Giving your garden fence a fresh lick of paint can completely transform your outdoor space — but if you’ve ever tried doing it with a brush, you’ll know how time-consuming (and wrist-aching) it can be. That’s why DIY fans are loving a new viral trick that’s making fence painting faster, easier, and surprisingly satisfying.
The clever hack comes from TikTok creator @mrsclarehoops, who’s built a following of over 130,000 people by sharing quick, no-fuss DIY tips. In a recent video, Clare shared her go-to method for speed-painting fences — and it doesn’t involve a brush or sprayer at all.
Instead? She swears by a constant in any household- the humble sponge. “Just a reminder, if you’re painting fences this weekend, try the sponge method,” Clare says in the video. “I like to chop the sponge in half, but you can use it whole — whatever works. It’s a bit messy, so grab a pair of rubber gloves.”
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The method is as simple as it sounds: soak the sponge in your chosen fence paint and swipe it across the panels. Clare explains that while it might not be the neatest approach, it’s hands down the fastest — especially for those textured, bumpy surfaces that brushes often struggle with.
“It just glides on,” she says. “It gets into all the awkward bits and covers large areas quickly. It’s not perfect, but sometimes you just need speed.”
You can pick up these large yellow sponges at most supermarkets or DIY stores for as little as 46p each, making it a budget-friendly alternative to rollers or specialist sprayers. And judging by the reaction online, plenty of people are already converted.
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One TikTok user replied: “Thank you for this. I’ve got to do mine this year and using a big brush is always so uncomfortable.” Another added: “Absolutely genius — paints fences in minutes! Just make sure to clean off any algae first.”
If you’ve been putting off tackling your tired-looking fence, this could be the shortcut that makes the job a whole lot less daunting. Just don’t forget those gloves — and maybe an old shirt, too.
