For many years, pool noodles have been utilized as a useful tool for teaching swimming and floating in pools or lakes, hence their name. Besides being great for recreational activities, these inexpensive foam tubes can serve various purposes around the house. By continuing to read, discover over 40 innovative ways to utilize pool noodles and simplify your life.
Organize Cords and Cables
Most likely, we all have too many unsightly cords and wires dangling from our different gadgets at home. It could be frustrating when they get knotted or when you can’t determine which cord goes where. This is where using pool noodles can be helpful.
One way to prevent your cords from becoming tangled is by cutting a pool noodle on one side and threading them through it. By grouping them together appropriately, you can keep them organized and protected from pet bites. This is a practical method to safeguard both your electronics and pets.
Hang Delicate Clothing
Despite your good intentions to maintain an organized and neat closet, it’s still possible to remove clothes from hangers and notice unsightly wrinkles and dents caused by plastic hangers. However, you can prevent this problem with a simple pool noodle trick.
Take a small section from a pool noodle and place it at the base of a hanger, creating a soft and smooth cushion for delicate fabrics. Using this technique will ensure that your delicate pieces remain free of sharp edges or creases. You can hang lightweight fabrics over the pool noodle with confidence, knowing that they will remain unscathed until it’s time to wear them again.
Store Tools and Cleaning Supplies Neatly
In case your storage area for cleaning supplies such as your garage or pantry is disorganized and the items keep falling over, you can solve this issue using a pool noodle. By cutting the noodle flat on one side, attaching it to the wall, and making slits on the rounded side for different items, you can easily organize your cleaning supplies.
This technique is highly effective in maintaining brooms, mops, pool cues, and other equipment in an upright position, and keeping them organized and easily accessible. Moreover, it facilitates proper drying of cleaning supplies, which helps to minimize untidiness and unpleasant smell.
Floating Cup Holders
Not only are pool noodles useful for ensuring human buoyancy, but they can also be utilized to make almost anything stay afloat in water. By making some simple cuts, you can effortlessly transform some foam tubes into holders for different drinks, allowing you to relish them while remaining in the water.
To increase the storage capacity of a cooler or plastic bin, you can attach tiny sections of a pool noodle along the edges. After placing some ice in the bottom, your beverages will remain cold and within reach throughout your swimming pool experience.
Prevent Wrist Pain at the Computer
In case you spend extended periods of time typing at a computer, it is possible to experience discomfort in your wrist. A useful solution for this problem is using a wrist rest. In the event that you do not possess one, you can easily manufacture one yourself with a pool noodle.
To make a wrist rest for typing, take a pool noodle and cut a portion of it to your desired length, approximately the size of a keyboard. Cut one side of the noodle in a way that it lays flat on a desk, while the rounded side faces up. Make necessary adjustments to the cut such that it feels comfortable. You can now use this soft noodle as a comfortable rest for your wrists while typing.
Protect Your Car Bumper
Pool noodles can provide effective shielding against minor knocks and scratches. If you wish to add this additional layer of protection to your vehicle, it’s simple to attach some noodles to the bumper. Firstly, cut and fasten multiple noodles to create a bumper of your preferred dimensions, then easily fasten it to your car using either zip ties or thin rope.
If your car bumper already has some kind of damage, such as a hole or crack, then there is a useful technique to prevent further damage.
DIY Pet Shower
Assisting your pets trying to take a bath can be a challenging task, as they may resist standing still or even entering the tub initially. Nevertheless, by investing some time and using a pool noodle, you can create your own homemade pet shower, which can facilitate bath time for both you and your furry companion.
First, create holes on one side of a pool noodle and shape it into a large circle that your pet can go through. Close off one end of the noodle entirely and ensure that the other end can accommodate a hose. Once you switch the hose on, the water will go out of the holes like a sprinkler, making it simple for you to wash your pets while they stand comfortably outdoors.
Extra Protection for Luggage Rack
The luggage rack on your vehicle can simplify transporting bulky objects, but it also poses the danger of causing harm to your car’s roof, especially if you’re carrying tools like ladders. To steer clear of this risk, you can secure pool noodles onto the rack and avoid possible damage.
