DIY vs Hiring a Pro
Use our decision framework and cost comparison to determine when to DIY and when to call a professional.
Should You DIY or Hire a Pro?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer here. It depends on your yard size, whether you have pets, how much free time you have, and what you are willing to spend. This quick scoring system will point you in the right direction.
Rate yourself 1 to 5 on each factor below, then add up your score.
| Factor | 1 (Low) | 3 (Medium) | 5 (High) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turf Size | Under 300 sq ft | 500-1,000 sq ft | Over 1,500 sq ft |
| Pet Situation | No pets | 1 small/medium dog | 2+ dogs or large breeds |
| Available Time | Plenty of free time | Moderate schedule | Very busy |
| Physical Ability | Fully capable | Some limitations | Significant limitations |
| Budget Priority | Saving money is key | Balanced approach | Will pay for convenience |
Did You Know
Your score: 5 to 12 = Go DIY. You have the time and ability, and you will save real money. 13 to 18 = Hybrid approach. Handle routine stuff yourself, hire a pro for quarterly deep cleans. 19 to 25 = Hire a pro. Your situation calls for regular professional help.
The DIY Route
Maintaining your own turf is not hard. It just takes consistency. Here is what to realistically expect.
The Learning Curve
Your first deep clean will take 4 to 6 hours while you figure things out. By your third time, it drops to 2 to 3 hours. After a few months, weekly upkeep becomes a 15 to 20 minute routine that feels like nothing.
Start simple. Spend your first month just doing weekly brushing, debris removal, and rinsing. Add hydrogen peroxide treatments and deep cleaning in months two and three.
Time Commitment
| Task | How Often | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly brush, blow, rinse | 52x/year | 15-20 min |
| Monthly infill check and spot treatment | 12x/year | 20-30 min |
| Quarterly deep clean | 4x/year | 2-3 hrs |
| Daily pet waste (if applicable) | 365x/year | 5-10 min |
| Annual total (no pets) | 25-35 hrs | |
| Annual total (with pets) | 55-96 hrs |
Without pets, you are looking at about 25 to 35 hours per year. That is less than half an hour per week. With pets, the daily waste cleanup adds up, pushing it to 55 to 96 hours annually.
Common DIY Mistakes
Using Too Much Pressure
Whether it is scrubbing too hard with a brush or cranking the pressure washer, excessive force is the top DIY mistake. Let your tools and products do the work. Keep pressure washers under 1,500 PSI and use a fan tip.
Using the Wrong Chemicals
Do not use bleach, ammonia, acetone, or strong acids on your turf. They cause permanent damage. Keep a dedicated bin of turf-safe products and only use what is on your approved list. See Chapter 7 for details.
Ignoring Infill Levels
Infill slowly disappears over time and it is easy to miss. Once a month, part the fibers and check the infill line. Topping it off takes 15 minutes and a $5 bag of sand. Skipping it leads to matting and drainage problems.
Inconsistent Schedule
This one costs the most money long-term. A few months of skipped maintenance can lead to buildup that requires a $500 to $1,500 professional restoration to fix. Set calendar reminders and stick to them. Even 10 minutes of quick upkeep beats skipping entirely.
What Professionals Bring to the Table
Hiring a pro is not just paying someone to do what you could do. They have tools and products that are genuinely different from what you can buy at a hardware store.
- Commercial equipment: Truck-mounted hot water extraction systems ($5,000 to $20,000 machines) that flush deep contaminants no consumer tool can reach.
- Pro-grade products: Concentrated cleaners and antimicrobials sold only through industry distributors, with longer-lasting protection.
- Trained eyes: They spot early signs of seam separation, drainage failure, and fiber degradation that homeowners typically miss.
- Insurance: If they damage your turf, their insurance covers the repair. DIY mistakes come out of your pocket.
Service Tiers
Basic Service ($0.15-$0.25 per sq ft)
Rinse, brush, light deodorize, and visual inspection. Good for supplementing your DIY routine. For a 500 sq ft lawn, expect $75 to $125 per visit.
Standard Service ($0.25-$0.40 per sq ft)
Everything in Basic plus deep extraction cleaning, antimicrobial treatment, hydrogen peroxide application, and infill assessment. The most popular option for quarterly deep cleans. For a 500 sq ft lawn, expect $125 to $200 per visit.
Premium Service ($0.40-$0.60 per sq ft)
The full restoration. Includes infill replacement, seam repair, edge work, and fiber restoration. Recommended once a year even if you are on a regular Standard plan. For a 500 sq ft lawn, expect $200 to $300 per visit.
Cost Comparison
Year 1 Costs
| Category | Full DIY | Hybrid | Full Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tools and equipment | $150-$350 | $100-$200 | $0 |
| Supplies (cleaners, infill) | $100-$250 | $60-$130 | $0 |
| Professional visits | $0 | $400-$800 | $1,200-$2,400 |
| Year 1 Total | $350-$900 | $560-$1,130 | $1,200-$2,400 |
5-Year Costs
| Category | Full DIY | Hybrid | Full Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tools and supplies | $750-$1,750 | $450-$950 | $0 |
| Professional visits | $0 | $2,000-$4,000 | $6,000-$12,000 |
| 5-Year Total | $750-$1,750 | $2,450-$4,950 | $6,000-$12,000 |
Pro Tip
Think about your time too. DIY takes 25 to 35 hours per year without pets. If your free time is valuable and your budget allows it, the hybrid approach gives you the best of both worlds: you save money on routine tasks and get professional-grade results on the deep cleans.
The Hybrid Approach (Our Recommendation)
For most homeowners, the sweet spot is handling daily and weekly tasks yourself, then hiring a pro for quarterly deep cleans. This costs roughly 40 to 60% less than full professional service while getting you 90% of the results.
