logo
I was sick of painting my fence to get rid of green algae – £10 bathroom buy transformed it in seconds & took no effort

I was sick of painting my fence to get rid of green algae – £10 bathroom buy transformed it in seconds & took no effort

The Irish Sun10-05-2025
WE all love a clean and tidy garden, but the work that comes with that isn't as welcome.
So, one savvy gardener who was fed up with painting her fence every single year found an
Advertisement
2
Lesley was sick of green algae ruining her fence
Credit: Facebook/gardeningonabudgetofficial
2
So she decided to cover it up with a £10 buy
Credit: Facebook/gardeningonabudgetofficial
Lesley Timby, from the UK, took
the time to share her clever gardening hack on social media
.
She first showed the
Unfortunately for Lesley, green algae kept growing all over the structure even after cleaning and painting it.
So, instead of repeating the same job this year, she decided to switch things up and cover the fence with shower curtains.
Advertisement
READ MORE GARDEN MAKEOVERS
Lesley wrote: "Job for today.
"After spending lots of cash on black duck back fence paint only for it to keep turning green after winter, I decided to give shower curtains a go.
"Looks amazing."
The shower curtain hack became popular last year and is still going strong.
Advertisement
Most read in Fabulous
Take one look at the #
And it's easy to see why the trend is so popular, if your fence is damaged it can cost an average of £30-40 to replace it, whereas a shower curtain costs just £10.
DIY Privacy Fences: Affordable Garden Solutions
Lesley used two shower curtains to cover her fence, and both displayed a picture of two blue chairs and a table with large matching vases on either side with giant shrubs inside.
It was finished off with a matching blue window printed on it and two lanterns.
Advertisement
Lesley was pleased with the transformation, which meant she no longer had to worry about the algae lurking underneath.
People were quick to take to the comments on the post shared in the group, Gardening On A Budget Official.
How to get algae off fences
ABS Fencing shared a list of do's and don'ts when it comes to cleaning green algae off your fence.
Don't use household mould or mildew remover sprays as these are generally intended for use on hard surfaces indoor.
Don't use bleach in the garden, it kills a lot more than the mould.
Don't try sanding back the top surface of the wood, as algae will just regrow back.
Don't bother with power hosing – that only opens up the timber grain and allows more water inside, making the problem worse down the line.
Do use white vinegar mixed with hot water in a spray bottle and work it in with a brush, leave for 30 mins or more, then hose down.
Do repaint when dry with good quality fence paint.
They loved the look of Lesley's new garden feature and others were inspired to do the same.
One person wrote: "Love it."
Advertisement
Another commented: "Just done mine as well."
"Looks fab that. We did it with bamboo shower curtains but I love yours more ," penned a third.
Someone else added: 'Just done mine as well."
Fabulous will pay for your exclusive stories. Just email: fabulousdigital@the-sun.co.uk and pop EXCLUSIVE in the subject line
.
Advertisement
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Psychologist who worked with the Radfords reveals early trauma led to brood of 22… & how it became their secret weapon
Psychologist who worked with the Radfords reveals early trauma led to brood of 22… & how it became their secret weapon

The Irish Sun

time7 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Psychologist who worked with the Radfords reveals early trauma led to brood of 22… & how it became their secret weapon

