Pressure washing is a quick and easy way to thoroughly clean a wide variety of outdoor surfaces. We get many calls from customers wondering if they can pressure wash their synthetic grass to clean it. While regular artificial grass maintenance doesn’t typically include pressure washing, pressure washing can be used, if you're careful, to effectively clean your synthetic grass.
When can I power wash synthetic grass?
Synthetic grass can be power washed if it doesn’t contain infill. Infill is a granular material placed in between the synthetic grass blades to keep them upright, add a layer of protection, and, in some cases, absorb pet urine. Because infill is a loose, granular substance, it can easily be disturbed by a pressure washer and end up distributed unevenly throughout your artificial grass or worse, blown out of your yard altogether. Bearing this in mind, only artificial grass without infill can be safely pressure washed.
Pros of pressure washing artificial grass
If you have artificial grass without infill or if you want to attempt power washing regardless, there are some advantages to this method over other synthetic grass maintenance methods.
It’s one of the quickest and easiest ways to remove dirt and debris from your lawn.
It can also help remove smaller, more stubborn debris that isn’t easily removed with a broom or a turf groomer.
It can be more effective in removing pet hair.
It can blast off moss that has grown.
The force of the pressure can also help fluff up your artificial turf blades and counteract any matting or flattening that can occur from frequent use or foot traffic.
Pressure washing with TurFresh pet urine odour eliminator is a great way to blast the solution into the grass all the way to the backing mat where pet urine typically settles.
Cons of pressure washing artificial grass
Despite the benefits, there are still a few notable reasons why you should think twice before power washing your artificial grass lawn.
As mentioned before, it could move or completely remove the infill in your lawn. This could lead to wrinkling or drainage issues with your synthetic grass. You may need to buy more infill to re-fill your lawn.
If the grass is not well secured around the edges, you can inadvertantly damage the grass with the pressure, causing the grass tuffs to come loose.
Too much pressure, too close to the yarn can rip the blades away from their anchor points.
Tips for pressure washing artificial grass
If you choose to power wash your artificial grass, it’s best to take precautions to ensure that you protect your household, plants, and artificial grass itself.
Remove any solid objects, including pet waste, before washing the area, and avoid harsh detergents.
Use a wide-angle spray nozzle or surface cleaning pressure washing attachment to avoid displacing infill, and keep the nozzle at least a foot away from the surface of your artificial grass.
Do not point the stream of water directly at the ground, but instead keep it at an angle that will minimize damage and push debris to the edge of your lawn.
Never power wash your synthetic turf lawn using hot water because it could damage the yarn of your artificial grass.
If you notice any damage to the turf, stop immediately and use your regular hose to rinse the lawn instead.
And for pet owners, at the end of the cleaning process, spray your grass with TurFresh Artificial Grass Odour Remover to clean away the pet urine smell.