Overhanging branches, lack of sunlight and air circulation, and general moisture can cause brown wooden fences to turn an unpleasant green hue.

Removing algae from fences usually requires hours of scrubbing and regular maintenance, but fans of cleaning sensation Mrs Hinch have revealed her tried and tested method for removing green algae.

Social media user Hayley Louise Senior asked the Facebook group Mrs Hinch Gardening Tips: “Do you have any tips on how I can get rid of all the green algae stuff on the fence, patio and furniture?

“Sprayed the fences black to make it look worse this year! And every year I say I’ll bring the rugs and furniture in… I didn’t, lol.”

The post was flooded with responses, but a product called Wet & Forget was the most commonly suggested method.

Hayley Jones said: “A product called ‘Wet & Forget’. Just spray it on and in a day or two it’s as good as new! Can be used on any material…from Amazon.”

Jennifer Millward commented: “Wet & Forget is amazing! Our fences are turning green. We mixed some Wet & Forget with the appropriate amount of water and literally the next day it was all gone! One container from Amazon lasts forever.”

Alison Reardon replied: “Wet & Forget, but it has to be above five degrees and there must be no chance of rain.”

Joanne Schofield agreed, posting: “Wet & Forget is amazing, my fences were completely green. It removed everything, just by spraying. You have to dilute it with water and use a spray bottle. It also cleans your patio.”

Wet & Forget claims to “remove stubborn lichen or algae from patios, roofs and other outdoor surfaces.”

A 5-litre bottle of Wet & Forget Mould, Lichen & Algae Remover is available from Amazon for £28.99, while B&Q sells a 2-litre bottle for £18.40.

On Amazon, the product has a rating of 4.4 out of 5. Customers claim that the product is easy to use and does an excellent job of removing algae and moss.

One reviewer said: “Wet and Forget is an excellent product. I’m not sure what kind of magic is behind it, but we’ve used it on plaster walls, wooden fence panels, concrete posts and pavers – some of which were horribly green and never see the sunlight – and they look almost like new. No scrubbing needed, just a light spray and let it soak. Great stuff. Highly recommended.”

However, some users claimed the product was “overrated” and “disappointing.” One person claimed, “The lack of effectiveness is frustrating.”

They added: “In summary, it did not meet my expectations. It did not remove the dirt and lichen from my driveway even though I followed the instructions carefully. I would not recommend this product to anyone looking for an efficient and reliable driveway cleaner.”

Other alternatives recommended by Mrs Hinch fans for removing algae from fences include Patio Magic, Spray and Leave and Jeyes Fluid.

Patio Magic can be purchased from Wickes for £11, Spray and Leave is available from Amazon for £14.99 and Jeyes Fluid is £12.50 from B&Q.