WITH 22 kids the biggest question many people want to ask the Radfords is, 'why?' The huge brood is an eye-watering thought for most, but 10 The Radford family are famous for having Britain's biggest brood at 22 kids... and counting Credit: PA 10 Sue fell pregnant with their first child when she was just 13 Credit: The Sun 10 The couple are childhood sweethearts - and psychologist Jo Hemmings reckon their similar upbringings makes them kindred spirits Credit: Getty And, in a rare twist, both were adopted as babies, leading many to wonder if that was the reasoning behind their decision to create The couple have always denied that their own adoptions had anything to do with their wish to have two football teams of children. But psychologist Jo Hemmings, who worked with the family on their show 22 Kids and Counting, says that there could be deep-rooted reasons linked to their adoption journeys that may have had a subconscious influence. She says people who have been adopted often feel a great sense of comfort when they have a child of their own, to finally have a connection with a blood relative. READ MORE FEATURES 'That is quite important,' she explains. 'Because they are both adopted I think that sense of having their own children together would have had much more significance, but not necessarily 22 of them. 'There isn't any science to back it up and say that either one or both parents that come from adoptive families are more likely each to have more birth children of their own. 'What there is some evidence of is that adopted children tend to be brought up in better socio-economic circumstances by their adoptive parents, so they are given a really stable upbringing, perhaps better education. "A lot is put into their upbringing partly because their parents have chosen them rather than given birth to them. Most read in Fabulous 'So there is something in that. If they both grew up in good, stable adoptive families, they feel they have got as much to give back as they had in their own childhoods.' Despite this, Noel, 54, dismissed links between their adoptions and their huge brood in the couple's book, The Radfords: Making Life Count. Mum-of-22 Sue Radford says she'll NEVER meet her birth mum & it's caused 'disagreements' with Noel, who's also adopted He wrote in one chapter: "A lot of amateur psychologists may think the reason me and Sue have had lots of kids must be linked to the fact we were both adopted, but I don't think there is any connection. "Unless someone comes along and sticks some electrodes on our heads, and says after doing some tests, 'Oh, this is why you've got so many kids,' we're just not going to believe any of those theories.' And wife Sue, 50, agreed, saying: 'No, there is nothing in that - because I don't even think about my birth parents. I don't give the fact that I was adopted any thought at all, and never have.' While Sue has always said she has Sense of connection 10 Sue and Noel met when she was just seven and he was 11, and got married when Sue was 16 - when they were already parents Credit: Supplied 10 Jo believes people who have been adopted feel a great sense of comfort when they have a child of their own Credit: Supplied Noel and Sue are childhood sweethearts, having met when she was just seven and he was 11. Sue fell pregnant with first child Christopher when she was 13 years old. The couple married three years later and then the children kept on coming. Jo says the couple share a deep bond and work together as a team. 'When you speak to them, they say no it is nothing to do with the psychology of us being adopted, it absolutely is because we felt we have a lot to give, we adore children - Sue especially adores babies," she says. "I don't think their intention was to have so many children, but it worked out for them. I don't think their intention was to have so many children, but it worked out for them Jo Hemmings 'When I have talked to them one thing that comes across is how incredibly gentle and calm they are. You don't see that in many parents who have three, four or five kids, never mind 22 of them. 'There is just that feeling that they had so much to give, they love bringing up children. "They don't claim benefits. They have made money over the years with Noel's successful bakery business and because their TV series have become so successful they have become influencers, in a way. 'I just think they are a remarkable family who have this presence about them. I'm sure there is chaos at times, but when you see them with their children, you don't see it. "They are good, solid, stable, parents, which is amazing. 'They are very straight-talking, they are very resilient. So when there have been problems, you feel that they are a very strong couple together. "Also they are talkers. They sit down and say, 'What are we going to do about this?' They are very open and candid with their children and will talk everything over with them. "They always bounce back and they have this lovely soft energy about them which makes them work brilliantly together as parents.' Driving force 10 Jo says they are a 'remarkable family' who have 'this presence about them' Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 10 Jo commends Sue and Noel for being great communicators with their children Credit: Channel 5 Jo believes the Radfords' incredible parenting skills stem from their own upbringings in their loving, adoptive families. She says: 'Sue was very young when she had her first child. I think their driving force is that they badly wanted to be parents. "I know they are at pains to deny that it is anything to do with the adoptions, and I don't want to go against what they say, but knowing that you can give a large number of children a very stable, productive and healthy upbringing would probably have come from the upbringings they had. 