The Ultimutt guide on how to clean artificial grass if you have a pet dog
Artificial grass is the pawfect solution for pet owners who want to maintain a neat and tidy garden lawn that looks good all year round. Urine does not stain it like traditional turf nor does it become discoloured by pet urine or faeces. No more muddy paws or patchy grass. But in order to keep it looking and smelling nice follow our 5 top tips for great cleaning advice below:
General Care
Scoop up solids
If the grass becomes soiled by dirt or dog mess, always remove the bulk of the mess and then either hose down (easiest), spray with an artificial grass disinfectant, and wipe away the residue with a kitchen towel (best) or alternatively use warm soapy water and a stiff brush (next best).
Make it rain
As it’s more difficult to tell where your dog has been for a wee, Rainwater will generally be enough to help dilute any urine that has not drained through to the sub-base, we recommend a light hosing regularly over the lawn to help wash away any residual urine, (Particularly during dry spells).
If you start to notice a strong smell of urine it may be a build-up of uric acid and we recommend treating the lawn with a bactericidal urine neutraliser (enzymatic cleaner).
Room for a broom
Whilst we always recommend giving your grass a stiff brush every now and again to rejuvenate the pile, regardless of whether you have pets, it can also help to remove pet hairs and a build-up of debris. Having an upright pile also helps to maintain optimal drainage as if the lawn is lying flat this can slow down permeability.
Bonus Tip:
Do not use a jetwash to clean artificial turf. It can blow out the protective infill or worse disturb the groundwork underneath the artificial grass.
Expert Care
Odour Removal
The best way to get rid of dog urine smell from artificial grass is to use an enzymatic cleaner such as https://amzn.to/469HHhv to breakdown the built-up urine, spray the whole lawn, and then leave it a few days for it to work fully before using any other cleaner. If the area still smells, then treat the area again and leave it for another few days.
Smell like fresh cut grass!
Once there are no more smells use an artificial grass disinfectant such as https://amzn.to/3raX3mX, regularly to keep your artificial lawn clean and smelling nice, this has a great smell of freshly cut grass and is of fantastic value.
N.B. Whilst using an artificial grass disinfectant will keep the area clean it is not strong enough to tackle built-up urine issues so please use an enzymatic cleaner first to ensure there are no smells before regularly using the disinfectant. If you regularly use disinfectant from when your lawn is new this prolongs the time before a more costly enzymatic treatment is required.
Bonus Tip:
Do not use jeyes fluid to clean artificial turf. It can soften the plastic fibres and reduce the lifespan of your artificial lawn.
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