Last updated on November 28th, 2023
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When it comes to cleaning an artificial lawn, there are a few tools and methods I use, from a simple artificial lawn broom you use to sweep the lawn to a motorised rotating brush or even an artificial lawn vacuum. Over the years I maintained many artificial lawns as part of my lawn maintenance business and I can tell you it’s much easier to keep an artificial lawn clean by cleaning it lightly every few weeks yourself with a lawn sweeper.
My old process for cleaning an artificial lawn was simple and involved using a lawn vacuum. This Vacmaster Artificial Grass Vacuum Cleaner is probably the best vacuum for this, with some artificial lawn cleaner as discussed here and then a motorised lawn brush like this AGM Artificial Grass Brush 141EUK MK2.
What I did was treat any stained area with a pet-friendly chemical cleaner such as this Pro-Kleen 5L Artificial Grass Cleaner.
Then I would go over the lawn with the Vacmaster Artificial Grass Vacuum Cleaner to bring the fibres up and sweep the debris into a pile. Then I would use the vacuum to clean up all the debris before finally using a garden sprayer to spray the whole lawn with a lawn cleaner again, which gives it a lovely scent.
Finally, I use the motorised brush one last time to form the striped effect by alternating which way I use the brush as shown above. This method works great.
The new easier way to clean your lawn
For anyone looking to clean their own lawn, there is an easier way using an artificial lawn brush sweeper that collects the debris. My favourite is this Hyundai 1600w Artificial Lawn Grass Brush Sweeper pictured above, and this is an impressive piece of kit. It brings up the fibres, collects the debris and then can be used to create that striped effect. No vacuum is needed.
However, I recommend this Winslow & Ross Artificial Grass Broom to sweep any hard-to-reach parts or if you have a lawn that goes right up to the edge of a wall or fence. I sweep the edges of the lawn first into the lawn so the lawn sweeper can pick it up, as it does miss about 10cm of lawn at the edge of your artificial grass against a wall or fence. This is not a problem if your lawn is level with a path, patio or even flower beds, as you can go over the edge with the lawn sweeper.
BEST TOOL FOR CLEANING AN ARTIFICIAL LAWN
BEST VACUUM CLEANER FOR ARTIFICIAL GRASS
If a garden machine that vacuums your artificial and real grass and handles blowing your leaves sounds like a time-saving device that you need, take a long look at the Garden Gear 3 in 1 Artificial Grass Vacuum. There were issues with previous versions but the last model seems to have resolved all these issues. If you need a vacuum for artificial grass, this will get the job done.
BEST BRUSH FOR ARTIFICIAL GRASS
If you’re looking for a manual garden tool to keep your artificial grass looking clean and neat, check out this Winslow & Ross Artificial Grass Broom. Much cheaper than a vacuum and much better than trying to use a standard brush.
Check out our top 5 best artificial grass cleaning solutions in this guide
6 Best Artificial Grass Vacuums and Brushes Reviews
1. Hyundai 1600w Artificial Lawn Grass Brush Sweeper
PROBABLY THE BEST ARTIFICIAL LAWN SWEEPER
Since purchasing the Hyundai 1600w Artificial Lawn Grass Brush Sweeper and as someone who has tried garden vacuums, including the Garden Gear 3 in 1 Artificial Grass Vacuum and manual brushes, including the Winslow & Ross Artificial Grass Broom, this sweeper definitely has the edge. Unlike vacuums that can suck the infill out, as long as you don’t set the brush too low, it will not remove the infill. It gets the job done faster, 60 square meter lawn takes around 45 minutes, and the finish is amazing.
The first thing I noticed was how compact, and lightweight the box was at just 15kg. The assembly process took me only 5-10 minutes from memory and is ready to use.