'Often adoptive parents put the extra mile in, they over-compensate for the sadness that they didn't grow up with their birth families. "I think a lot of it comes from the happiness and security that they had when they were growing up.' Often adoptive parents put the extra mile in, they over-compensate for the sadness that they didn't grow up with their birth families Jo Hemmings For years, both Noel and Sue had been adamant that they didn't want to trace their birth families, saying they regarded their adoptive parents as their mums and dads and had idyllic upbringings. But Jo says their background of both being adopted will have made them kindred spirits. 'I don't know how rare it is for two adopted people to get married, but it would have been one of the early conversations they had when they first met,' she explains. 'It would have been one of those bonding things, those shared values, that make relationships solid. "I think having that in common would have been a really important thing for them as they both knew implicitly how the other one might have felt growing up. "I think they were very similar in their views. I think they had all agreed at the time that they had both had such wonderful childhoods, there was no need or drive to seek where they were from.' Meet the Radford children Christopher, 36 The oldest Radford child, Chris works as a glazier and is married to Nicole Spencer. They have three children: Maise-Paige, eight, Jacob, five, and Oakland, three. Sophie Rose, 31 Sophie has her own cleaning company, Time for Sparkle, and shares three children with husband Joseph Bradley: Daisy, 12, Ayprill, 10, and Leo, nine. Chloe Anne, 29 Chloe's a make-up artist and is mum to daughter Milla, two, and son Bodhi, three months, with her boyfriend, Jake Wallace. Jack Richard, 28 Publicity-shy Jack prefers to stay out of the limelight, and hasn't publicly shared his relationship status or career. Daniel Leon, 26 After training to be in the RAF, Daniel had a near-fatal car crash in Bristol, which played out on his parents' TV show. He overcame his subsequent fear of driving in order to emigrate to Australia. Luke James, 24 Luke came out to his parents as bisexual in 2021 - warming viewers' hearts after Sue and Noel attended a Pride festival with him that summer. He works for the family's pie business. Millie Jo, 23 Millie is married to Harley Passmore and is mum to three children: Ophelia, four (from a previous relationship), and Chester, three, and Elodie, one (whom she shares with Harley). Katie Louise, 22 Katie works at a nursery and shares one nine-month-old son, Ronnie, with her boyfriend Connor Carter. James Edward, 21 James is busy working in the family's pie shop and hopes to run it someday. Ellie May, 20 Ellie's training to be a hairdresser, and has also worked part-time in a hotel housekeeping job. Aimee Elizabeth, 19 Aimee's also qualified to be a hairstylist and has famously practised her skills on family members in video clips. Josh Benjamin, 18 According to his parents, Josh was a 'nightmare' at school and he didn't commit to his studies - but that all changed when he found his passion as a sports coach. Max Joseph, 16 Max was diagnosed with autism in 2021, and has since struggled with socialising. Working in the pie shop has apparently helped him. Tillie May, 15 One of Tillie's legs stopped growing when she was just 18 months old, due to an infection. In 2019, she was fitted with a frame to help strengthen the limb, but - last year - it was revealed she'd need further treatment and potential surgery. Oscar Will, 13 Oscar has been described as having 'incredible initiative' at school. Casper Theo, 12 Casper always dreamt of being a footballer, but was gutted on his family's show when he didn't make it into a Premier League club's youth team. Alfie Thomas Alfie would have been the Radfords' 17th child, but he was tragically stillborn at three months. The Radfords refer to him as their 'missing heartbeat'. Hallie Alphia Beau, 10 Hallie's middle name was given in tribute to her late brother, who died just a year before her birth. Phoebe Willow, eight Phoebe has been awarded prizes at school for her achievements, much to her parents' pride. Archie Rowan, seven As the 20th Radford baby, Archie was expected to be the last - marking 'a nice, even number' in Sue's words. Bonnie Raye, six Again, Bonnie was expected to 'finish' the brood, but plans changed. Heidie Rose, five The youngest Radford child, mum Sue has since insisted: 'No, that's it now!' Tragic discovery Things changed for Noel in 2023 when the couple's teenage daughter Ellie was found to have the hereditary liver disorder Gilbert's Syndrome. The couple were tested and He said at the time: 'It's got me thinking, we're both adopted and we know absolutely nothing about our medical history at all. 'I'd quite like to find out more about my family, where I'm from, just anything about myself. 'It might tell me a bit more about who I am, where I'm from, possibly my birth parents. Now, as I'm getting older, I do think about it a bit more often.' Fighting back tears he added: 'I don't even know why I don't like talking about it. I just don't like it. "I have a lot of respect for my mum and dad.' In the opening episode of the latest series of 22 Kids and Counting, Noel reveals he met his birth mother for the first time - and she was shocked by the news of his huge family. He told The Sun: 'It was emotional meeting her and I was nervous beforehand. "You don't know what she is going to look or sound like, and how she will react. "A lot was going through my head, but she was so lovely and so glad to see me. We were with each other for a couple of hours.' His mum, who chose to stay anonymous in the show, told him she was forced to give him up at 17 after she split from his birth father. He added: 'As I have got older, I have been curious to find her,' Noel explains. 'I'm only ever going to have one chance and I've got no regrets that I have.' 10 Noel connects with his birth mum in the latest series of 22 Kids and Counting Credit: Lion TV 10 Sue has always insisted she has no desire to meet her birth parents Credit: Lion TV 10 Psychologist Jo Hemmings has nothing but admiration for the family

