If you follow this blog with any regularity, then you already know that I love finding ways to make a useful thing EVEN MORE useful! I’ve done several posts in that same vein, highlighting the versatile nature of everything from taco seasoning to kitchen sponges to car wax. Today’s post, however, may just take the cake for the most unexpectedly useful item… the humble “pool noodle!” This long, cylindrical pool toy is a consistent favorite for summertime pool fun, but it actually has many other helpful uses, too!
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Here are some of my favorites, which will probably have you running to the store to stock up before they’re gone until next summer! :-)
Clever Ways to Use a Pool Noodle
- Make a race track for marbles! Cut a pool noodle in half length-wise. Place the halves side-by-side with the inside facing up, and prop them up against a chair or table. Use the two sides to race marbles down the track, and see whose marble gets to the bottom first!
- Use a pool noodle as a goal for outdoor games like croquet or soccer. Stick two wooden skewers in the ground about 3 feet apart. Place a pool noodle over one skewer, then bend it in the middle and feed the other end of the noodle over the other skewer. Wooden skewers are fairly flimsy, so if you want something a bit sturdier, you can use several skewers together, or use a thicker wooden dowel.
- Use a pool noodle to create an easy sprinkler for cooling off during hot days. Punch several holes all over your pool noodle. Then close off one end of the noodle by stuffing it with small pieces of noodle, then covering the end completely with duct tape. Stick your garden hose through the open end of the noodle, and enjoy!
- Use a noodle to make a fun and safe motor-skills toy for small children. Slice a pool noodle into narrow discs and thread them onto a rope.
- Once toddlers start walking, every door in your home can start to become a point of concern. Ensure your little one doesn’t accidentally get their fingers slammed in a door by making a noodle barrier. Using a 1’-2’ section of pool noodle, cut a wedge out of it, like a slice of a pie, all the way down. Then use your fingers to pry it open, and slide it snugly onto the edge of your door. This will keep it from shutting all the way, making it safer for those little fingers!
Similarly, you can use a piece of pool noodle, prepared as described above, on the edges of furniture to prevent stubbed toes and avoid damage to your furniture.
- This might be my FAVORITE clever use of the humble pool noodle…keep your tall boots upright and wrinkle-free by storing them with a section of pool noodle inside of them. I do this every spring.
- Slice a few narrow discs off of a pool noodle to use as drink markers. You can use them any time, but I think these would be perfect at a backyard BBQ, or a beach/luau-themed party!
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- Create a “raft” using a pool noodle, so your cooler can float in the pool with you! Just cut a noodle into a few smaller pieces, then tie the pieces together with some string or rope.
- Use a piece of pool noodle to make a card holder for card games! Use a slice of noodle with a slit cut on one side to hold up your hand. This is a great idea for kids who have trouble holding all their cards at once. You can also create a Scrabble-style card holder by cutting a section of pool noodle in half length-wise, then cutting a slit in the rounded part. Slide your cards into the slit to see them all displayed in one line.
To make shopping more efficient in a huge store in bumper to bumper cart traffic, I often abandon my cart and run back for one item. Then, where did I leave my cart? Oops, somebody grabbed my cart by mistake. To avoid this, I walk in the store through the toy section and grab a pool noodle. Then wedge it straight up in my cart. I now have a 5 ft flag post I can find my cart easily and nobody walks off with it by mistake. On the way out, I replace the pool noodle in the proper place… Read more »
As a nurse in a home setting, I suggest to my families that they cut open a pool noodle and pad the bedrails. Elderly skin is very fragile, and this seems to help prevent lots of the skin tears and bruises.
We have a window airconditioner that is at the perfect height to clobber my grandkids heads. Using cut pool noddles has saved the day …………now no more sore heads…………………..
At my son’s camp last summer, they made “Hobby Horses” out of pool noodles – fold over one end, glue on googly eyes and tie the folded end in place with rope to make a halter and reins, then glue on felt ears and a felt mane. He loves playing with it and it is much safer than the stick ones!
Cut a piece 12″-15″ long to use as lumbar support in your office chair, car, etc. These can easily be covered with fabric for a more “fashionable” look.
Great idea Linda!
I use them to protect my plants from chaffing on structural supports in my garden. Just cut a slit lengthwise in the noodle and then cut a piece to fit your need and slip it over the offending piece of metal structure. And it adds some color into an area covered with too much green.
You can also use a piece over a section of garden hose that wants to kink. Just use a bit of duct tape to secure it to the hose.
Thread tent cords through a noodle so you can see where the tie-downs are and don’t trip over them in the dark. Thread them over rope to mark paths for walking so guests don’t drive on the grass to park at a party. Use them as bumpers on the slide-out of your campers, so they aren’t bumped into. Tape ends together to form an ‘O’ and hang with a rope from a tree for a dog jump. In cold climes, slit and cover your water pipes, much bigger and better insulating than the thin pipe insulation you can buy. Slit… Read more »
Great ideas!
Our team painted designs on our socks this year after stretching the sock over a 6″ length of noodle, then painted the sock, and stood upright in a mason jar to dry. Worked great!
I’ve used them to transport framed paintings, pictures & mirrors when moving or taking home after purchase. I’d cut a slit down the length of the noodles & slide over the edges then put in the trunk to keep them safe & from sliding around.
Slice into disks and put into the bottom of flower pots for drainage and to make the pot lighter to move.