Incredible Uses For Pool Noodles That Prove They’re More Than Just A Toy
Pool noodles have been a staple of summertime fun since the 1980s. They were originally made for swimming but pool noodles are good for so much more than swimming. You can use these regular flotation devices to make some pretty cool crafts, solve some household problems, and make your life a little bit easier.
You'll never believe you were living life without these incredible pool noodle hacks. Keep reading to learn how you can hack your home with pool noodles.
Keep Your Car Safe
Have you ever opened your car door right into the side of your garage? There's a hack for that. Either attach a part of the noodle to your garage or keep a section in your car so you can slip it onto the door before opening it fully.
Just section off a bit of noodle and slice it from end to end. The noodle will easily slip onto your door and allow you to get out of a tight garage or parking space without severely messing up your car's paint job.
Keep Cold Drafts Out Of Your House
It can get really cold in the winter when drafts can fly into your house from underneath doors and windows. Not to mention, all of that wind can drive your heating bill way up. There's a simple solution to that. Just cut a pool noodle to the exact dimensions of your door, cut it from end to end, and slide it right under your door.
It is an inexpensive and yet very effective draft blocker that will have you cozy in your room in no time.
Keep Your Boots In Tip Top Shape
Tall boots can start to slump when they're not stored properly. A lot of boots come with cardboard fillers to keep them upright when they're not being worn, but who knows where those things went? There is an easy and cheap way to get your knee-high boots to stop flopping all over the entryway or closet -- pool noodles!
No need to buy expensive boot shapers ever again. Just cut the noodles to the right size and stuff them inside your boots.
Catch Some Zs With A Pool Noodle Headrest
Those airplane pillows cost so much at the airport, but if you're going on a long trip, you don't have to invest in a fancy pillow. You can make your own headrest using a pool noodle and a towel.
All you have to do is cut off a section of the noodle and slice it from end to end. That way it's easy to slip right onto the seat belt. Wrap a soft shirt or towel around it and you have yourself a makeshift pillow!
Make Your Own Wreath
Believe it or not, pool noodles make the perfect base for a wreath, Christmas or otherwise. You can decorate your wreath with pine branches and red berries during the winter season, or bright red, yellow, and orange leaves on branches in the fall.
It's so easy to hook fake leaves, pumpkins, ornaments, and other objects into the foam noodle that you might get addicted to swapping out the decor. Before you know it you'll be making wreaths for every occasion.
A Pail Grip
For those labor workers out there, you know how uncomfortable it can be to carry a heavy pail. The metal handle does nothing in ways of grip and can even painfully slice right through delicate skin.
Here is a hack to get your hands through the day intact. Use a tiny section of a pool noodle to wrap around the metal handle. The noodle will supply a nice grip and you won't have to worry about metal cuts and burns!
Make Your Own Squeegee
Have you ever spilled something in the garage with no way of cleaning it up, aside from the lone sponge that's been sitting in a dirty bucket for months? Hopefully, this hack will help with your messy situation!
Grab a pool noodle and a heavy-duty garden rake. Measure the noodle against the prongs of the rake and cut. Next, slice the noodle from end to end, slip in onto the prongs, and voila! You have a ready-to-go and easy-to-use squeegee.
A Safer Trampoline
Trampolines can be a bit hazardous for young kids. So if there was a way to make them a fraction of a bit safer, wouldn't you want to know about it? A great safety hack for anyone with a trampoline is to use pool noodles to cover the metal springs and frame.
This way, no one will get their feet pinched by the springs or get accidentally tossed into the metal poles and hurt themselves. It won't prevent all injuries, but at least it gives parents a bit less to worry about!
No More Lost Toys
If you have kids or pets (or if you just drop a lot of things) you might notices that every time you look under your couch, you see a graveyard of toys, remotes, and odds and ends. You can fix this problem by using a pool noodle to block the gap between the floor and the couch.
It will make your life a lot easier when it comes time to clean. Now you don't have to worry about your dog chasing a ball under the couch and then getting upset when he can't get to it.
A Softer Clothes Hanger
If you like keeping your delicate clothing, like sweaters and nice slacks, in good condition, then you need a delicates hanger. You don't want your nice clothing stretching out or creasing now, do you? You might have dry cleaner hangers with the thin foam padding but we're here to tell you that you need to step your game up.
We're talking pool noodle padding over the hanger rung. With that much cushioning, there is no way any of your clothing is getting ruined!