The pool noodles provide a protective layer between your transported items and the roof of your vehicle to avoid any accidental contact. But, it is essential to be cautious while securing them to ensure the extra cushion and elevation do not affect the safe transportation.
Keep Drawers Neat and Organized
If you are looking for a way to keep your house tidy and well-arranged, using pool noodles can be an excellent solution. They are quite versatile, as you can trim them to fit into any drawer size, preventing items from moving around and making a mess. For instance, you can fit small foam pieces behind silverware organizers to hold trays in place.
If the pool noodles fit in your drawers, you can leave them as they are or slice one of their sides to make them lay flat. You can apply them in junk drawers, desks, or all over the kitchen to ensure that small things remain readily available.
Head Rest in the Car
You can utilize pool noodles to enhance the comfort of long road trips for people and pets alike. Simply put a pool noodle around the seatbelt to create a soft headrest for dozing off easily. To add extra coziness, wrap a small blanket or towel around the noodle.
“If you happen to be traveling with pets, it is important to have a simple solution to prevent them from accessing the front seats and diverting the driver’s attention. You can achieve this by placing a pool noodle between the front seats to act as a barrier.”
Lawnmower Handle Guard
Mowing the lawn can be quite challenging, particularly when using a push mower. A significant aspect of the feat is maintaining a firm grip on the unwieldy handle for a prolonged duration, which can easily lead to soreness in your hands and arms. However, incorporating some extra cushioning can make this strenuous task slightly more manageable.
Trim the pool noodle to match the width of your device’s handle and slice one side for easy slipping around the handle. Employing a pool noodle for any lawn care device can alleviate harsh vibrations and provide a better grip, allowing for more extended use without discomfort.
Block Drafts in Your Home
Although it may not be aesthetically pleasing, employing pool noodles to prevent drafts can significantly enhance the coziness of your residence and minimize your heating expenses. Cut a pool noodle in half and place it underneath any door in your home that is prone to letting in cold air.
Pool noodles can be utilized similarly to seal drafty windows and maintain indoor warmth. This method has an extra advantage in muffling the sound that passes through different rooms.
DIY Curtain Holders
One more useful way to utilize pool noodles is to use them as alternative tiebacks for curtains. This can be highly advantageous when you’re on the go and want to secure the window coverings in your hotel room or RV. Since pool noodles are portable and frequently accompany you on holiday or excursions, it’s an excellent method to reuse them as a solution.
Cut the noodles to your desired length and wrap them around the window coverings to keep them tied up. And because the noodles are soft, there’s no risk of damaging any delicate fabrics.
Keep the Shape of Your Boots
There are few things more frustrating than investing a good amount of money into nice leather boots, only to have them looking sloppy and worn halfway through the season. And when they’re placed in a closet and are left to droop and fold over on themselves, it’s no surprise how this happens.
An easy fix for this is to use a short length of pool noodle and stuff into each boot, allowing the leather or other material upper to remain upright and better hold its shape. Storing your boots this way will keep them from creasing and ensure they look new much longer.
Makeshift Squeegee and Mop
If you have an extra steel rake and a pool noodle, you can quickly make a squeegee or mop to easily clean your garage or shop floor. Simply cut a noodle in half and fit to the length of the rake’s head. Place the tines in the middle of the pool noodle and fasten with zip ties for extra security.
Now you have a squeegee that’s perfect for pushing water across virtually any smooth surface floor. No need to invest in a mop — simply use this makeshift version to clean just as effectively for a much lower cost. And when the foam gets too dirty, it’s easy to toss and replace.
Trampoline Spring Protector
Trampolines are great for providing hours of entertainment and exercise for the whole family. But, nothing ruins the fun as quickly as getting hurt by one of the heavy-duty springs that attach the trampoline to its base. And this is almost too easy to do — one wrong step or even a careless dismount can result in a pinched finger or worse.
An easy and affordable solution is to use pool noodles as protective wraps around each spring. Measure the length of the spring on the pool noodle and make as many cuts as you can, then cut those pieces in half if necessary to fit over the top of each spring. Repeat for as many as you need, and you can now enjoy this backyard toy with much more peace of mind.
