How to Clean Artificial Grass: What 11 Turf Makers Allow

We built this from the documents that decide a warranty claim: 14 care manuals, warranties and spec guides from 11 turf makers and sellers, plus 7 household cleaners’ safety data sheets. Turf manuals set a cleaner window of pH 5 to 9, and 3 common home remedies, bleach, ammonia and vinegar, fall outside it. The documents also contradict each other, sometimes within one brand, so every schedule line names its source.

The artificial grass cleaning schedule, from the makers’ own documents

Rain does part of the work. SYNLawn’s care manual (May 2023) says rainfall goes a long way but still recommends routine washing, and ForeverLawn’s landscape maintenance sheet (Rev. 08/24) calls an occasional rinse not required but helpful. The table uses the most frequent interval any maker document gives, so treat it as the ceiling for a busy yard with dogs and trees, and stretch it for a decorative patch nobody walks on.

Task	How often	How	Source
Blow, rake or sweep off leaves and debris	Weekly, more in leaf drop	Plastic rake, stiff push broom or blower; hold a blower at least 2 ft off the surface at 45 degrees	ForeverLawn M0945; FieldTurf FAQ
Rinse with a garden hose	Weekly	Gentle spray; it also evens out shifted infill	TigerTurf; Simple Green
Pick up dog waste and flush the spot	As it happens	Let solids dry, pick up, then hose the area	SYNLawn manual; TigerTurf
Enzyme or bacterial odor treatment in pet areas	Weekly	Hose-end bottle at low pressure, kept wet 10 minutes, at dawn or dusk	Simple Green Outdoor Odor Eliminator directions
Brush against the grain, high-traffic areas	Weekly	Synthetic bristles only, never metal or wire	Turf Distributors care guide
Brush against the grain, low-traffic areas	Monthly	Same brush	Turf Distributors care guide
Spot-clean spills	Same day	1 tsp mild detergent per pint of warm water, then a cold-water rinse	SYNLawn manual, p. 3 to 4
Feel for low infill	Periodically and after any deep clean	Run a stiff brush over the surface; refill low spots at the maker’s rate	Turf Distributors care guide
Moss or algae treatment in damp shade	Up to every 3 months, only if needed	Product approved by the turf maker, at its label rate	TigerTurf
Professional deep clean, infill and seam check	Once a year	Power brush, infill level check, seam inspection; required for SYNLawn and Fusion Turf warranty coverage	SYNLawn warranty 3.3; Fusion Turf 3.5
No heavy cleaning or adjustments	First 2 weeks after install	SYNLawn’s minimum stabilization period	SYNLawn manual, p. 2

How to wash artificial grass, step by step

1. Clear solids, leaves and dust first with a plastic leaf rake, a stiff push broom or a blower. FieldTurf’s maintenance guidelines hold a blower at least 2 ft from the surface at a 45 degree angle so it does not blow infill out. Never use metal tines or wire bristles (SYNLawn, Turf Distributors).
2. Wet the whole area with a garden hose. Simple Green‘s turf directions hose the area down before any cleaner goes on.
3. Mix the cleaner. SYNLawn’s manual calls for about 1 teaspoon of granular household detergent, or a low-sudsing detergent for fine fabrics, per pint of warm water: about 8 teaspoons per gallon. If you use Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner, its maker’s turf mix is 1.5 cups per gallon.
4. Scrub one section at a time with a long-handled deck brush or a stiff nylon brush, the tool ForeverLawn names for spills.
5. Rinse with clean cold water until no foam is left. SYNLawn says to rinse away every trace of soap or ammonia, then blot up standing liquid.
6. Let it dry, then brush against the grain to stand the blades back up. SYNLawn calls this cross brushing; a Grandi Groomer rake is the tool it names.

Which cleaners are safe on artificial grass? Check the pH

SYNLawn’s manual draws the line on page 3: no chlorine bleach, no caustic cleaners above pH 9 and no highly acidic cleaners below pH 5. Turf Distributors’ Eco 48 Silver care packet repeats the same rule word for word. We checked each common cleaner’s own safety data sheet (SDS) against that window.