A Fishing Pole For Kids
For those fishing families out there, one of the worst things to happen on a trip is a little kid throwing their pole overboard and watching it sink to the bottom of the ocean or lake. Have no fear, we have a hack!
Use a pool noodle to create a float for the fishing pole. Just in case your little one feels like throwing things overboard, you won't have to watch as the expensive piece of equipment sinks out of reach.
Make Your Own Light Saber
Pool noodle lightsabers are a huge hit at kids' parties. You can have kids make their own pool noodle lightsabers at a party, or you can make them yourself and then hand them out as party favors. Since pool noodles typically run from $1-$3 at your local Dollar Store, they're super cheap and easy to buy in bulk. All you need is a variety of different colored noodles, some duct tape, and markers!
Kids will have so much fun pretending to be Luke Skywalker with these DIY toys.
No More Stubbed Toes
There's nothing worse than getting up in the middle of the night only to stub your toes on the legs of your bed. Well, we're here to help! Wrap pool noodles around each of the metal legs.
That way, your toes are safe from any unwanted shooting pain and you're free to get out of bed in the middle of the night to get a glass of water without worrying. It's a win-win for everyone!
A $1 Wrist Rest
Say goodbye to uncomfortable typing in your workplace. Let us introduce you to a hack that is both ergonomically friendly while also cheap! Granted, you could probably run out and buy a wrist protector for $10-$15, but why do that when you can spend $1 on a pool noodle and $9 on lunch?
We're just trying to help you be economic over here. So grab a pool noodle, cut it to the length of your keyboard, and then cut it vertically so it is a comfortable height for your hands.
No More Sliding Silverware
This hack will make it so you never have to hear the dreadful sound of your silverware spilling all over the place again. Just measure the end of your silverware organizer to the end of the drawer and cut the pool noodle accordingly.
Slide the noodle right between the case and the back of the drawer and you'll never have to worry about shutting the drawer too hard! No matter how hard you slam it, that silverware isn't going anywhere.
The Comfiest Armrests
There's nothing worse than walking out to your lawn furniture on a nice summer day only to get the skin burned off your arm because the metal chair has been sitting in the blazing sun all day.
A pool noodle can fix that problem. You'll want to cut the noodle in half and then cut each half like a slinky. Wrap one noodle around each armrest until its fully covered. Cut off any extra material.
A Comfy Foot Rest
Your kids are going to love this one! And so will you, if your children tend to kick the back of your seat when they're bored. Just use string or a bit of rope to attach a section of pool noodle to the bottom of a car seat and voilà -- now your kids have somewhere comfy to rest their feet!
It's easily adjustable, too, so this pool noodle hack will continue to do the trick as your kid grows.
Make Your Own Giant Lincoln Logs
Playing with blocks is fun, but building a house you can actually walk into is way better than building a tiny Lego house that's only big enough for Lego people. If you want to build a giant Lincoln Log set for your kids, all you need to do is buy at least 15 pool noodles, cut them in half, and put a notch on both ends of the "logs."
This easy craft will give your little one hours of fun! And don't worry, if you like things being uniform, pool noodles do come in brown so you can make the "logs" look authentic.
Teach Fractions With Pool Noodles
If you're a math teacher, or if you just want to help your kids learn fractions, pool noodles are your new best friend. All you have to do is cut and label the noodles appropriately. The bright colors will keep young kids' attention, and they'll want to play with the new "toy."
Line up the pool noodles so kids can visually see how fractions add up to equal each other. Looking at this photo, you can clearly see that one whole is equal to two halves.
Line Insulation For An RV
If you have an RV and are planning on taking a trip to a cooler climate, this hack might just save you! Bring pool noodles to insulate your water and sanitation lines. You'll be thanking the noodles in the morning when neither line freezes up and you're able to utilize the water.
It's the little things that you don't think about, but there is no reason to ruin a perfectly good adventure because of frozen lines!
No More Slamming Doors
Nobody likes the sound of doors slamming. Plus, if you have a door that tends to slam shut, you may find yourself with chipped door paint. Now you have to repaint your door and it's a whole thing. There's a better solution, though. All you have to do is cut a section of a pool noodle and slice it down the middle from tip to tip.
That way, it's easy to slide the noodle right onto the door, making a barrier between it and the door frame. Say goodbye to startling noises!
Make Your Candles Float
Whether it's for your backyard pool, pond, or even for your own personal enjoyment in a nice bath, floating candles are a terrific way to set a relaxing mood. And who knew making homemade floats could be so easy?