Teaching Aids
Because pool noodles are generally easily accessible — not to mention extremely affordable — they are a great tool to use in the classroom. They are easy to cut, colorful, and safe for kids of nearly all ages. And with just a bit of creativity, you can use them for educational purposes such as teaching basic math.
Fractions are easy for kids to visualize when you give them physical props, such as the pool noodle pictured above. You can use them for counting, colors, shapes, and more.
Floating Votive Holders
To really up the ante during a bath or a late-night swim session in the pool, use floating votive candles to create ambiance. Many pool noodles are just the right size to fit a small votive candle in the center, and when you cut one into small pieces, you have yourself many floating vases.
Whether you use a votive with a real wick or a battery-powered one, setting a handful of these in a body of water can really make an aesthetic statement. This idea can even make for a beautiful background to a wedding reception, date night, or dinner party — provided you have a pool or pond to utilize.
Phone and Tablet Stand
In a pinch, you can use a pool noodle to create a makeshift tablet or phone holder. Just a few cuts to a small piece of pool noodle foam can leave you with a lightweight stand custom-fit to your device. This is helpful for watching videos, reading, or looking at a recipe while cooking — all hands-free.
This trick is cheap, simple, and won’t cause damage to your delicate device. No scratches or even worries about whether or not your phone will fit properly. You can customize these however you like.
Full Pool Raft
What’s better than one pool noodle to float on? Tying a bunch of them together to make an entire raft! With zip ties or rope, tie together as many small pieces of pool noodle to make a raft of your preferred size. Then, attach two more pieces of the same size on top of the raft so that they can hold a makeshift sail or flag.
This is a great hack for enjoying the water when you don’t have an expensive pool chair or another flotation device. Both kids and adults alike can enjoy floating on a raft, whether it’s to soak up the sun or play pretend.
Protective Pet Collar
When it comes time to take your four-legged friends to the vet, they can often leave with a bandage or stitches for you to take care of. And this becomes difficult when your dog or cat can’t seem to stop fussing with it. This is where a handy pool noodle can come in.
Instead of an uncomfortable plastic cone, you can use small pieces of pool noodle to cushion your pet’s collar and prevent them from being able to reach any wounds. And this way they can still remain comfortable while healing from their visit to the vet.
Hold Playing Cards
If you’re a card shark, try this easy pool noodle hack. Cut a small round off the end of a pool noodle and slice into one of the sides. This way you can slip a full hand of cards into the small pocket you’ve created and keep them secure throughout the game.
With this trick, you can safely hold onto your cards and not worry about any of them falling and revealing the hand you have. This is perfect for any and all card games, especially poker.
DIY Tufted Headboard
A new headboard can completely change the look of your bedroom. Unfortunately, this can be an expensive piece of furniture to invest in, as well as a pain to build and/or install. If you have the time and patience, you can easily create a new headboard for yourself at home with just a few simple materials and some pool noodles.
By fastening pool noodles to a piece of plywood and covering them with your favorite pattern material, you can relatively quickly create a whole new headboard with a tufted look. And not only will you save a considerable amount of money doing it yourself, but the end result is also lightweight and easy to install — and it’s easily replaceable when you need a new look.
Seedling Planters
To keep seedlings properly fed and hydrated while they get a good start to becoming full plants, it’s important to maintain a healthy environment for them. A great way to do this is to create mini planters stuffed with pieces of pool noodle.
The foamy material of a pool noodle keeps the seedling secured in place without damaging it, as well as helps ensure the water levels are sufficient. The foam absorbs extra water so as not to drown the tiny starter, but simultaneously maintains enough moisture to hydrate it properly.
Protection From Hail Damage
You already know that you can use a pool noodle shield to protect your car bumper, but if you take this hack to the next level you can create an entire protective barrier for the top of your car in the event of a severe storm. Protect your vehicle while it’s parked outside from potential hail and results of high winds.
Simply use full-length pool noodles and fasten them together along the long edges to create a raft-like device. Then when you need it, lay this gently over the top of your car and fasten it with gentle ties or even weights to keep it flat. Now you can rest assured that your car outside will stay safe even in some of the toughest conditions.
Makeshift Water Sprinkler
Looking for a way to keep kids entertained and cool while outside playing in the heat? Try making your own DIY water sprinkler out of a single pool noodle and a regular garden hose. Poke several medium-sized holes along one side of the long edge of a pool noodle and stop up the other side.