The results really are excellent. It takes a well-used artificial lawn that is flat to look and feel like new again with that spongy feel as shown above which I used it on a friend’s astroturf lawn to show him how good this model brings up a lawn like new. Regarding coverage, it has a generous 38cm working width; the sweeper not only picks up debris from within the surface and within the lawn but also fluffs up the grass blades, giving my lawn an incredibly healthy appearance, basiclly like new. It really is that impressive.
The adjustable brush height settings range from -12mm to get deep into the roots and sweep out that debris (and infill if you are not careful) to +6mm for surface cleaning. These adjustment settings allow you to choose the optimal height for your lawn’s infill. And the best part? It’s so easy to use. With a touch of self-propulsion, it’s easy to manoeuvre, making it an enjoyable experience compared to the back-breaking work of using a manual brush for the whole lawn.
The only minor inconvenience worth pointing out is that the sweeper’s brush doesn’t quite reach right to the edge against walls or fences. I’ve found that a manual brush is perfect for finishing off those areas. However, this won’t be a problem for everyone, as this is not a problem on flush surfaces like flower beds, patios, and paths as the brush itself can go right to the edge of the artificial grass. I’ve even used it on my Indian stone patio and paths to clean these before pressure washing them off by setting the brush at a higher position, and it worked like a charm. I’ve found that adding more infill to the lawn occasionally helps keep artificial lawns in great shape.
The Hyundai 1600w Artificial Lawn Grass Brush Sweeper, with its 38cm working width and adjustable brush height settings, has been a fantastic alternative to artificial lawn vacuum and definitely manual brushes. It’s efficient, easy to use, and leaves lawns looking immaculate.
Pros
- Electric grass brush with 1600W of power.
- Self-propelled motion.
- Five adjustable sweeping heights.
- Working width is 38cm.
- Collection bag is a generous 45L.
- 10m long power cable.
- Weighs 13.3kg.
- Easy to assemble.
- Three-year domestic warranty; one-year commercial warranty.
Cons
- Doesn’t sweep right up to walls or fences.
Final Conclusion
Though there are a few minor concerns, overall, it’s a great product, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking to maintain their artificial lawn effortlessly. Its long 10-meter power cable provides ample reach for small to medium-sized lawns, but you can always use an extension lead for extra coverage if needed. Its performance, adjustable settings, and ease of use have made it a far better alternative to both artificial lawn vacuums and manual brushes. I have no problem in recommending this artificial; lawn sweeper to anyone seeking an efficient and enjoyable way to keep their artificial lawn looking like new. Just keep that brush handy if your lawn goes right up against a wall or fence, as it does miss the edge unless your lawn is level with flower beds or paths, in which case it will sweep the whole lawn, edges included.
2. Garden Gear 3 in 1 Artificial Grass Vacuum
BEST VACUUM CLEANER FOR ARTIFICIAL GRASS
The Garden Gear 3 in 1 Artificial Grass Vacuum is an electric vacuum cleaner for artificial turf (where it really excels) and for real grass. It also works as a blower, blowing leaves and other debris from your grass surfaces. Use it also on paths and cement surfaces in the autumn for an all-around clean-up.
This Garden Gear vacuum’s three functions are to vacuum grass, artificial or otherwise, blow leaves, and mulch leaves before packing them into a collection bag. No matter when in the summer or autumn you use it, whether you use it regularly or leave your clean up until the end when everything has piled up, this vacuum can handle it all. However, I recommend using it regularly on artificial lawns because it just makes the process easier. The height of the vacuum nozzle is adjustable to four levels to suit the terrain and the depth of the debris. Adjust the height from a convenient central control on the handlebar.
The large collection bag of 45 litres holds a great deal of the unwanted stuff from your lawn and hard surfaces. However, you will see older online reviewers state that the fabric of the collection bag is thin and prone to tearing. Repairs they’ve made with duct tape hold it together well, though. I believe that the collection bag has now been updated to resolve this issue so it shouldn’t be a problem now.
The airspeed of the Garden Gear 3 in 1 Artificial Grass Vacuum is an impressive 270 kph, making short work of your task of cleaning your artificial grass. The safety trigger on the handlebar stops the vacuum immediately in case you run into obstacles or find children and pets unexpectedly in your path.