Go out to the store and buy a noodle in your favorite color and cut it into about three-inch-thick sections. Trace a votive candle outline in the center of one of the pieces, cut a hole, and place the candle inside. Now you have glowing candle floaties!
Keep Those Poles In Order
Any avid fisherman should know about this handy pool noodle hack that will keep their fishing poles upright and organized. Cut slits into the noodle, spacing them about four inches apart so the poles aren't too close together. Then you're going to want to screw the noodle to the wall.
It's not mandatory, but if you want to protect the end of your pole from the garage floor, put a piece of wood underneath the noodle. You'll never have to worry about your pole falling over and breaking again!
Keep Your Cords In Check
With pool noodles, there's no reason for your extra extension cords to be knotted in the back of your linen closet. One noodle can be used as at least three separate organizers. All you need to do it cut the noodle into three or four equal sections, cutting a slit to the middle from either end.
Then fold up your cord and slide it right into the organizer! This hack will keep all your cords knot-free.
A Closet Organizer
If you're like us, then every time you open your broom closet at least one (or six) things fall out onto you. Don't worry, we have an organizational hack that will make it so you don't have to cower in fear about the inevitable broom to the face.
For this hack, you're going to want to cut the pool noodle flat on one side. That way you can affix it to the wall. Then cut vertical triangles for the broom, mop, and other cleaning tools' handles.
Make Your Own Floating Cooler
This hack brings the noodle back to its natural habitat, the pool. But there are other fun ways to use noodles in a pool, aside from floating on them! Measure a noodle around four parts of a plastic container, cutting each section of the noodle accordingly. String the noodle sections together and tightly secure them around the container.
This will help the bin stay afloat and not capsize, leaving you to enjoy an afternoon in the pool without having to get out for a beverage.
Save Your Garage Floor
If you live in a place where it snows or rains a lot, then you know that your garage floor can become a pseudo watering hole. Have no fear, pool noodles are here! Grab a few pool noodles from your local Dollar Store, some duct tape, and a large tarp.
Affix the noodles to the bottom of the tarp, flip it over, and place it on the floor of your garage. Now, whenever you drive your car into the garage, the melted snow and rainwater will fall straight onto the tarp! It's a much easier cleanup.
Make A Phone Holder Out Of A Pool Noodle
Depending on how old you are, you might need parental supervision for this phone holder hack. You're going to want to get creative and use an X-acto knife to cut the intricate groves into the noodle. There are plenty of tutorials online to show you a safe and easy way to do so!
Once you have your stand, the options are endless! Stand it upright to play games, or lay your phone on its side to watch videos.
Clean Your Brushes
One of the drawbacks of arts and crafts is the mess, especially when paints are involved. Something to help keep your countertops clean and tidy is putting a little bit of pool noodle on the side of a bowl and cutting slits into it to store paintbrushes.
This way, you stay organized and your furniture stays somewhat clean! Not to mention, when you clean the brushes dirty water won't go everywhere. It's the perfect drying station!
A Safer Ladder
Spending a lot of time standing on a ladder can be taxing to your knees and shins. That's where this next pool noodle hack comes in. If you're going to be standing on a ladder for an extended period of time, cut up a noodle and wrap the pieces around the ladder rungs that align with your knees and shins.
It will help take away some of the pain and make it easier to lean forward. A word of caution: only do this when you're standing still on the ladder, and remove the noodles before climbing up or down!
Make A Big Raft
Granted, one noodle is plenty to keep you afloat for a relaxing day in the pool. But we can't help but think this pirate raft looks cooler and way more luxurious than a single noodle. And it's super easy to construct!
All you need are a few noodles and some string to tie them all together, and you're good to go! Although the pirate flag isn't mandatory, we recommend it for reputation purposes.
Yup, Those Are Pool Noodle Napkin Rings
If you're like us, you enjoy setting a festive table for every single holiday that comes along. But it can get expensive buying dishes, napkins, and all the accompanying accessories you need.
Pool noodles come to the rescue here, too. Just slice one up into thin strips and you have yourself some colorful (and inexpensive!) new napkin rings for your next get-together. We wonder if Martha Stewart knows about this clever dining table trick.
Make Your Own Pin Cushions
This pool noodle hack is a craft within a craft! First off, did you ever consider how perfect pool noodle foam is for a pincushion? You can make just about any style you want. There are two variations pictured here. One is cut into a delicate flower shape, while the other is just a section of a noodle. We've even seen people cover theirs with fabric.