Then, insert the end of a garden hose into the free end of the pool noodle. When you turn on the hose, the water will shoot out of the holes and double just as a regular water sprinkler. And when the kids are done playing, you can use this to water the lawn.
Dry Makeup Brushes
Cleaning your makeup brushes is one of the best ways to keep them in good shape. Plus, regular maintenance will ensure they stay hygienic and will reduce the risk of bacteria and irritation on your skin. However, it can be easy to ruin the shape of your favorite brushes if you don’t dry them properly.
To solve this problem, take a pool noodle and cut slices along one side about halfway through to the center. Then, set the noodle on a countertop or ledge and place the handles of your makeup brushes upside down in each slice. This will hold each brush securely while allowing the bristles to dry evenly and retain their proper shape.
Make Quilting Easier
Using pool noodles can be a great solve for organizing your quilting supplies. There are multiple ways to keep things neat and tidy, such as wrapping individual fabrics or materials around pool noodles to keep them in good shape and easily accessible. You can also use small pieces of the foam as pin cushions.
Plus, while you’re working with several different materials, it can be extremely helpful to be able to pin them up so that they don’t get lost in the shuffle.
Fishing Bait Lures
Pool noodles can even be used as lures for certain types of fishing bait. For example, some catfish bait is too difficult to simply hook on the end of a line due to its consistency. When this is the case, it can be helpful to have something easily disposable to cover in the bait.
An easy solve for this is cutting up a pool noodle into small pieces in order to cover in the bait. Then the foam can be attached to the end of a line in a much easier fashion, and dropped into the water. Try this affordable trick next time you’re out fishing and see how easy it is to reel them in!
Easy-to-See Boundary Markers
If you live in an area that gets snow during the winter, you might be familiar with the necessity of boundary markers to ensure your driveway remains visible after a heavy snowfall. Instead of flags, try using super affordable pool noodles to mark the area. Because they come in bright colors, you can easily wrap these around existing flags or markers to make them even easier to see.
This is also a helpful trick for marking “no-dig” areas or setting the perimeter of your yard for various reasons.
Convenient Paintbrush Holder
A pool noodle is a great trick for holding multiple paint brushes at once while working on an art piece. What’s more is that you can fit the piece of foam onto the edge of a water bowl so that the brushes drip safely into the container and don’t make a mess on the work surface.
When you’re done painting, wash the brushes and you can leave them wedged in the piece of pool noodle so that they can properly air out and dry in the correct shape.
Work Light Holder
When you’re working on a project that requires two hands, it can be tricky to figure out how to get the best lighting for seeing the necessary details. Fortunately, if you have a pool noodle, you can create a makeshift flashlight holder that can be propped or wedged into a corner and aimed at the right area.
You can even suspend the light by hooking into the foam with some string or wire and hanging it from a close ledge. This way you can get the right amount of light for any of your projects that require both hands.
Ladder Guard for Gutters
To provide extra cushion to the legs of a ladder while propped up against the house or gutter, try using pool noodles against the backside. This ensures a padded yet stable stance all while preventing scratching or other damages to the gutter or siding.
You can even use shorter pieces of pool noodle to wrap around the outside edge of each ladder rung. By using just a small piece that doesn’t cover much of the area where you step, you can still add the extra cushioning that you need for your shins and legs as you climb up and down on the ladder or lean against it while working.
Crib and Bed Bumpers
To keep your little one safe from accidental head bumps in the middle of the night, try using pool noodles to cushion the hard sides of a crib or bed. With some duct tape and a few noodles, you can easily and quickly line the inside of any bed.
This way, your children can safely get in and out of bed without bumping their heads, and you don’t have to worry that they’ll get injured during the night while sleeping.
Keep Fishing Poles Safe and Organized
Keeping fishing poles safe and protected is crucial during the offseason. These delicate tools can easily be damaged if they jostle around, especially when stored in a garage or other area that tends to be overlooked. Fortunately, a pool noodle can be just the fix you need to keep expensive fishing rods safe.
Stick a pool noodle onto the garage wall and cut slices into the side that faces out. From here, you can gently wedge multiple fishing poles into the foam so that they stay upright and avoid getting tangled lines.