What You Handle
Daily (5-10 minutes)
Pick up pet waste and rinse urine spots. Remove any big debris like branches or toys. Even homes on professional plans need daily pet waste cleanup between visits.
Weekly (15-20 minutes)
Blow or sweep surface debris. Brush high-traffic areas. Rinse the whole lawn with a garden hose on the shower setting. Takes less time than mowing a natural lawn.
Monthly (30-45 minutes)
Check infill levels and top off low spots. Apply hydrogen peroxide cleaner to pet zones. Brush the entire lawn. Inspect seams and edges for any changes.
What the Pro Handles
Quarterly Deep Clean
Every three months, your pro does a full deep clean with extraction equipment, antimicrobial treatment, infill decompaction, and a thorough inspection. This resets your turf to a clean baseline that your weekly routine then maintains.
Annual Restoration
Once a year, upgrade one quarterly visit to a premium service. This covers infill replacement, minor repairs, and a full condition assessment. Think of it as the annual checkup for your turf.
Hiring a Pro: What to Look For
Not all turf cleaning companies are equal. Here are the six things that matter most when vetting a provider.
| What to Check | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Specializes in artificial turf | General cleaners lack turf-specific knowledge |
| Carries liability insurance | Covers damage if something goes wrong |
| Can name specific products they use | Vague answers mean generic or harmful products |
| Provides itemized, per-sq-ft pricing | Lets you compare quotes and avoid surprises |
| Has strong online reviews (4+ stars) | Real customers validate consistent quality |
| Offers a satisfaction guarantee | Shows they stand behind their work |
Warning
Red flags to walk away from:
- They use bleach or ammonia-based products
- No liability insurance
- Vague "by the job" pricing with no square footage measurement
- Cannot name the specific products they use
- No written service agreement or guarantee
- Pressures you into a long-term contract before proving their work
Two Real-World Examples
Small Yard, No Pets
The setup: 400 sq ft of front yard turf. No pets. Homeowner has time for yard work.
Best approach: Full DIY. Weekly brushing and rinsing (10 to 15 min), quarterly deep clean by yourself (1.5 to 2 hours), annual infill top-off.
Annual cost: About $50 to $100 for supplies. Professional service would cost 10 to 20 times more with no real improvement for a yard this simple.
Medium Yard, 2 Dogs
The setup: 800 sq ft of backyard turf. Two dogs using it daily. Owner works full-time.
Best approach: Hybrid. Daily pet waste pickup (5 to 10 min), weekly brushing and rinsing (20 min), monthly hydrogen peroxide treatment (30 min), plus quarterly professional deep cleans.
Annual cost: About $950 to $1,500 (supplies plus 4 professional visits). More than DIY alone, but the pro visits keep odor and bacteria under control in ways that consumer tools simply cannot match with two dogs.
Warranty Tips
Most residential turf warranties require "regular and reasonable maintenance" to stay valid. They do not usually require professional service. What matters is that you maintain consistently and use turf-safe products.
Pro Tip
Protect your warranty with simple documentation: Keep a quick log of what you do and when (a notes app on your phone works fine). Take before-and-after photos of deep cleans. Save receipts for products and professional services. If you ever need to file a warranty claim, this evidence proves you took care of your turf.
Things warranties typically do not cover, regardless of how well you maintain:
- Damage from bleach, solvents, or metal tools
- Pet damage (staining, digging, chewing)
- Fire or extreme heat damage
- Normal wear from foot traffic
- Acts of nature (flooding, severe storms)
Quick Decision Guide
Still not sure? Here is the short version based on your situation.
- Under 500 sq ft, no pets: DIY. Budget $100 to $200/year.
- Under 500 sq ft, with pets: DIY + 1 to 2 pro deep cleans/year. Budget $400 to $700/year.
- 500 to 1,000 sq ft, no pets: DIY + annual pro deep clean. Budget $250 to $500/year.
- 500 to 1,000 sq ft, with pets: Hybrid (DIY + quarterly pro). Budget $800 to $1,500/year.
- Over 1,000 sq ft, with pets: Hybrid with monthly pro visits in summer. Budget $1,200 to $2,500/year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Search "artificial turf cleaning" plus your city name on Google, Yelp, or Angi. Ask your turf installer for referrals. Look for companies where synthetic turf is their main focus, not a general cleaning service that lists turf as one of dozens of services.
Expect $0.15 to $0.60 per square foot depending on the service level. For a 500 sq ft lawn, that is $75 to $300 per visit. Monthly plans usually run $100 to $200 per month. Always get itemized quotes from at least two providers.
Only if you use the wrong tools or products. The common mistakes are pressure washing above 1,500 PSI, using metal tools, and applying bleach or acetone. Follow the guidelines in this handbook and DIY is perfectly safe.
Yes. Professionals use commercial equipment that reaches contamination DIY methods cannot. One annual visit resets your turf to a clean baseline and catches problems early. For most homeowners doing regular DIY upkeep, this is the minimum recommended professional investment ($150 to $300).
Absolutely. Have your pro do one final deep clean, ask them what products they use, then start your own routine. You can always bring them back for occasional deep cleans. The switch typically saves $600 to $1,500 per year.
A hybrid approach works best. Handle daily waste pickup and weekly rinsing yourself. Hire a pro for quarterly deep cleans with commercial extraction equipment ($150 to $250 per visit). Budget $1,200 to $2,000 per year total for supplies and professional visits.
Get the Complete Turf Cleaning Handbook
All 8 chapters, bonus checklists, seasonal schedules, and product recommendations in a beautifully designed, downloadable PDF.
Buy the HandbookInstant download. 30-day money-back guarantee.