Once you've finished making your custom pincushion, then the real crafting begins! What are you going to sew first?
Keep Your Quilts Safe
If you have a lot of quilts and have been wondering how to store them all, then you're in the right place. Pool noodles make excellent holders for quilts. The round noodles keep the quilts smooth and prevent any wrinkling or folding that comes with storing them in boxes.
Just carefully wrap your quilt around the pool noodle, with the design facing out so you can see it easier when you want to retrieve it.
Wall Art Stamps
Custom wall murals can be very expensive to commission, and it's not a project you want to tackle on your own unless you're a really good artist. Right? Not so! Just look at this wall mural that's underway.
This crafty individual just used the tip of a pool noodle as a brush to create the illusion of palm fronds. The final result will be a wall that's covered in lush, tropical greenery. It's perfect for a dining room or any other area you want to feel like escaping to on cold days.
Check To See If Your Ceiling Fan Has This
If you know anything about science, then you know that hot air rises because it is less dense than cool air. This isn't exactly helpful during those chilly winter months, but there is likely a switch on your ceiling fan that will help that!
Most ceiling fans are equipped with a small switch that changes the direction of the fan blades. In the winter, use this switch to get the blades moving in a clockwise direction so that the warm air will be pushed from the ceiling to the floor.
Use A Magnet To Keep Your Hammer And Nails Together
Many of us don't use a hammer and nails too often. You likely have both in your house, but when you finally need to use them, you can't find one or the other. This is not only annoying but it is also dangerous to have unused nails lying around.
To avoid this mess and keep everything in one place, you can attach a small magnet to the bottom of your hammer. This will keep your nails attached to it when you need it most!
Old Desk Organizers Can Serve Other Parts Of Your Home
Pantries are often the first spaces in our homes that start getting disorganized. Before you know it, you'll have spices hidden between boxes and bags of food that'll just overwhelm you.
If you have some extra desk organizers lying around your house, you can actually use those to organize the smaller items in your pantry. If you can, try pinning them onto the wall so that you have more shelf space for bulkier items!
Command Hooks Can Be Used For This
If you're reading this article, then you're likely a home-hack enthusiast who is well aware of the wondrous capabilities of Command hooks. These little guys can hang up almost anything and come off of your wall without leaving a trace!
One innovative use for these hooks is to hang wreaths or other decor on your front door. Just place the hook upside down on the inside of the door and using a string, your decor can hang on from the other side.
Hide The Eyesore That Is Your Router
WiFi has become an everyday necessity in our homes but sometimes the router doesn't always add to the motif of whatever room it's installed in. If your router is looking particularly unsightly in your home, try hiding it with some innovative decorations!
Store the router in a decorative box with a hole cut out for the cords. Or you can make a case of fake books to store it standing up!
Use An Empty Bottle For This Decor Hack
Home decor optimists might be privy to have large vases filled with ornamental items such as used wine corks or glass beads. But what if you don't drink enough wine to collect enough corks?
Instead of taking on more wine than you can handle, or having to constantly return to the craft store for more glass beads, try putting an empty wine bottle in the vase first! The bottle will take up more volume in the vase and the corks or beads will fill in the space on the sides, giving the illusion that the vase is fuller.
Did You Know A Squeegee Could Do This?
One of the biggest drawbacks to having a cat or a dog is the amount of fur that can accumulate on your floors, especially if you have carpet throughout your home. Regular vacuuming usually does the trick but sometimes vacuums aren't strong enough to pick up everything!
Next time, try using a squeegee to loosen all the hair off of the carpet. The hardest clumps will come out before you run over your carpet with the vacuum again.
Use A Rubber Band For Stripped Screws
Many chores are a breeze until you come across that one stripped screw that makes it impossible to finish your task. Screwdrivers are barely helpful in these cases, yet some people still try to use them for a few minutes before finding another solution.
Next time you're in this predicament try placing a rubber band between the screw head and the screwdriver! The grip from the rubber should help the screw ease out. Then you can say you at least loosened it.
Shower Curtain Hooks Can Hang Clothes Too
We've all had those moments where we come home from the mall some new items to add to our wardrobe, only to realize we don't have enough hangers! This can be annoying, especially since at that point you'd be too tired to go back out and buy some.
One easy fix for this would be to use shower curtain hooks! They take up less space and are especially ideal for hanging clothes with a loop, like jeans or jackets.
