I’m a gardening expert – here’s how to remove green muck from your fence in no time thanks to a 70p buy from Sainsbury’s
IF your garden fences are covered in green muck, and you want to get them looking fresh for summer, you’ve come to the right place.
There’s nothing worse than chilling on a sunny day in the garden, only to have bright green, algae and moss covered fences staring at you in the face.
And if that’s something that drives you insane, and you haven’t got the time or cash to spend scrubbing, then fear not, as gardening experts have shared a simple, and affordable trick that you’ll need to try.
Not only is it super easy, but according to the pros, it takes just ten minutes to work – yes, you heard that correctly.
And don’t worry, you won’t need a pricey jet washer or any posh cleaning supplies, as thanks to this hack, it will cost you just 70p.
According to experts at Barnard Fencing Supplies, “wooden fencing can be cleaned safely and efficiently without using a pressure washer”.
The garden gurus suggested their two-ingredient solution, as they recommended grabbing a bucket and filling it with one part bleach, to two parts water.
The experts advised: “Bleach can irritate the skin, so before you start your work make sure that you have a good pair of protective rubber gloves.”
Explaining their method, the pros shared: “Firstly, dip a bristled scrubbing brush into the solution and scrub the fence liberally.”
The experts cautioned that if you have any plants and shrubs by your garden fence, you should ensure that they are covered by a protective material, like tarpaulin, which can be bought from Screwfix.
Also, they advised that this cleaning process shouldn’t be done too aggressively or else you may risk damaging the wood.
The experts added: “Once completed, leave to sit for around ten minutes, allowing the bleach to go to work.”
If necessary, the wooden fence may require another scrub with the bleach and water mixture.
This should then be left to soak for another 10 minutes, but not for much longer.
Once the 10 minutes are up, the next step is to simply use a garden hose to wash off the cleaning solution.
According to the pros, the top tip is to wash the wooden fence with the hose from the top down, to “avoid any unsightly streaks”.
If you fancy giving this trick a try and haven’t got any bleach left in your cupboard, you can buy bleach from a variety of different supermarkets and high-street stores.
You can pick up a bottle of thick bleach for just 70p from Sainsbury’s, making this gardening hack not only incredibly effective, but super affordable too.
More fence cleaning tips
BAKING SODA: According to Allan Jeffrey, from Ultra Decking, baking soda can be used to clean fences.
He said: “Rather than pay for a pricey shop-bought product full of chemicals, there’s a cheap and clever way to tackle green algae or mildew – and that’s baking soda. Chances are, you’ll already have the budget-friendly ingredient in your cupboard.”
WET AND FORGET: Mrs Hinch fans have raved about Wet and Forget for banishing algae.
One gardener recommended: “Wet and Forget. You will not be sorry. It’s amazing”, whilst a second agreed: “Wet and Forget is brilliant. Just do what it says, spray it on and forget it.”
WASHING-UP LIQUID: Cleaning fans have also praised washing-up liquid as an effective way to banish grime from fences.
One said: ”Hot soapy water and a big sponge”, whilst another chimed in: “‘I use a sweeping brush dipped in laundry washing liquid and scrub it.”
But before you rush out and buy the largest bottle on the shelves, home owners should note that the cleaning product can be highly toxic.
Though it’s great for removing moss and algae, the Pet Poison Helpline said that it can cause skin and fur irritation in pets.
Not only this, but it can also kill plants due to its high pH level, so when using bleach to clean patio slabs, it should be applied carefully and only to the areas needed.
It’s also recommended that you thoroughly wash away any lingering residue.
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