Cleaner	pH on its SDS	Inside pH 5 to 9?	What turf documents say	pH source
Clorox Regular Bleach	About 12	No	SYNLawn bans chlorine bleach; FieldTurf bars oxidizing agents; SYNLawn and Fusion Turf warranties exclude chlorine and other halogens	Clorox SDS, June 2015
Household ammonia (Parsons All-Purpose)	11 to 12, undiluted	No	SYNLawn suggests a 3 percent solution for stubborn stains; Sprinturf says ammonia voids its warranty	Parsons SDS, April 2019
Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner	8.0 to 10.0, concentrate	Concentrate can exceed 9	SYNLawn lists Simple Green as safe for liberal use, at the maker’s directions	Simple Green SDS, Oct. 2025
Dawn dishwashing liquid	9 at a 10 percent solution	At the limit	Manuals ask for mild detergent at about 1 tsp per pint, roughly a 1 percent mix	P&G MSDS, Jan. 2014
Baking soda (Arm & Hammer)	8.2 at 1 percent	Yes	Motz suggests sprinkling it on odor spots for 20 minutes, then sweeping	Arm & Hammer SDS, April 2015
Simple Green Outdoor Odor Eliminator	6.0 to 8.0	Yes	Simple Green’s bacterial product for urine odor on turf	Simple Green SDS, March 2026
Distilled white vinegar, 5 percent	2.6	No	SYNLawn and TigerTurf both suggest a 1:1 vinegar and water mix for odor or mineral deposits	Woeber distilled white vinegar SDS

1. White vinegar 5%2.60
2. Outdoor Odor Eliminator8
3. Baking soda (1%)8.20
4. Dawn (10% solution)9
5. Simple Green APC10
6. Household ammonia12
7. Clorox bleach12

Source: Manufacturer safety data sheets (Woeber, Simple Green, Arm & Hammer, P&G, Parsons, Clorox); window from SYNLawn SCM.v230517 Turf manuals allow pH 5 to 9. Ranges are plotted at their top value; Dawn at a 10 percent solution and baking soda at 1 percent, as printed.

Show the numbers

	pH (top of SDS range)
White vinegar 5%	2.60
Outdoor Odor Eliminator	8
Baking soda (1%)	8.20
Dawn (10% solution)	9
Simple Green APC	10
Household ammonia	12
Clorox bleach	12

Dilution moves pH less than people expect. Vinegar is a weak acid, so halving it with water raises its pH only about 0.15, to roughly 2.8 by our arithmetic. SYNLawn’s 3 percent ammonia mix, about half a cup per gallon, still works out near pH 10 to 11. The same manual sets the 5 to 9 window, so ask your dealer which rule applies before using either.

For oil, tar, gum or crayon, SYNLawn allows mineral spirits or perchloroethylene dry-cleaning fluid on a cloth only, never poured, since both can harm the backing and are flammable. Gum and sap can be frozen with dry ice and scraped. For mold, the manual names 1 percent hydrogen peroxide, flushed afterward, though FieldTurf’s field guidelines bar oxidizing agents.

How to clean artificial grass with dogs: urine and odor

Water alone often does not clear the smell. Simple Green says urine collects between the turf backing and the weed barrier underneath, and Motz, which makes Envirofill infill, says uric acid is not water-soluble. Both point to enzyme or live-bacteria cleaners, which break the residue down instead of masking it.

1. Pick up solids. SYNLawn’s manual says to let waste dry, then dispose of it.
2. Flush the spot with a hose (TigerTurf).
3. Apply an enzyme or bacterial cleaner at dawn or dusk with the hose-end sprayer at low to moderate pressure, with pets kept off. Simple Green’s directions keep the area wet for 10 minutes and mist it again in heat or wind.
4. Let it dry and repeat weekly in the main potty area, the interval Simple Green recommends.
5. If the smell survives repeated treatments, look at the infill. Motz says raw sand traps urine, and that Envirofill needs at least 2 to 3 lb per sq ft to control odor; it also says new infill spread over old, smelly infill will not fix the problem.

1. 1Is there solid waste or a wet patch you can see?

   YesPick it up, flush the spot with a hose, and check again the next day.

   NoGo to the next question

2. 2Does the smell come back within a day or two of a rinse?

   YesApply an enzyme or bacterial cleaner at dawn or dusk, keep it wet 10 minutes, and repeat weekly.

   NoGo to the next question

3. 3Does it still smell after several weekly enzyme treatments?

