Com que frequência devo lavar a relva sintética?

Retire detritos todas as semanas e escove e passe água pelo menos uma vez por mês. Uma lavagem completa com detergente neutro chega uma ou duas vezes por ano, normalmente depois do verão e do outono. Com animais, a zona onde fazem as necessidades precisa de água quase diária nos meses quentes.

Que produto devo usar para lavar relva artificial?

Água com um detergente de pH neutro resolve a maior parte da sujidade. Para odores de animais, um produto enzimático é a opção mais eficaz, e vinagre branco diluído é uma alternativa caseira. Evite lixívia, amoníaco, ácidos e solventes, e teste sempre qualquer produto num canto discreto.

Posso usar uma máquina de alta pressão?

Não é recomendado. A alta pressão pode danificar fibras e base e empurrar a sujidade para o fundo, piorando a drenagem. Uma mangueira com bico de chuveiro e uma escova de cerdas sintéticas fazem o trabalho sem riscos.

Como tiro o cheiro a urina de cão da relva sintética?

Enxague a zona com água com frequência e aplique um produto enzimático, deixando-o atuar o tempo indicado na embalagem. Se o cheiro voltar sempre, a urina já chegou à base por baixo do tapete. Nesse caso, fale com o instalador para verificar a drenagem.

Back to the journal

24 October 2026

Synthetic Grass Cleaning: Practical Guide for Home and Terrace

Synthetic grass is cleaned with three simple actions: regularly remove leaves and debris, spray water with a hose, and brush the fibers against their natural direction at least once a month. For stains, use water with neutral pH detergent, and never bleach or high-pressure machines. In this guide, we explain the complete routine, the materials you need, how to treat each type of stain (including pet urine), and the mistakes that most damage an artificial lawn in a garden, balcony, or terrace.

In summary

Every week: remove leaves, branches, and trash with a blower, plastic rake, or broom.
Every month: brush against the direction of the fibers to keep them upright and spray water with the hose.
Stains: first absorb, then wash with water and neutral pH detergent; for pet odors, use an enzymatic product.
Never: bleach, strong acids, solvents, or high-pressure jets, as they damage fibers and backing.
Oil or fuel: washing is not enough; you need to replace the infill around the stain.

Index

Why synthetic grass also needs cleaning
The materials you need
The right routine: weekly, monthly, and seasonal
Complete washing, step by step
How to remove each type of stain
Synthetic grass with dogs and cats
Mistakes that damage an artificial lawn
Balconies, terraces, and holiday homes
Our perspective
When you want the whole house taken care of, inside and out
Frequently asked questions
Sources

Why synthetic grass also needs cleaning

The idea that artificial grass "requires no maintenance" is only half true. It doesn't need mowing, watering, or fertilizing, but it accumulates dust, pollen, leaves, dirt brought in by shoes, crumbs, and, in homes with dogs or cats, organic waste. The problem is not just aesthetic.

Synthetic grass is permeable: rainwater passes through the carpet via small holes in the backing and drains to the base. According to the good practice code of the British Sports Pavements Association, organic debris that decomposes blocks drainage and creates conditions for moss and algae, which make the surface slippery. In a terrace with little slope, this means puddles, a musty smell, and a dark green area that is no longer the color of the grass.

There is also a cost issue. The same document emphasizes that regular maintenance prevents contamination from reaching the bottom of the fibers, which delays or eliminates the need for deep cleaning involving removal and replacement of the infill material. Ten minutes a week saves a lot of work and expense later.

The materials you need

You don't need to buy special equipment. For domestic synthetic grass, you usually just need:

Leaf blower or garden vacuum, to remove leaves and dust without dragging the infill.
Plastic rake or synthetic bristle brush, stiff enough to lift the fibers, but never metal.
Regular broom and dustpan, for small balconies.
Hose with shower nozzle, at normal pressure.
Neutral pH detergent, the same type of mild product found in any supermarket.
Sprayer, to apply cleaning mixtures to stains.
Kitchen paper or microfiber cloths, to absorb spills.
Enzymatic product for odors, if you have pets.
Ice or freezing spray, for chewing gum and resins.

If your grass has silica sand or granulated infill, keep the manufacturer's instructions. Swiss sports pavement technicians remind us that maintenance rules differ between grass with and without infill and that the manufacturer should provide specific instructions to the owner. Following these instructions is also the safest way to ensure the warranty is not compromised.

