from your grass, but some things will permanently damage the grass that you should take a lot of care to avoid. Here are the most common ones that can cause the most damage.
NO OPEN FIRES
Open fires and synthetic turf do not go well together. While you don’t have to concern yourself with your yard going up in flames, the smallest spark or fire can cause your grass to melt. If you want a fire feature on your property, you should consider adding a gravel area or stone patio to create a fire break for a fit pit. Do not set off fireworks or use anything else that may cause fire damage on your synthetic grass.
BE CAREFUL WITH CHEMICALS
Pesticides and herbicides can have negative reaction with your synthetic turf, so be extra careful when utilizing harsh chemicals near the grass. These chemicals can leave spots of grass that look burnt or even change color from the reaction. In addition, gasoline and all vehicle fluids should not be kept near your artificial lawn. If you have to use chemicals or paint near the surface, we strongly suggest you lay some heavy-duty protective cover before starting these projects.
DON’T DRIVE ON IT
Artificial turf can endure heavy foot traffic, but driving on it with a car is not recommended. Due to the twisting motion of 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 tearing over time. Too much weight can cause the turf to flatten and cause ruts that will require you to resurface the grass.
USE SHARP ITEMS WITH CARE
Sharp things can tear or cut your synthetic turf. The sharper the item is, the worse the damage will be. Be cautious with sharp-edged yard tools, pointy furniture feet, and everyday tools. If you are thinking about having patio furniture on your artificial turf, you should be using furniture feet covers or installing a patio area for the furniture.
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
The majority of Huntsville homeowners don’t have to spend much time on the maintenance of their artificial grass. Still, we suggest you to think about enforcing a routine cleaning schedule to keep your turf looking its best. You must eliminate loose debris, clean up spills as they happen, and give the surface a quick wash if you haven’t gotten rain lately or live in a drought-prone area. Here is a basic 4-step procedure you can follow for regular care.
Step 1: Remove debris from the turf frequently, particularly after windy or stormy weather.
Step 2: Rinse regularly with a hose. Cold, clean water will make sure to get rid of any dust or pollen. This step can sometimes be avoided if you live in an area with lots of rain.
Step 3: Brush the turf against 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 a minimum o 30 minutes before continuing with regular activities.
Extra Credit: If it’s been a year since your installation, you should consider having your turf professionally groomed, cleaned and infill levels verified by Southwest Greens of Huntsville.
MOSS MOLD AND MILDEW
If you have pooled water on your artificial surface, moss, mold and mildew can occur. These generally look like black spots or dark areas on your artificial grass. This should be professionally removed by a SWG location nearest you.
Here is an equipment list that will assist you complete these steps effortlessly.
EQUIPMENT LIST
- Garden Hose: Helpful for cleaning the yard when the weather is dry and dust or dirt accumulates on the synthetic surface.
- Leaf Blower: A leaf blower will help eliminate light debris more efficiently. One that has a reverse option is helpful, so you can use it like a vacuum cleaner as well.
- Stiff Bristle Push Broom: You should definitely prevent metal rakes cause they will cause damage to the surface. Stiff Concrete push brooms are best to help make the synthetic turf look its best.
PERFECT ALL YEAR
Synthetic turf is a fantastic choice for Huntsville homeowners and commercial property managers alike. We hope this maintenance guide will assist you maintain your artificial grass.
If you are yet to get synthetic turf for your yard or putting greens yet, contact us today for a free consultation.