Pros
- Push vacuum cleaner and blower for artificial and real lawns and pathways.
- The powerful electric 1800W motor and unit come with a long 10 metre cord to reach into your garden.
- Three vital garden functions – vacuuming artificial or real grass, blowing leaves and mulching leaves.
- The collection bag is 45 litres and holds a great many leaves when mulched.
- The vacuum nozzle has four adjustable heights depending on the number of leaves and other debris on your lawn.
- Safety trigger to quickly stop the machine in case you run into something unexpected.
- Blows at an airspeed of 270kph with an air volume flowrate of 840m3 per hour.
- Weighs 10.1kg.
- The twelve month guarantee covers most unexpected damages.
Cons
- Can throw dust out.
- Will suck up sand filler from artificial lawns so this will need replacing now and again as part of your general maintenance.
Our recommendation
The Garden Gear 3 in 1 Artificial Grass Vacuum is definitely multi-functional. It sucks up the debris in your artificial lawn with ease and even on real grass, it also collects the fallen leaves on your hard surfaces and mulches them.
This garden vacuum cleaner saves you time and effort in at least three seasons. Plus the large collection bag means that you don’t need to stop and empty it too frequently, no matter how long you’ve left it between cleaning-up tasks. The safety trigger (within easy reach) on the handlebar gives you the security of knowing that you can stop the vacuum cleaner quickly if you encounter an unexpected object or child’s toy along the way.
I like the Garden Gear 3 in 1 Artificial Grass Vacuum for its versatility and power, its large collection bag, and its ease of use. It’s my choice for the Best Artificial Grass Vacuum although I prefer to use the Hyundai 1600w Artificial Lawn Grass Brush Sweeper. The only real downside to this model is that it will suck up the filler from your lawn, as do most grass vacuums which is what I now dislike about them unless your just clearing debris and leaves and not trying to revive the fibres. With this in mind, you may need to add some filler back to your lawn every now and then. It’s a simple and easy job so I think it’s a small price to pay for the convenience of a clean lawn.
If you want to undertake most of your grass and pathways clean-up jobs without running to the shed to take out yet another tool, the Garden Gear 3 in 1 Artificial Grass Vacuum could be the only one for you. Overall, a great tool and one all artificial lawns owners should invest in.
3. Winslow & Ross Artificial Grass Broom
BEST BRUSH FOR ARTIFICIAL GRASS
The Winslow & Ross Artificial Grass Broom is specially designed to clear debris from artificial grass and to leave the blades standing upright and tall. A bonus function with this broom is that it’s also useful for removing pet hair, especially from long-haired pets, from indoor carpets as well as your artificial lawn. I think that a decent grass broom is really an addition to your grass sweeper or vacuum unless you have a tiny artificial lawn where it makes sense to do it all manually with a brush instead.
The tube handle of this artificial turf brush is made from powder-coated iron for strength and durability. It’s telescopic so you adjust its height to suit the length you need the pole to be. In this way, all members of the family can use it and it also makes it easier to store when it isn’t in use. With the length/height ranging from 68.5cm to 111cm, even children can take their turn brushing the artificial grass. The brush assembles easily by snapping together the tube and the head so you don’t need any preparation time before starting the sweeping task.
The broom head is 45cm wide and 15cm deep, allowing you to rake a fairly wide strip of grass at once. The broom head teeth are made of plastic and are 3.5cm long. This is as far down into the grass the brush will easily go. If you have debris lower down in your artificial turf, go over that section in several passes, carefully moving the broom teeth further down into the blades of grass. i complain that the brush teeth bend and twist when they sweep over heavier objects. However, this brush is not designed for heavy objects such as rocks and stones. Pick any weighty objects up by hand before you use this broom to sweep up any light debris.
Pros
- The brush head is 45.4cm by 15cm for a fairly wide sweeping path.
