It comes as more homeowners take to social media platforms like TikTok for garden advice.
However, experts are now warning people to check advice shared online with experts before trying it out themselves.
Expert in garden and woodcare and Director of Protek, Becky Rackstraw, recently delved into some of the biggest TikTok gardening trends, coming across one viral bleach “hack”.
“Social media can be a great source of inspiration, but a lot of viral garden care advice oversimplifies processes that need a bit more care and understanding,” said Becky Rackstraw, Director at Protek.
“What works in a 30-second video doesn’t always translate into long-term sustainable results outdoors.”
Brits urged not to use bleach on garden fences
TikToker Kathlyn Celeste recently posted a video to her 59.2k followers suggesting that using bleach can help revive tired fence panels.
In the video, Kathlyn sprays the bleach directly onto her fence, resulting in her grey panels looking like they were brand new again.
However, expert Becky is warning homeowners of the long-lasting damage bleaching fences can cause.
Explaining: “Using bleach to ‘freshen’ a garden fence isn’t advisable. Bleach is a strong oxidising chemical that damages the wood’s surface fibres, strips away natural protection and leaves timber more vulnerable to moisture and UV degradation.
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“While it can create a quick visual lift, it offers no long-term protection and can actually shorten the lifespan of a fence.
“Bleach also poses an environmental risk when used outdoors, as runoff can harm soil organisms and surrounding plant life.”
Sharing what you should do instead to give a new life to your fence, Becky added: “Purpose-designed wood treatments are formulated to protect, colour and preserve timber for years, making them a far more effective and responsible choice than short-term cosmetic fixes.”
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