08 March 2024 , 09:02
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Say goodbye to green fence stains with this cheap and cheerful hack.
Your garden fence can make or break the way your outside space looks, but over time the wood can become discoloured, either because sunlight makes patches fade or through wet weather that encourages algae to grow. Unfortunately, algae creates unsightly green stains on your fencing and can be a pain to remove, with some people ultimately deciding to give up and just repaint their entire fence. But you don't have to resort to that, as cleaning fans have shared a cheap 55p trick that should banish algae stains in no time.
On the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips page on Facebook, one person asked for help in removing green algae stains from their fence, as they said they didn't want to "jet wash it" because they would need to repaint the fence afterwards. And many cleaning enthusiasts rushed to help them, with several recommending the same thing - washing up liquid.
Some suggested mixing it with warm water to easily wash off the algae stains with a sponge, while some use the product straight from the bottle. One person suggested: "Hot soapy water and a big sponge," and another added: "I have the same problem, the sun doesn't reach it. I use a sweeping brush dipped in washing up liquid and scrub it."
Another also recommended washing up liquid and urged people to stay away from another popular cleaning product that could damage the fence. They wrote: "Don't use bleach or a pressure washer - it'll strip the paint/wood treatment off. Hot soapy water and a brush."
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You can buy washing up liquid from all supermarkets, and if you need some in a pinch, your nearest convenience store will also sell it. We found it for the cheapest price in Asda, where it can cost as little as 55p.
Meanwhile, we previously reported that gardening fans on Facebook recommended a different household item for cleaning off green algae stains - white vinegar. One user suggested: "White vinegar mixed with hot water and work it in with a brush and leave for 30 mins or more, then hose down. Repaint when dry with good-quality fence paint. Normally this happens when a fence is in the shade most of the day, less of a problem in full sun."
Another echoed this and added: "Vinegar in a spray bottle, spray it on, leave and it will get rid of the green stains in a few days. I've done all my decking and fences last week, starting to see a difference already," and a third penned: "Definitely white vinegar. Easiest and most effective way to get rid of it."