I'm a cleaning expert, everyone is using this cheap viral product but there's three surfaces it should never touch
I'm a cleaning expert, everyone is using this cheap viral product but there's three surfaces it should never touch

The Irish Sun

time7 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

I'm a cleaning expert, everyone is using this cheap viral product but there's three surfaces it should never touch

WHEN it comes to cleaning, everyone is looking for quick cheap hacks to lighten the load. Experts come up with amazing tips using ingredients you normally find in your cupboard or fridge to get the work done cheaper. 2 Cleaning hacks are a godsend for many households 2 Using anything acidic on some surfaces could ruin your home But one pro says a popular viral cleaning recommendation could be ruining your home . Joseph Passalacqua, CEO of Despite its growing popularity on social media platforms like TikTok, he says some surfaces can be permanently damaged by the acidic substance. And he said it could cost householders thousands to repair. READ MORE IN FABULOUS Joseph said: "Natural stone surfaces like marble, granite, and quartzite should never come into contact with white vinegar. "The acidity eats away at the calcium carbonate in these materials, permanently etching the surface." The cleaning expert says stone surfaces are damaged by acidic solutions, restoration often requires professional intervention, which can cost hundreds or even thousands. He added: "Many homeowners think vinegar is safe because it's natural, but so is lemon juice, and both will destroy a marble countertop just as quickly as any harsh chemical. Most read in Fabulous For stone surfaces, the expert recommends pH-neutral cleaners specifically formulated for the material. And while many cleaning videos suggest vinegar for stainless steel surfaces - like draining boards or hobs - Joseph says this is a big no. Inside filthiest house cleaned up by Kim Woodburn on How Clean Is Your House? The cleaning guru said: "Vinegar can cause pitting on the surface of stainless steel over time. "If you must use it, always dilute the solution with water to minimise damage." The expert pointed out that repeated use of vinegar on stainless steel dishwashers and oven tops can also lead to a dull finish and eventually permanent spots that cannot be buffed out. He said stainless steel should be cleaned with mild dish soap and water or dedicated stainless steel cleaners. The third category of household surfaced to keep vinegar away from is anything with electronic components, the expert says. He explained: "Spraying vinegar directly on screens or electronic interfaces can make touch screens less responsive and damage internal components. "Many people spray vinegar directly on their TV screens or computer monitors thinking it's safer than commercial cleaners, but they're actually risking permanent damage to expensive equipment." He recommends using specialised cleaners designed specifically for electronics as well as microfibre cloths. But where can you use vinegar safely? The cleaning expert explained that vinegar's popularity stems from its effectiveness on many other surfaces and its low cost compared to commercial cleaners. Joseph explained: "Vinegar works wonderfully on glass, ceramic tile with sealed grout and porcelain fixtures. It's also excellent for removing mineral deposits from showerheads. "Just keep it away from those three key surface types." "The rule of thumb is simple. If something is porous, sensitive, or high-end, verify that vinegar is safe before applying it. When in doubt, test in an inconspicuous area first or simply use something else."