   YesThe infill is likely holding urine. Ask your installer about removing it and refilling with an odor-control infill at the maker's rate (Envirofill: at least 2 to 3 lb per sq ft).

   NoNo visible source and no lingering smell: a weekly hose rinse is enough.

Source: Simple Green Outdoor Odor Eliminator directions; Motz Group; SYNLawn and TigerTurf care pages

Vinegar is the maker-listed fallback: TigerTurf suggests equal parts white vinegar and lukewarm water poured over a smelly patch, and SYNLawn suggests the same 1:1 mix. At about pH 2.8 it sits below the manuals’ floor of pH 5, so keep it for spot fixes. Pet turf carries shorter coverage too: US Turf gives its PET Collection 3 years against 15 for most products (US Turf warranty page), and the Always Green warranty excludes pet damage outright.

Can you pressure wash artificial grass?

Only gently, and only if your maker allows it. SYNLawn’s manual warns against spray with stream force above 300 psi because it can severely damage the turf and displace infill. Sprinturf says pressure washers displace infill and can damage the turf system. FieldTurf, removing paint from sports fields, holds the nozzle at least 2 ft away and at no less than a 45 degree angle. Every residential care sheet we read uses a garden hose for routine rinsing.

Blowers, rakes and vacuums are where the documents split. ForeverLawn tells owners to use a blower, brush or sweeper and to pull a plastic rake against the lay of the turf. The US Turf warranty excludes damage from raking, vacuuming or aggressive blowing, and ForeverLawn disclaims damage from vacuum sweepers and snow blowers. Use the tools your own warranty names.

Brushing and infill: how much to add back

Brush against the grain with synthetic bristles: weekly where people and dogs walk, monthly elsewhere (Turf Distributors). Matting is on you: the SYNLawn and Fusion Turf warranties call wear and matting in heavy foot traffic normal and exclude it. Fusion Turf guarantees against pile-height loss over 50 percent only with properly maintained infill levels, and US Turf words its 50 percent pile-height cover the same way, so infill is a warranty item, not just a looks item.

No residential document we found gives a yearly top-up rate. What makers publish is the install rate, the level to restore after a deep clean or wherever brushing exposes the backing. Turf Distributors’ TrafficMaster spec sheets, sold through Home Depot, list these rates; ForeverLawn says to use only its approved infill and only at a dealer’s direction.

Product	Pile height (in.)	Infill (lb per sq ft)
TrafficMaster 48	1.5	1.0
TrafficMaster 56	1.5	1.0
TrafficMaster 72	1.5	1.0 to 1.5
TrafficMaster 82	2.0	1.5 to 2.0
TrafficMaster 94	2.0	1.5 to 2.0
TrafficMaster 108	1.77	1.5 to 2.0
TrafficMaster Flow 75 Forest	1.5	1.0
TrafficMaster Flow 98 Olive	2	1.0
TrafficMaster Putt (putting turf)	9/16	2.5 to 3.0
Any turf with Envirofill for pet odor	Not applicable	2 to 3, minimum (Motz)

To size a refill, measure only the low area and multiply by your product’s rate: 40 sq ft of TrafficMaster 82 at 1.75 lb per sq ft takes 70 lb, or 1.4 bags of 50 lb. The calculator does the same sum for any area. Brush the infill in dry, in thin passes, so it settles between the blades instead of sitting on top.

Area to refill (sq ft)InfillSand or coated sand, as your maker specifiesYour turf's listed infill rate1.5 to 2.0 lb per sq ft, e.g. TrafficMaster 82, 94, 108 (uses 1.75)1.0 lb per sq ft, e.g. TrafficMaster 48, 561.0 to 1.5 lb per sq ft, e.g. TrafficMaster 72 (uses 1.25)2.0 lb per sq ft, Envirofill pet odor minimum (Motz)2.5 to 3.0 lb per sq ft, putting turf (uses 2.75)

Infill (lb)

70

50 lb bags

1.4

Install rates from Turf Distributors TrafficMaster spec sheets and Motz; no maker we found publishes a yearly top-up rate. Use your own product's spec sheet if it differs.