The right routine: weekly, monthly, and seasonal

The frequency depends on usage: a passing terrace does not get dirty like a garden where children and a dog play. This table serves as a starting point for a home in Portugal.

Frequency	What to do	Why
Weekly (or after strong winds)	Remove leaves, branches, fallen flowers, and trash with blower, rake, or broom	Prevents organic matter from decomposing and clogging drainage
Weekly, with pets	Collect waste and spray water in the area where they relieve themselves	Prevents odors from settling in the backing
Monthly	Brush against the direction of the fibers and spray water with the hose	Keeps the fibers upright and looking natural
After summer	Complete wash with neutral detergent, check joints and corners	Removes accumulated dust, pollen, and sunscreen
After autumn	Careful cleaning of leaves and inspection for moss in shaded areas	Wet areas are the first to develop moss

The Portuguese manufacturer Geometrik recommends brushing against the direction of the fibers at least once a month, with periodic removal of debris and occasional washing with hose and neutral pH detergent. This is the basis for everything else.

This logic of maintaining little and often, rather than a lot and rarely, applies to any outdoor space. Those rethinking the entire garden can find good ideas about alternatives to traditional lawns, including keeping a small area of grass for play and converting the rest into lower-maintenance areas.

In Lisbon, garden waste does not need to go to the common bin. The City Council has a green waste collection service that, according to Público, can be requested online, by phone, or through the Na Minha Rua Lx app.

Complete washing, step by step

Once or twice a year, or whenever the grass looks dull and smells, perform a complete wash. Choose a dry day, early in the morning or late in the afternoon, so that the detergent does not dry in the sun before rinsing.

Remove furniture, pots, and toys. Under pots, dirt and moisture accumulate; take the opportunity to check for marks or yellowed areas.
Remove loose debris. Use a blower or vacuum first, then a plastic rake for what is stuck between the fibers.
Wet the entire surface with the hose, in shower mode, to loosen the dust.
Prepare the solution. Warm water with a small amount of neutral pH detergent in a bucket or sprayer. Test first in a discreet corner.
Scrub in sections with a synthetic bristle brush, using short movements, without pulling out fibers.
Rinse well, until there is no foam. Any detergent left attracts dirt.
Brush against the direction of the fibers while the grass is still damp, to lift them.
Let it air dry before putting the furniture back.
Replace the infill where it has become thinner, if your lawn has it, according to the manufacturer's instructions.

If you live in an apartment, check first if the drainage of the terrace or balcony is clear. A wash with a lot of water over a clogged drain can end up on the balcony of the neighbor below.

How to remove each type of stain

The golden rule is to act quickly. The longer a stain sits, the deeper it penetrates the backing. For common spills, Geometrik's manual advises to absorb the excess with kitchen paper and apply water with neutral soap.

Stain	What to do	What to avoid
Coffee, wine, juice, soda	Absorb with paper, wash with water and neutral detergent, rinse	Scrubbing before absorbing, as it spreads the stain
Barbecue grease or food	Absorb, apply neutral detergent, let sit for a few minutes, rinse well	Aggressive solvents and degreasers
Chewing gum	Freeze with ice or freezing spray and remove by hand	Knives and scrapers that cut fibers
Tree sap or resin	Freeze and scrape carefully	Solvents or alcohol in large quantities
Motor oil or fuel	Remove and replace the infill around the stain	Just washing the surface
Pet urine and waste	Collect, rinse, and apply enzymatic product	Bleach and ammonia

For chewing gum, the least damaging technique is freezing, which releases the gum without pulling out fibers, according to the maintenance instructions of a Swiss manufacturer. The same instructions explain that, for oil or fuel spills, it is necessary to remove and replace the infill within a radius of at least 20 cm, to avoid reactions between the pollutant, the fibers, and the backing. This happens rarely on a domestic terrace, but it only takes a generator, a parked motorcycle, or a spilled can of cutting oil.

For sap, Geometrik indicates freezing with dry ice and scraping. At home, regular ice in a plastic bag also helps harden the resin before removing it.

Synthetic grass with dogs and cats

This is the situation that raises the most questions, and rightly so: on hot days, an area where the dog urinates every day can smell bad even if it looks clean. The urine does not stay in the fibers; it stays in the backing and the base underneath.