- The tube is powder-coated iron for durability and strength.
- The telescopic handle is 360° rotatable and adjusts from 68.5cm to 111cm so there’s no need to bend over when you’re raking your artificial grass.
- Assembly and disassembly take just seconds so you can sweep your artificial lawn without any preparation.
- The teeth of the rake are plastic and are each 3.5cm long to snag all the leaves and debris in the artificial grass.
- Weighs 0.5kg so you won’t tire yourself out when cleaning the lawn.
Cons
- Not suitable for heavy objects because these items can damage the bristles.
Our recommendation
The Winslow & Ross Artificial Grass Broom not only removes debris from your artificial grass but leaves it looking neat and tidy as well. The plastic teeth of the broom head pull up light debris (don’t try to remove stones and rocks) and leave the blades of fake grass standing tall and all facing the right direction. As a bonus, this broom is also effective at removing pet hair from indoor carpets. The telescopic handle and the broom’s light weight means that everyone, even kids, can get into the act of keeping your artificial grass well kept.
I like the Winslow & Ross Artificial Grass Broom for its ease of assembly and ease of use, and its usefulness indoors as well. It’s our selection for Best Brush for Artificial Grass.
If you’re looking for a manual garden tool to quickly sweep your artificial lawn, this one is my top recommended choice after comparing at least 5 other similar models, it wins on quality every time.
Read next: The best fake grass to buy for a low-maintenance lawn
4. Vacmaster Artificial Grass Vacuum Cleaner
The Vacmaster Artificial Grass Vacuum Cleaner is an electric outdoor vacuum cleaner with 1250W of power and an innovative moulded floor head specially designed for artificial grass, and more importantly to not suck up the infill like most grass vacuums do. It looks like the wet and dry vacuum that you may have in your workshop or garage and performs some of the same functions too, but outdoors.
This Vacmaster vacuum is designed to work on wet and dry debris without you having to change the cartridge, although it does work best on wet artificial lawns. You can vacuum up wet dirt (or even mud) from your artificial lawn without any concern about needing to replace the filter cartridge. I recommend wetting down the artificial grass before using this outdoor vacuum cleaner on it. The vacuum’s ability to cope with damp or wet conditions lets you use it freely on gutters and around ponds too.
The vacuum cleans in two ways. It combs lift the debris and dirt from the surface without disturbing the infill (see our Buyer’s Guide for more information on this) and the brushes dislodge the trapped dirt, leaving the grass clean. The collection bin has a volume of 18 litres which isn’t bad either. It’s not the largest bin out there but you won’t have to empty it too often. However, some online reviewers state the suction power of this vacuum cleaner is on the low side so the waste bin doesn’t fill up quickly anyway. Remember, this is designed not to collect the sand filler that is on the articifical lawn.
The four casters spaced ergonomically around the base of the vacuum body let you move it easily and smoothly over uneven surfaces. A brass bristle attachment is useful for scrubbing moss from patios and paving stones. In autumn just plug the suction hose into the exhaust port and the vacuum cleaner turns into a powerful leaf blower to clear all the fallen leaves throughout your property.
Pros
- An electric motor with 1250W of power in a cleaner that works like a regular vacuum cleaner.
- Designed for wet and dry outdoor use, including gutters and muddy areas.
- The power cable is 10m long and detachable for ease of storing and transport.
- Combs and brushes provide two different cleaning systems.
- Four casters around the base are widely placed for optimum stability on uneven ground.
- Specialist attachments include those for cleaning artificial grass and for removing moss from patios.
- Use the blower function to blow fallen leaves in autumn to quickly clear your garden.
- Store all attachments and parts on the vacuum cleaner for a compact storage footprint.
- The collection bin is 18 litres for the debris and leaves you pick up.
- Weighs only 7.8kg so easy to move around.