Shoe Organizers Aren't Limited To Footwear
We've all seen those shoe organizers that hang on the back of closet doors and have a pocket for every pair of flat shoes that you own. But did you ever think of storing anything else in these bad boys?
Shoe organizers can work well in your pantry to store smaller items and make them easier to see at once. They also work great for organizing all the stray cords and power outlets lying around your house!
Use A Dishwasher Tablet To Clean The Shower
A cleaning hack initially recommended by an Australian mom went viral on Facebook after those who tried it couldn't believe how well it works. Dishwasher tablets are abrasive and packed with cleaning power, making them a great tool to clean more than your dishes.
After putting gloves on, dip a dishwasher tablet in cold water, then scrub it on the shower door, or any soap or grime stained area. Or if you want your shower sparkling clean, scrub it all! The tablet will begin to disintegrate (again, make sure you're wearing gloves). Then, rinse the area clean and wipe it down.
Put This In Your Toilet To Conserve Water
Conserving water is one of the top concerns for eco-friendly households. In addition to taking shorter showers, you could also reduce the amount of water you flush every time you hit the toilet.
One way to do this (without having to not flush at all, which is gross) is to put a brick or a jar full of water in the back of your toilet. After a flush, less water will go back in the tank due to the volume the brick takes up.
Try This Space-Saving Hanger Hack
Another problem we often run into when it comes to getting new clothes is running out of space in the closet. When you don't want to purge whatever clothes you don't need anymore, you can try saving space by doubling up on hangers!
Take a tab from a soda can and place the neck of one hanger through one of the holes. Then, simply hang another hanger from the bottom hole and voila, two articles of clothing for the space of one!
DIY A Non-Slip Hanger With Hot Glue
Maybe your closet issue lies not in the availability of space or hangers, but rather in the fact that all your nice blouses keep slipping off their hangers! Turns out there's an easy fix for this that doesn't require buying special hangers.
Instead, if you have a hot glue gun, try squeezing out a thin layer on the shoulders of the hanger. When it dries, it should prove the perfect grip for your cute tanks and silk blouses.
Use Essential Oils In The Bathroom
The bathroom comes with its fair share of odors and we often use aerosol sprays to take care of it. These are hardly a long-lasting solution, so if you want something a little stronger, why not try essential oils.
Just a few drops of your favorite essential oil soaked into the cardboard of your toilet paper roll will do the trick! Every time someone grabs for more TP, the essential oil scent will be released into the air.
Keep Your Door Open With A Rubber Band
Bringing the groceries into the house is a chore in itself and it's pretty annoying having to try to open the door with your hands full. If leaving the door wide open is simply not an option where you live, you can try to make it easier by tying a rubber band around the doorknob like so.
This will prevent the door from latching so you can just push it open when you pass through. Just don't forget to remove it when you're done!
Use An Old Bottle As Decorative Storage
When it comes to jewelry, we don't always have the best storage solutions on hand. When we don't have the perfect place to store our bracelet collection, it ends up being a cluttered mess or worse, we even lose some of them.
You can avoid this by storing them on the neck of a bottle. Not only will you have a place for bracelets and scrunchies, but you will also have upcycled that cute wine, beer, or soda bottle you enjoyed so much.
Use Tongs To Clean The Blinds
Your window shades and blinds can be some of the dustiest places in your home. Cleaning them can be tedious, but it doesn't need to be. You can clean the dust off your blinds easily with some kitchen tongs.
Simply fasten some microfiber cloths of an old t-shirt to the ends of the tongs with rubber bands. That way, you'll have an easy too that'll catch dust off both sides of the blinds in no time!
A Tension Rod Can Add More To Your Storage Space
We often store our household cleaning supplies safely under the kitchen or bathroom sink. But all those bulky boxes and oddly-shaped spray bottles can cause us to run out of space and clutter up the cabinet.
In order to avoid this, try a tension rod! They're inexpensive and can be found at any hardware store. This way, you can hang the spray bottles from the rod and open up more space underneath!
Save A Little After Your Next Paint Job
There's no other feeling quite like stepping into a freshly painted room. Changing the wall color can transform a space entirely but it is never fun to see all that hard work go to waste when furniture nicks the wall.
To avoid this, save some of the paint you used in a baby food jar before you properly dispose of your extra paint. This way, you'll have just enough paint on hand for touch-ups without having to store a big can of paint.