DIY Batting Tee
Another way to entertain the kids is to set up a makeshift batting tee in the backyard with a pool noodle. Wrap a pole or flag with a pool noodle and use this to set a whiffle ball on top — the pool noodle shape is the perfect size.
This is also a way to save money on buying a real plastic tee. With a bit of creativity and time, you can repurpose these inexpensive pool noodles for a variety of backyard sports and activities.
Wreath Forms for Decorating
Holiday decorations can rack up quite the expense when the right season rolls around. To save money, try making your own at home. Pool noodles can come in handy for this process, especially when it comes to making wreaths. A pool noodle shaped into a circle makes the perfect base for a wreath, and allows other decorations to easily be affixed to it.
Save money on wreaths for every season by using affordable pool noodles as forms. You’ll be able to decorate to your heart’s content no matter what the holiday or season.
Pack Delicate Items Safely
To pack glass or delicate items safely for a long trip, try wrapping them in small pieces of pool noodle. This is particularly useful for transporting wines or other glass-bottled beverages. Simply cut the noodle into small pieces, cutting each of these into thinner strips if necessary.
Then wrap a piece or two around the item in question and fasten with tape or another adhesive that won’t ruin the product. Now, you can travel with peace of mind that your glass items won’t break and destroy the rest of the things in your bags.
Handcrafted Pool Games
While pool noodles are great for floating on in the pool, they can also be used to create water games that are fun for the whole family. Take this example of a game called Spike Ball. Five pieces of a pool noodle are tied together as the base for a net, which serves as the goal for tossing the water balls.
You can use pool noodles to create all sorts of water games. Anything that needs to float can be supported by pieces of this lightweight foam, which stands up great to water and play.
Line Insulation
Pool noodles can easily be repurposed for line insulation. This hack comes in handy particularly with campers and RVs that require lines to be run outside and withstand the elements. In warmer climates, this generally proves no problem. But, in colder climates, it’s crucial to ensure that the lines do not freeze or crack.
To prevent this, wrap the necessary length of a pool noodle around the line. This lightweight foam does a good job of preventing cold air from reaching the line and reduces the chances of freezing, which can eventually lead to the line cracking or even bursting.
Lift Gate Protector
Many will agree that when you open up the lift gate of your SUV or your van, you are likely to hit the roof of the garage or cross brace. As a result, you will chip paint off the car.
With a carefully placed pool noodle, this will prevent this from happening in the future. If it slips away, then simply stick it back on with duct tape. Opening up the truck will no longer be an arduous task.
Headband Holder
For all of us who enjoy having a different headband for every day of the week, and then some, it can be annoying not having a place dedicated to storing or hanging them.
Have no fear – the following person created their very own headband holder, with cut up pool noodles being the key to its success. All you have to do is cover the noodles with some fabric and some ribbon and stitch it up accordingly.
Makeshift Clubhouse
Every kid should have not just a playroom or play space, but also their very own clubhouse that they can have an extra level of safety and security in.
It is in these clubhouses where one can snuggle up with one’s family, put on a good movie or tell some spooky stories with the flashlight. This person constructed a clubhouse for their kids and bound it all together with some pool noodles. Now that’s pretty neat!
Bed Rolling Protector
While we are all prone to potentially rolling out of our bed every once in a while, kids are more likely to than anyone else, especially when they are very young. They are still getting used to transitioning from a crib to a bed.
This person came up with the ingenious idea of strapping down a pool noodle on the side of their kid’s bed. With some duct tape to fasten it down, it acts as a bumper, keeping your child safe and asleep!
Funnel
It can be extremely annoying trying to fill up a bucket with water from the kitchen sink. Most notably, the bucket might not even fit in the sink so how are you supposed to get a sufficient amount of water in there?
Thankfully, all it takes is one pool noodle to solve that problem. Simply hook up one end of the noodle to the faucet and the other end to the bucket and voila, you have your very own, extra-long funnel.
Bathtub Games
Who said that bathtub fun for kids only needs to resort to rubber duckies and balls? With a bunch of pool noodles, you can create a bathtub playground for your children. Now, cleaning and having fun can be synonymous with one another.