Bamboo was taking over my garden & had me fearing for my house – until a cheap buy from The Range got rid of it for good
Bamboo was taking over my garden & had me fearing for my house – until a cheap buy from The Range got rid of it for good

The Irish Sun

time11 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Bamboo was taking over my garden & had me fearing for my house – until a cheap buy from The Range got rid of it for good

A FED-UP gardener has revealed how she finally managed to wipe out a monster bamboo infestation using a budget buy from The Range. Posting in the Gardening on a Budget Official Facebook group, one frustrated woman explained how her partner's garden had been completely Advertisement 2 A gardener turned to Facebook after having their garden overun by bamboo Credit: Facebook/ Gardening on a budget official 2 People recommended The Range's Roundup Tree Stump and Rootkiller Credit: The range She described it as 'solid' ground and saying 'there's so much of it' they didn't know where to start. But thankfully, green-fingered Brits rallied around to offer tried-and-tested advice and one product kept cropping up as the Gardeners recommended the Roundup Tree Stump and Root Killer, which retails at £18.99 from The powerful weedkiller is specially designed to target tough, woody plants and it seems bamboo doesn't stand a chance. Advertisement Read more on gardening tips One user swore by the stuff, commenting: 'I used this on mine. It took a few months, but it's gone and never came back.' Another backed it up, adding: 'It's brilliant stuff. The Roundup kills it – best time is when it stops growing in October or November.' The product's official description says it's a 'non-selective, translocated weedkiller' that travels throughout the plant and root system. It tackles everything from tree stumps to nettles, ivy and invasive bamboo. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous It's absorbed by leaves or freshly cut surfaces and works both above and below ground. Once it hits the soil, microbes break it down, meaning it's safe to replant in treated areas. 6 Reasons Bamboo May Not Be Ideal for Your British Garden And for gardeners dealing with full-blown One poor user shared: 'I get invaded by my Advertisement "My garden is tiered because of sloping, and the roots even disturbed and knocked off the boards on the bottom tier.' She revealed the stubborn plant caused 'numerous shoots coming up on my lawn', adding: 'It took weeks. I still get the odd shoot popping up and as soon as I see it, I'm on it.' Others chimed in with more boiling water over shoots to kill them off, though most agreed that Roundup offered a long-term fix with minimal fuss. With its ability to take down even notorious intruders like Advertisement So if bamboo is creeping into your space and boiling water just won't cut it, this £18.99 could be the price of peace and quiet in your garden. As one user put it: 'It's the only thing that worked and trust me, I tried everything.' How to prevent bamboo from taking over your garden For those that are still tempted to add bamboo to their garden, there is a way that you can Rather than simply planting a smaller patch, green-fingered influencer Advertisement In a recent Instagram reel, he advised his followers: 'Basically, you dig a trench [and] you put this [the bamboo barrier], leave it sticking out a little bit.' According to the gardening whizz, this will stop any shoots and rhizomes from spreading through the soil. If you already have a bamboo plant in your garden, you can also use the same method by placing the plastic barrier around your existing patch. How to get rid of invasive bamboo IF you have a bamboo that has got out of hand, you may wish to eradicate it completely. Cultural control Non-chemical methods involve digging out clumps of bamboo and restricting the size. This can be difficult with very large plants, or on heavy soil. Use a sharp spade to dig up the entire clump or to remove sections from the edge of the clump that have grown beyond the limits. Sever rhizomes as you go, lifting and removing them with a fork or trowel. Weedkiller control When invasive plants are a threat to biodiversity and gardeners struggle to control them with cultural methods, targeted use of regulated weedkillers may be an option. Garden centres and large retailers selling weedkillers have trained staff who can advise on suitable products for your needs.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store