Our recommendation
The Vacmaster Artificial Grass Vacuum Cleaner is an outdoor vacuum cleaner for wet and dry environments as well as artificial grass. Its ergonomically designed vacuum head gently cleans artificial grass without disturbing the infill, which is one reason you could say it’s better suited than our best pick. However, we think our best pick is more versatile and we would be happy to replace the infill every now and again, however, if you don’t like the idea of doing this, then this model is a good alternative vacuum.
There’s no need to change the cartridge/filter when you move from dry to wet areas so you can vacuum without too much thought about where in the garden you are. There’s a special brush for removing moss from hard surfaces and an easy way to turn the vacuum into a leaf blower too, it’s just not ideal for sucking them up if they are large leaves.
If you’re looking for an artificial grass vacuum cleaner for wet and dry conditions, and want to use it elsewhere in your garden, the Vacmaster Artificial Grass Vacuum Cleaner could be the multi-purpose outdoor vacuum cleaner for you.
5. AGM Artificial Grass Brush 141EUK MK2
Buy from Amazon.co.uk
The Artificial Grass Brush AGM 141EUK MK2 is a 300W electric garden brush for artificial grass. It’s the newer 2020 updated model of the 2019 141EUK MK1. The MK2 is smoother and more durable than the previous model due to the new straight-through drive system.
The MK2 electric brush has a twin drum brush system. The nylon brushes are situated in opposing directions on each drum to remove dirt. You push or pull this powered broom along to bring up dirt and debris from the turf. It works on artificial grass and hard surfaces, including your patio and driveway, so although it’s fairly expensive, can you make good use of it and it’s much faster and more fun than using a broom.
While you can push or pull the brush in any direction, for the most lift of your artificial grass blades, stick to just one direction – either towards you or away from you, with or against the pile of the grass. Remember that this is a broom and not a vacuum cleaner, so you still have to get down with a dustpan and brush to pick up the stuff that the electric broom removes from the grass. But it is just as expensive as the vacuum cleaners in my review. However, this electric broom weighs just 4.5kg, so it is much lighter than a vacuum and you do get some helping power.
Pros
- Electric 300W brush for power-assisted cleaning of your garden spaces.
- Twin drum nylon brush with 40cm sweeping width for easy cleaning.
- Works on artificial grass, driveways, patios and decking.
- Only one speed and no gears so easy for anyone to use.
- Weighs 4.5kg, thus much lighter than an outdoor vacuum cleaner.
- Some assembly is required to fit the shaft and the handle together.
Cons
- Still need to sweep up the debris that’s pulled out of the grass.
Our recommendation
The Artificial Grass Brush AGM 141EUK MK2 provides 300W of electric power to help you sweep the garden debris, dust and dirt from your artificial lawn and garden hard surfaces. It’s easy to use and you only have to fit the handle and the shaft together to assemble it. It’s more lightweight than an outdoor vacuum cleaner, but doesn’t collect the debris and is just as expensive.
If you’re looking for some power to help you sweep your artificial lawn but feel that vacuum cleaners are too heavy and clumsy, consider this power brush – the Artificial Grass Brush AGM 141EUK MK2.
6. Orientools Artificial Lawn Brush
The Orientools Artificial Lawn Brush is a straightforward brush for cleaning your artificial lawn. It’s very similar to our selection for Best Brush for Artificial Grass, but it telescopes out to a longer length/height.
The steel tube that forms the pole of this outdoor broom is tough and long-lasting. By twisting the handle clockwise, you adjust its length anywhere from 80cm to 130cm. This makes the pole slightly taller and longer than that of the Winslow & Ross Artificial Grass Broom reviewed above (68.5cm to 111cm). Given their other similarities, the Orientools broom is the better choice if you have taller people in your family who plan on sweeping your artificial lawn.
Assembling the broom is straightforward, just click together the handle and the brush head. Separate them for cleaning the brush head and for storage by pressing the black button between them. You can also reduce the handle length and hang the entire brush in your storage cupboard. Some online reviews report that the handle either sticks at one length or doesn’t stay in one place at all. However, WD-40 or duct tape usually solves the problem. Use this broom to sweep up only light debris and dirt because the handle may bend if you apply too much pressure.