They can use the noodles to have tons of water fights. Your kids should end up getting hours upon hours of quality playtime and all it took was pool noodles! We must say, it does look like a lot of fun.
Bodyboard
Let’s face it – bodyboards for the beach or the pool can be very expensive, so why not make your very own? By bending a pool noodle and wrapping it with a lot of duct tape, you will have your very own bodyboard in no time.
You can even make your own design out of it. We must say, it looks like a lot of duct tape got used for this particular board, but depending on who is using it – we are sure that it is worth it.
Candy/Cake Pop Stand
Have you ever been to a birthday party and seen a bunch of kids complaining that one kid got a bigger slice of cake than everyone else did?
Well, with cake pops, you will never have that problem as you can make all of the balls the same size prior to serving them. But where would you place them? Well, take a look at the photo. Simply place the sticks in a pool noodle and you’ve got your very own cake pop stand.
Pool Noodle Storage
This hack is kind of different from all of the others. While most hacks on this list are ways to make good use of pool noodles, we can’t ignore the fact that we need to put our pool noodles somewhere after using them.
The answer is actually pretty simple. Simply take a 5-gallon bucket that you no longer have any use for and put them in there. The last thing you want is to trip over the noodles and cause some serious damage.
Cutting Guide
Here’s a simple way to cut your pool noodles into pieces and without any harm. If someone in the house is good and putting lumber together, get them to make a three-sided jig like this one.
With a hand saw, simply cut into the groove and over the cut-off point, indicating how long you want the piece to be. If you are going to try out a lot of these hacks, this is a very useful trick to have at your disposal.
Car Door Stopper
If you park your vehicle in a garage stall with a tight fit, you may be familiar with the pain of opening the doors and nicking the adjacent wall — or worse, scratching the car door itself. Fortunately, there’s an easy and affordable way to fix this issue and prevent further damage to the garage and your car.
Figure out where to place the pool noodle by opening the door as far as it can go and making a mark on the wall where it touches or nears. Then, take the noodle and adhere to the wall with glue, nails, tape, or whatever is appropriate for the space. When it’s in place, your car door will now open into the soft foam instead of hitting the wall. No more dents!
DIY Lightsaber Toys
It’s no secret that pool noodles can be used for a wealth of DIY arts, crafts, tools, and more. And in a pinch, some creative imagination and a few supplies can turn a regular pool noodle into a toy that will provide entertainment for hours. For example, they make great Star Wars lightsabers for kids to play with.
Even better, these lightweight foam noodles are great for rougher play and are virtually indestructible. And if they do get ruined, they are cheap to replace. Dress up the bottom of a pool noodle with tape, markers, or whatever supplies you have to create a faux lightsaber, and let your kids’ imaginations run wild.
Door Stoppers
If you have children, you may be familiar with slamming doors in the house. Whether by accident or otherwise, a door slam can be loud, damaging to the door itself, or risky for caught fingers. To prevent injury, you can use a small piece of pool noodle as a door stopper.
Cut a few inches of pool noodle away from the rest, and then cut this piece in half so that you are able to fit in around the edge of a door. When in place, it acts as a stopper to prevent the door from closing all the way. Again, this can be a great way to reduce noisy slammed doors and prevent small fingers from getting caught and hurt.
Chair Armrests
Even the most comfortable of chairs can be marred if they have uncomfortable armrests. And when it comes to lawn and pool chairs, this can often be the case. But, if you have a pool noodle, it’s easy enough to turn those metal or plastic bars into cushioned armrests.
Simply slide a pool noodle onto the bar, or cut in half to fit over the top of the rest. You can even use pool noodles to pad headrests or chairs without cushions. And because they’re designed for the water, you won’t have to worry about ruining any upholstery.
Camper Awning
Pool noodles can be used for all sorts of things to add cushion or protection. Another example of this is using these foam tubes to wrap around the bars that support an awning, whether it’s on a porch, camper, or elsewhere. If possible, you can slip the entire noodle onto the bar before connecting the awning to its support.
If not, simply cut each noodle in half to fit around the bar and then tie or tape the two pieces together to remain securely wrapped around it. Now, when your awning is up, there will be less risk of painful head bumps if anyone accidentally walks too close to the support bars.