Heat: when to rinse, and what melts turf

A rinse cools turf only briefly. Penn State’s surface temperature summary cites a Utah study (Williams and Pulley, 2002) in which 30 minutes of watering dropped a synthetic surface from 174°F to 85°F; it was back to 120°F 5 minutes later and 164°F after 20 minutes. Clean in the morning, and do not count on the hose to make afternoon turf safe for bare feet or paws. Our artificial turf vs real grass comparison covers the surface heat studies in more depth.

Source: Williams and Pulley 2002, as summarized by Penn State Center for Sports Surface Research Sports-field turf on a hot day; minutes counted from the end of watering.

Show the numbers

	Surface temperature, F
Before watering	174
End of 30 min watering	85
5 min later	120
20 min later	164

Concentrated reflected sunlight is the bigger risk to the turf itself. The Always Green warranty excludes damage from light reflected off glass or mirrors that can push turf above 75°C (167°F). ForeverLawn names low-E windows, reflective siding, glass tables and clear plastic toys, and the SYNLawn, Fusion Turf and US Turf warranties all exclude reflective-light melting. Turf Distributors adds fireworks, cigarettes, hot objects and idling vehicles to the keep-off list.

What voids an artificial grass warranty

SYNLawn’s manual says customers must demonstrably comply with its installation and care guidelines to qualify for warranty claims. Here is what each document excludes.

Document	Cleaning and care exclusions	Care requirement	Coverage term
SYNLawn residential warranty, eff. Oct. 1, 2019	Improper cleaning agents; chlorine and other halogens; herbicides, pesticides; topical applications with a pH greater than 5	Annual maintenance program by a certified installer required (3.3); self-install nullifies (3.4)	Prorated: 100% years 1 to 3, falling to 15% in years 8 to 10
Fusion Turf residential warranty	Same wording as SYNLawn, including the pH greater than 5 clause	Same annual program (3.5); self-install nullifies (3.6)	100% years 1 to 8, 50% years 9 to 11, 25% years 12 to 14
US Turf, Las Vegas	Improper maintenance; raking, vacuuming, aggressive blowing; reflective heat; burns	Occasional rinsing	15 years most products; 3 years PET Collection; 2 years labor
Always Green Lawn (Home Depot listing)	Solvents, herbicides, pesticides; pets and wild animals; hot items such as barbecues; reflected light above 75°C	Follow the FUNGRASS maintenance guide	6 months against manufacturing defects
Artificial Grass Recyclers, Eco 72 Silver	Cleaning chemicals, herbicides, pesticides; improper cleaning methods	Maintained to the recommended procedure at all times	8 years maker plus up to 8 years seller, prorated
ForeverLawn Landscape sheet	Harsh chemicals or solvents may limit the claim; personal vacuum sweepers, heaters, snow blowers	ForeverLawn-approved infill only, dealer-directed	Not stated on the sheet
Sprinturf (sports fields)	Harsh chemicals, ammonia and bleach void the warranty; pressure washers displace infill	Sprinturf field program	Not stated in the manual
FieldTurf (sports fields)	No oxidizing agents such as bleach	Signed maintenance acceptance form	Not stated in the guide

The pH clause is the one to ask about. SYNLawn’s 2019 residential warranty and Fusion Turf’s warranty both exclude topical applications with a pH greater than 5, while SYNLawn’s 2023 manual allows cleaners up to pH 9 and suggests a 3 percent ammonia mix near pH 10 to 11. Read literally, the warranty clause would exclude plain detergent, baking soda at pH 8.2 and the pH 6 to 8 enzyme product above. It may be a drafting error, but claims are judged on the written warranty: get your dealer’s cleaner list in writing.

Weed killer splits the documents too. ForeverLawn’s sheet says weed killer and insect repellent will not harm its surface, while the SYNLawn, Fusion Turf, Artificial Grass Recyclers and Always Green warranties exclude damage from herbicides or pesticides. For weeds at the seams, Turf Distributors suggests hand-pulling or a spot product labeled safe for artificial turf, and SYNLawn suggests a strong salt-water spray. With any herbicide, the label is the law. Our salt weed guide covers what salt does to edge soil, and our bleach review explains why bleach is a poor weed fix near turf.

Cleaning is a small budget line: our artificial turf cost guide puts do-it-yourself upkeep at about $30 a year against $5.40 to $9.80 per sq ft to install, and our putting green cost guide prices the denser putting build. More guides are in Turf and Trees.