28 HOW TO GRASSKEEPLOOKINGARTIFICIAL NEW
Artificial grass is a popular choice for gardens – it requires little maintenance and doesn’t get patchy after dry spells.
But little maintenance doesn’t mean no maintenance, so if you’re part of the fake grass club, you need to learn how to clean yours properly to keep it in tip-top condition for years to come.
■ Spraying down an artificial lawn with a hose will remove dust, dirt, pollen and other airborne pollutants. If you don’t have a hose, mix a bucket of warm water with eco-friendly washing up liquid or detergent. Using a brush, work this into the grass fibres and let it sit for a few minutes.
■ Always clean up food spills as soon as they happen to avoid staining. Clean the fibres as you would a carpet, using a mix of detergent and water. Blot any spilt liquid with a paper towel. You can remove any remaining stains with a toothbrush.
■ If a pet has decided to do its business on your faux lawn, remove and dispose of any hardened faeces. The quicker you do this, the better. Next, fill a bucket with lukewarm water and mix in a teaspoon of washing-up liquid. Rinse the area straight away to clean the stain, then hose it down with water to wash away the detergent. If you’re dealing with tough stains or strong smells, you may need something a little stronger than washing-up liquid.
■ Like the flooring in your home, tending to and brushing your artificial grass should be a “little and often” job to keep it looking as new. Harry Tregoning, founder of Tregoning Maintenance, advises: ‘It’s easy to neglect your fake grass as it keeps its colour really well so it often looks “well” for longer. Environmentally though, it’s important to maintain it – for hygiene reasons, as well as for how it looks. Keeping on top of this really means that maintenance can become a once-a-week job – but fortnightly would certainly suffice.’
IDEAL HOME TIP Always tackle any spills as soon as possible to avoid staining the fibres