What works:

Collect solid waste immediately, with a bag or scoop, and spray water in the area.
Rinse the urine area frequently, ideally every day in summer. Water dilutes and washes away before the smell sets in.
Use an enzymatic product when the odor persists. Enzymes break down organic matter instead of masking it, and Geometrik specifically mentions them to neutralize persistent odors.
Diluted white vinegar is a common homemade solution: an Austrian guide to artificial grass suggests a mixture of half water and half vinegar for small messes and odors. Test in a hidden area first and rinse afterward.
Change the spot, if possible. Teaching the pet to always use the same corner makes cleaning easier.

If the smell does not go away after several washes, the problem is likely in the base or drainage, and the solution lies with the installer, not more product.

Mistakes that damage an artificial lawn

Most damage does not come from use; it comes from improper cleaning. These are the mistakes we see most often:

Using a high-pressure machine. It seems quick, but the British good practice code advises against high-pressure washing because it can damage fibers and backing and push dirt deeper, further clogging drainage. If you use one, only at low pressure, with the nozzle far away and never on the seams.

Bleach, acids, and strong products. The indiscriminate use of chemicals can cause permanent discoloration and degrade the backing. The rule is simple: neutral pH and test in a discreet area before using any new product.

Metal brushes and cutting tools. They pull out or cut fibers. Always use synthetic bristles.

Leaving leaves on top for weeks. In autumn, a layer of damp leaves is the shortest path to moss.

Grills, ashes, and cigarette butts. Synthetic fibers melt with heat. A butt or an ember leaves a hole that no cleaning can fix, only repair.

Heavy furniture always in the same spot. They crush the fibers and retain moisture. Move them around occasionally and brush the area.

Balconies, terraces, and holiday homes

In Lisbon, much synthetic grass is not in a garden; it is on an apartment balcony or a rooftop terrace. The cleaning is the same, but there are specific precautions:

Little water at a time. On a terrace, wet and rinse in sections and ensure the drains are flowing.
City dust and construction debris. Near construction sites or busy streets, grass accumulates a gray film that requires washing with neutral detergent more often.
Corners and skirting boards. This is where leaves, dust, and dead insects accumulate. A handheld vacuum solves this in minutes.
Holiday homes and second residences. When the house is closed for weeks, the grass accumulates leaves and moisture without anyone seeing. A cleaning before arrival and another before closing the house prevents finding moss upon return.
Changes. In a rental with a grassed terrace, the grass is part of the condition in which the house is delivered. It is worth including it in the exit cleaning.

Our perspective

At Cleaning Point, we clean homes in Lisbon every week, and outdoor spaces are often what clients leave for later. Synthetic grass is the best example: since it "requires nothing," it goes months without attention until the day it smells bad or has dark areas.

What we have learned from our work is that the difference is not in the product; it is in consistency. We work with detailed checklists precisely so that nothing depends on the memory of the cleaner: corners, drains, the area under pots, and outdoor furniture are included in the list just like any room in the house. It is the same logic we recommend for the grass: little, regularly, always in the same way.

We are also clear about the limits. Careful washing, brushing, and treatment of surface stains are part of caring for a balcony or terrace. However, replacing infill, repairing detached seams, or addressing a drainage issue in the base are tasks for the lawn installer. Communicating this to the client upfront is part of a service you can trust.

— Taras

When you want the whole house taken care of, inside and out

If your synthetic grass is on a balcony or terrace, our extra balcony and terrace cleaning can be added to a regular or deep cleaning of the house. Let us know when booking that the surface has synthetic grass, and we will confirm with you what is included. For holiday homes and second residences, the Residence Care service keeps the house ready between stays, with access management and a digital report. And if you are moving out of a rental, the move-in move-out cleaning prepares the house for handover. You can book a cleaning directly online.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I wash synthetic grass?

Remove debris every week and brush and spray water at least once a month. A complete wash with neutral detergent is sufficient once or twice a year, usually after summer and autumn. With pets, the area where they relieve themselves needs water almost daily in the warm months.

What product should I use to wash artificial grass?

Water with a neutral pH detergent handles most dirt. For pet odors, an enzymatic product is the most effective option, and diluted white vinegar is a homemade alternative. Avoid bleach, ammonia, acids, and solvents, and always test any product in a discreet corner.

Can I use a high-pressure machine?

It is not recommended. High pressure can damage fibers and backing and push dirt deeper, worsening drainage. A hose with a shower nozzle and a synthetic bristle brush do the job without risks.

How do I remove dog urine smell from synthetic grass?

Rinse the area with water frequently and apply an enzymatic product, letting it sit for the time indicated on the packaging. If the smell keeps returning, the urine has likely reached the base underneath the carpet. In that case, talk to the installer to check the drainage.