Pros
- Adjustable handle so everyone in the family can use it comfortably – no excuses.
- The raking width of the plastic head is 45cm which cleans a broad strip in one pass.
- The handle and head of the brush snap together easily for quick setup.
- Also removes pet hair from your indoor carpet.
- The steel handle is tough and durable and has a soft-grip grip for a comfortable hold.
- Store this brush by reducing the length of the handle and hanging it up in your cupboard or shed.
Cons
- The adjustable handle either sticks or doesn’t stay out at all.
- Don’t apply too much pressure to the handle.
Our recommendation
The Orientools Artificial Lawn Brush is an outdoor broom designed to keep artificial grass clear and clean. Its telescopic steel handle opens out to 180cm to suit most people’s height and you can close the handle down to hand the broom in a storage cupboard. The raking/cleaning head is a standard 45cm wide and is suitable for light garden debris and dirt.
I recommend the Orientools Artificial Lawn Brush if you want a manual broom for your artificial lawn that is comfortable for even tall people to use. This is a great alternative to the Winslow & Ross Artificial Grass Broom.
faq’s
What are artificial lawn vacuums and brushes, and how do they work?
Artificial lawn vacuums and brushes are tools designed especially to clean your artificial grass. Ordinary vacuums, even wet-dry ones, don’t have the right cleaning brushes to pull up the debris on the lawn without tugging on the lawn base. And household brooms and brushes don’t have the bristles at the appropriate spaces to fluff up the blades of grass as they remove all the bits and pieces from the fake grass. Plus they’re often too harsh and hard.
If you’ve decided to install artificial turf as a way of saving time and effort in looking after your lawn, then purchasing the tools designed especially for the maintenance of that lawn helps in that effort.
What are the benefits of using artificial lawn vacuums and brushes?
Cleaning and grooming artificial grass is a unique task that needs special attention. Specialist tools make your task a lot easier as they don’t harm the lawn like ordinary garden, or even household, tools would.
For example, some artificial grass vacuum cleaners are careful to not pick up the infill on your lawn oe collects it and can be reapplied. (This is the material – often rubber or acrylic – that gives your fake grass a bouncy fill.) Likewise, specialist brooms and even rakes are deigned to gently rake out the debris at the same time as separating and fluffing your blades of artificial grass.
That’s not to say that everything’s always going to go smoothly. You still have to be a bit careful how you use these specialist vacuums and brooms.
How do I choose the right artificial lawn vacuum or brush for my lawn?
Here’s what to look for when deciding on the best vacuum cleaner, sweeper or broom for your lawn.
Vacuum cleaner or broom?
The size of your artificial lawn is the main determinant of which specialist tool you select. If you just have a postage-stamp size plot of grass, then a broom/brush should be enough. Those with medium size lawns could get by with a power broom (plus an extension cord), while gardeners with a large expanse of artificial grass probably need a vacuum cleaner or powered sweeper like the Hyundai 1600w Artificial grass sweeper.
Selecting a vacuum cleaner
Do you have infill on your artificial grass?
Infill is used in artificial grass to give it the bouncy feeling of real grass. Sand or rubber is usually used. Some artificial lawn vacuum cleaners will suck up the infill, along with any debris that’s there. However a few avoid doing this. If you have infill on your lawn, you may have to resign yourself to replacing it after every few times you vacuum the grass.
Do you want additional functions?
Some artificial grass vacuums act as leaf blowers while others can handle sucking up the wet debris in gutters and around ponds. Some can even vacuum real grass or piles of leaves. decide whether you want to invest in a multi-season and multi-purpose tool that you will use for much longer than just the hot months of the year.
Collection bag
One of the advantages of using a vacuum to care for your artificial lawn is that most come with a collection bag. You won’t have to stop and stoop to pick up the debris retrieved from the grass. The larger the collection bag, the fewer times you have to stop and empty it.
