My metal garden furniture has gone green...

[Biscuitsandtea]

I'm hoping someone can help.

I have metal garden furniture and it's started to go green. I'll attempt to describe the sort of furniture - the table and chairs have a sort of wire mesh surface and then tubular frame. I've tried to look for a pic but can't find anything like it (I'll take this to mean my garden furniture is rare rather than out of fashion ). This is the closest in construction (if the link works)

Anyway, it's starting to go a but green from keeping it outside. I've tried cleaning it with soapy water and a brush but it is still green.

Any tips?

Many thanks

I take it you don't want it to go green?

There are several metal salts (which are formed when metals are exposed to the environment) which are green. Iron sulphates and hydroxides (more likely in this wet weather). Copper carbonate is VIVID green... Chrome will also 'green'.

The only sure fire way to protect the metal (and therefore prevent the greening) is to paint the furniture... Which will provide a barrier between the metal and the weather.

The metal is doing that naturally by forming an oxide of some sort.

I think it's more of an algae / moss type green than the metal itself going green iyswim. I think it is anyhow (sorry I'm explaining it badly!)

Sorry - just read that back and didn't mean to sound abrupt. Typing one handed while bf ds2

Paint it with Jeyes fluid, wait for a day then hose it off or just jetwash it off.

Bleach will kill algae, and smells less than Jeyes. Once dead it will brush off.

The algae will grow in damp conditions. If you can protect your furniture from rain, or arrange for hot sunshine, it will not grow.

BTW I sometimes use a jetwasher, it is liable to take the paint off, so your furniture may end up looking worse.

Fab - thanks. Will try bleach first since I already have that. And have arranged for endless hot weather to keep it dry