The other week we explored why sports teams are increasingly choosing artificial pitches for their durability and low maintenance benefits. That got us thinking about one of the questions we hear most often at SPA Machinery: can the Westermann WR870 Moss Brush, which is popular for maintaining sports surfaces, also be used to clean artificial grass in domestic and commercial settings?
There are many benefits to having artificial grass for both commercial and domestic spaces. For example, it’s weather-resistant meaning it looks good all-year-round, is easier to maintain than a natural lawn, it can be more cost-effective and is allergy-free, among many other pros. Although it is low maintenance, ideally it still needs the odd freshen up. By removing stubborn debris and refreshing the pile, you can keep it looking and performing at its best for years to come. That’s where the Westermann WR870 Moss Brush makes all the difference.
In today’s blog, we explain the different types of artificial grass fibres, how the WR870 performs on various surfaces and how you can decide if it’s the right tool for your artificial lawn or pitch.
What Are the Three Main Types of Artificial Grass Fibres?
First, let’s explore the different types of artificial grass fibres. The three main types of artificial grass fibres are Nylon, Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE). Each one has its pros and cons depending on its usage.
Nylon grass
Best for: Sports pitches, commercial areas or as a reinforcing fibre in premium lawns
Nylon artificial grass is the strongest and most durable option. It’s extremely hard-wearing, making it ideal for high foot traffic or heavy use. It resists flattening and is highly heat-resistant, meaning it won’t deform in hot sunny conditions.
However, it’s the most expensive option out of the three types, and it can feel a bit stiff or coarse underfoot. It’s often combined with other fibres to add strength.
Polypropylene grass
Best for: Low-traffic areas, balconies, show gardens, exhibitions
The most budget-friendly option of the three fibres, polypropylene grass is ideal for decorative or temporary use. Lightweight and easy to install, it dries quickly and resists moisture. This does also mean that it’s the least durable, and has a less natural look and feel.
Polyethylene grass
Best for: Domestic gardens, play areas, pet-friendly lawns, general landscaping
Polyethylene grass is most popular all-rounder of the three – it’s not as strong as nylon, but it’s more durable than PP grass. Soft and realistic, it feels good underfoot while being durable enough for families and pets. It’s also UV-resistant and colourfast, however it needs proper infill and maintenance for the best results.
Most high-quality artificial grasses use a blend of these fibres, for example Nylon mixed with PE grass for softness and strength, or PP backing with PE grass blades to balance cost and performance.
Can You Use the Westermann WR870 on Artificial Grass?
Although the Westermann WR870 is suitable for use on other artificial surfaces such as rubber play surfaces, sports surfaces and astro turf pitches, currently we cannot guarantee that it’s suitable for use on specific types of artificial grass.
This is due to the many different variations of artificial grass available, such as the ones we’ve broken down above. They’re all constructed in different ways - from the fibre materials to how they’re attached to the matting and how dense the pile is. This means that, unfortunately, we cannot say whether the WR870 Moss Brush will work on your specific artificial grass. For cleaning artificial grass, we recommend using our Hire Before You Buy service to enable you to test the machine in a small patch before purchasing.
However, if you’re specifically looking to clean sports surfaces or synthetic pitches, the Westermann WR870 Astro Turf Power Brush is a great addition to your maintenance toolkit. Fitted with a powerful Honda GXV160 engine and a belt-driven brush head, this machine is designed to agitate infill such as rubber crumb in 3G pitches or sand in sand-based astro turf (MUGAs), helping to lift the pile and remove algae, moss or embedded debris. Thanks to its adjustable jockey wheel, you can tailor the brushing action to be light or aggressive depending on your surface. It’s a go-to for rejuvenating heavily used areas post-match without causing damage, and it can also be used on water-based astro turfs and other synthetic surfaces. While it’s not intended for use on artificial grass lawns, it’s ideal for commercial sports applications. Find out more about its benefits here.
Hire Before You Buy with SPA Machinery
With SPA Power Machinery’s Hire Before You Buy service, you can test out Westermann equipment for yourself. We especially recommend this service if you’re unsure if a Westermann is suitable for the surface you’re going to be working on. By hiring a Westermann WR870 from SPA Machinery, you can do a small patch test on your artificial grass surface to make sure you’re getting the desired effect before you commit to buying it.
Our Hire Before You Buy service is by appointment only, so please contact us to book an appointment with us at our Sheffield showroom. When you visit us in-person, our friendly and knowledgeable team will be on hand to offer product advice, recommendations and demonstrations of any of the equipment we offer, as well as giving you the opportunity to trial it for yourself before purchasing.
Contact us
Discover our range of high-performance grounds maintenance machines at SPA Power Machinery. We stock a range of Westermann equipment, from ride-on brushes to sweepers and scrapers, that are ready to go.
If you’d like to know more about using Westermann machinery, please get in touch with us via the contact form on our website, or you can call us on +44 (0)114 2699 119 or email info@spapowermachinery.com.