Size and weight
You need to be able to smoothly roll the vacuum across the lawn’s surface. And, as much as you try, your lawn may not be absolutely level and even. The size and weight of the vacuum must be balanced enough that it can cope with uneven terrain. And you must be strong enough to push it around what lumps, bumps and hillocks are in your grass – and on the way to and from the lawn.
Cleaning system
It’s a good thing to bring the debris up to the surface from within the grass blades. But it’s even better (and cleaner) to also cope with the dust and dirt found down there. Check that the vacuum has brushes to bring up these small particles as well as combs for the debris.
Selecting a manual brush
Check that the bristles of the broom are made of nylon or plastic. And that they’re spaced about 3.5cm apart. The most important issue is how easy the broom is to assemble. Most models just twist together in a telescopic way. Look also at how long the handle is extendable so that tall people are comfortable using the brush.
What maintenance and care do artificial lawn vacuums and brushes require?
Artificial lawn vacuums and brushes require the same care as their household counterparts. Perform regular maintenance on the vacuum, including checking that no debris has lodged in the collection bag or in the combs or brushes. Repair any tears in the collection bag. Remove any debris caught up in the brushes and combs carefully.
As for brooms, just remove all debris after each maintenance run. And store them with the bristles up rather than down on the floor.
What are the different types of artificial lawn vacuums and brushes available on the market?
Here are your choices when it comes to specialist vacuums and brooms for your artificial grass.
Vacuum cleaner
This is similar to a household vacuum cleaner in that it sucks up debris from the floor – in this case, the grass surface. The brushes are designed not to flatten your grass blades and even to perk them up. Artificial lawn vacuum cleaners are often multi-purpose tools. Many act as leaf blowers as well, and some are usable in both wet and dry conditions. This allows you to clean your gutters or around your pool or hot tub.
I highly recommend the Garden Gear 3 in 1 Artificial Grass Vacuum in my review of these specialist tools. It vacuums both artificial and real grass; blows leaves from grass; and mulches leaves as well. It also has a collection bag so you don’t have to worry about picking up the leaves yourself.
Brush
You can manually sweep your artificial lawn clean with a specialist manual broom. It has nylon or plastic bristles about 3.5cm long. As you push the broom across the grass, the bristles go down among the grass blades and bring up all the debris, dirt and dust. The debris sticks between the bristles – they’re spaced far enough apart. You still need to dump the bits and pieces into a dustpan though.
Some brooms have telescopic handles that extend for those people who are on the tall side. The Winslow & Ross Artificial Grass Broom is such a broom and won the award for best artificial grass brush.
Power broom
You can make your artificial lawn maintenance task even easier with a power broom. This is basically an electric power broom. The AGM Artificial Grass Brush in this review has a 10m power cord. If you purchase this, you probably need to buy an extension cord to reach all your lawn. And once again, you need to pick up all the debris collected yourself.
Buyer’s guide
If you’re using an indoor brush or perhaps a dustpan and brush to clean your artificial grass, chances are you’re not satisfied with the results you’re achieving. Purchasing an outdoor garden tool specially designed for the task, even if it looks like a domestic appliance, gives you the clean and neat artificial grass you’re looking for.
Here are the main things to consider.
Infill or not?
The first thing to find out is if your artificial grass has been infilled to keep the grass blades standing up straight even after people tread on them. Sand is usually used for infill but sometimes rubber serves the same purpose. Go and take a look at the base of the blades in your artificial turf or look at the manufacturer’s description of it.
If your grass has been infilled, you may not be able to use some vacuum cleaners such as our best pick on it if you don’t intend to add a new infill every now and again. The suction power of the vacuum may loosen the infill fibres and even pull them up and out of the lawn.
Even if your artificial lawn doesn’t have infill, take care when using a heavy vacuum cleaner because it may flatten the grass fibres over time.
