Artificial indoor turfs are a perfect solution for facility operators looking for a climate-controlled and steadfast grass-like surface. Indoor turfs require no sunlight or watering and can endure heavy foot traffic every day. But, to get consistent performance year-round, it’s crucial to properly maintain the turf. Luckily, this is relatively easy and straightforward when you know the correct indoor turf cleaning and maintenance techniques.
As the most trusted flooring company on the East Coast, we find that it is our responsibility to inform our readers on proper indoor turf cleaning and maintenance procedures. You’ll find the best tips on how to keep your indoor field looking great year-round on this page.
Turf Cleaning
Indoor artificial turfs are much easier to maintain than natural grass turfs. They don’t require strict maintenance requirements like hardwood floors. You don’t have to worry about cleaning debris or picking up leaves and sticks scattered across the field. But, you’ll still have to clean your turf periodically to protect its quality and longevity.
Whether you rent your bubble to weekend recreationists or have an indoor turf as a part of your school or team facility, stains and smudges are inevitable. Things like soda and coffee stains, chocolate, and ice cream marks happen almost every day.
Cleaning spills
When you notice a spill, it’s best to dab the surface with a paper towel to collect as much liquid as you can before it spreads to a larger area. But, if the liquid has already found a way into the infill, a simple and effective way to clean a stain is to use detergent and cold water.
Just keep in mind not to overuse detergent, as it can create a “ring” in your turf. Use just enough to soak the solids and rinse them out of the blades.
It’s best to clean from the outside of the spill toward the center on the stain, to minimize the chance of creating a ring. In line with this, it’s also essential to clean the spill without delay. Don’t let it sit for over 24 hours, as the longer you wait to clean it, the harder it will be to get rid of.
If you leave substances like lipstick, polish, paint, or oil-based solutions on the turf for an extended period, they’ll leave behind a stubborn stain that’s difficult to remove. Use a paint remover before cleaning these types of spills with detergent and water.
Removing deep-rooted substances from your indoor turf
Aside from stains and other problems that can affect your turf, many foreign substances can get ingrained between the fiber blades. For instance, chewing gum often manages to settle between the blades and the infill.
If you’re having problems removing gum from your turf, the most efficient way to do it is to use a regular Freon aerosol spray. Simply spray it over the target surface, wait a few seconds for it to settle on top, and then scrape it from the turf.
Grass Grooming
How do you groom artificial grass? When it comes to grooming artificial indoor turfs, this process doesn’t include mowing or trimming the grass. Instead, it involves going over the turf with a power broom.
Artificial grass can endure much more traffic than natural grass. But sometimes it requires an occasional power brooming to maintain its robust appearance and resemblance to natural grass. The amount of times you’ll need to groom your turf depends on several different factors; how often the turf is used, and manufacturer recommendations will impact frequency.
It’s best to groom your indoor turf before the season starts. This will give you more room to fine-tune the turf and prepare it for regular everyday use. Besides the power broom, additional turf grooming equipment can include rotating tines and rakes. These can be used for loosening and leveling the rubber infill.
Turf Disinfection
Unlike regular grass, artificial turfs cannot naturally absorb microbes. For this reason, you should occasionally clean your turf with disinfectants to ensure that it’s germ-free. This especially applies during extraordinary times, like during the coronavirus pandemic. Properly disinfecting artificial turfs during COVID-19 is essential in protecting every player on the field.
With this in mind, artificial turfs are very resilient, so you can use commercial cleaners to give your turf a deep clean. If you’re not comfortable using commercial cleaners, you can disinfect the turf with a mixture of bleach and water. Disinfecting your turf is essential for health reasons. Disinfecting prevents germs from spreading and also protects against mildew, mold, and other potential health hazards.
Create a Maintenance Schedule and Make Time for Routine Inspections
With a little care and attention, artificial turfs can last up to two decades. In order to ensure your turf lasts this long, it’s crucial to inspect it regularly. By performing regular checks, you can maintain a top-quality turf and avoid costly and unnecessary expenses.
Similarly to natural grass, turfs can wear out if there are too many repetitive activities on a specific pitch area. For example, if you’re regularly running training drills, make sure to switch up the areas in which these drills occur. A well-thought-out schedule and training plan will help you avoid surface deterioration from excessive use.
Maintaining a High-Quality Indoor Turf with cleaning and maintenance routines
You can’t keep your turf completely clean all of the time. There are no sure-fire ways to guarantee a stain-free and sterile turf year-round. Players sweat and often spit on the turf during the game. Stains and spills will happen. But, with these turf cleaning and maintenance tips we’ve shared, you’ll be much more successful in fighting these problems and protecting your investment.
Prompt and adequate maintenance is vital if you want a resilient and high-performing turf. If you have any questions you need our turf experts to answer, let us know! Contact us through our online form or give us a call at (973) 801-7219.