Vacuum cleaner, manual brush or power brush?
The artificial grass cleaners that I review here are either vacuum cleaners, manual brushes or power brushes.
Vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner for artificial grass is similar to the one you use in your home. It sucks up the dirt and debris from the artificial lawn, it may also work on real grass and on hard surfaces such as paths. Outdoor vacuum cleaners often have an additional function as leaf blowers, useful in the autumn or when a bag of dirt bursts open on your driveway. One of the vacuums in our review works in wet and dry conditions so is useful to clean out your gutters or around a pool if you are lucky enough to have one.
Always check out how large the collection bag is on an outdoor vacuum cleaner because you don’t want to have to stop and empty it very often. One of the key elements of a vacuum for artificial grass and elsewhere in your garden is how strong the suction is. The power of its electric motor is one clue to this, so is the width of the hose pipe and the metal pipes and how securely they fit together.
The size and weight of the vacuum cleaner are also important considerations. The cleaner body needs to roll smoothly across uneven terrain, including paving stones. It also needs to be light enough for you to pull around as you clean and for you to carry as you put it away.
Look under the brush head at the cleaning system. Does that system have combs to bring up the debris as well as brushes to remove the dirt and dust? Does the system include a HEPA system to filter some of the dust and allergens particles out of the exhaust air before you breathe it in?
Manual broom
A manual broom for cleaning artificial lawns looks like a regular indoor or outdoor broom but with nylon or plastic bristles about 3.5cm in length. You push the broom across the lawn and the bristles go down between the grass fibres and bring up the debris, dirt and dust. The bristles are spaced far enough apart that they’re able to hold bits of garden matter in between them. You still have to brush the waste into a dustpan.
Most artificial grass brooms and brushes are easy to assemble – just click the handle/pole into the brush head. Look for a broom with a telescopic handle which you extend using by twisting it (usually) clockwise. (An anticlockwise twist locks it in place.) Some brooms are extra-long to be comfortable for tall people.
For an added feature, many manual brooms like this claim to be great at picking up pet hair from inside carpets.
Power sweeper
A power sweeper is basically a manual brush for artificial grass, with a motor and often it takes much less work and time than using a manual broom. The one in my review has a 1600W electric motor to help you in your cleaning task. The 10 metre (included) power cord only goes so far though, so be prepared with an extension cord if your artificial grass is away from the nearest power outlet. Although you’ll have the power to conserve your own energy, this is still a brush without a collection bin, so you have to sweep up the debris into a dust receptacle yourself.
Final Conclusion
Many people install artificial grass in their gardens to avoid the extensive time, effort and money involved in the upkeep of living grass. Using tools specially designed to clean and groom the artificial grass only makes sense. Whether you choose a vacuum cleaner, a manual brush, or a power broom, the tools in my review of the Best Artificial Grass Vacuums and Brushes let you keep your artificial grass looking clean and well-groomed in record time.
For most people, I think this Hyundai 1600w Artificial Lawn Grass Brush Sweeper is the best option for keeping your artificial lawn in tip top condition but also for rejuvinating a flat well used lawn so it looks like new again. It even collects the debris and creates the stripes most of us love. This really is an amazing piece of garden equipment for maintaining an artificial lawn.
The Garden Gear 3 in 1 Artificial Grass Vacuum is our choice for Best Artificial Grass Vacuum. This garden appliance works on real and artificial grass as well as blows and mulches leaves. Look after both your low-cut lawn and deep piles of leaves without concern.
The Best Brush for Artificial Grass is the Winslow & Ross Artificial Grass Broom. This particular outdoor broom is designed specifically to look after your artificial turf. Its telescoping handle opens to a wide range of lengths means that everyone in your family can take a turn at this garden task.
If you don’t think that an artificial grass vacuum cleaner is going to be powerful enough to clean all your hard surfaces, check out our review on the Best Outdoor Floor Sweeper for Paths, Patios and Driveways.
Last update on 2024-07-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
