Made of flexible-but-durable material—polyethylene foam— pool noodles are a clever way to make common household jobs easier (and, even better, a bit more colorful). Here are creative ways to put pool noodles to use in your space:
1. Planter filler
Too much water buildup in a pot can cause a plant to get sick or die. Adding rocks or gravel to the bottom of a potted plant can increase water flow, but store-bought options can get pricey. Instead, try cutting up a pool noodle into small, rock-sized chunks with a knife and adding it below the soil in your planter. It’ll accomplish the same thing, for far cheaper!
2. Kneeling pad
Whether you’re planting flowers in your garden or cleaning your baseboards, on-your-knees chores can take a toll on your joints. Skip the price tag involved in a store-bought kneeling bad and craft one from a pool noodle: Just cut the noodle into three, equal-sized sections, then secure them with hot glue or a rubber band.
3. Boot shapers
Shapers not only help air out your boots. They also prevent cracks and creases, ultimately prolonging their life. For a quick, DIY project that’ll make your knee-highs last, use a knife to cut a pool noodle a few inches taller than the top of your boots, then pop them in whenever you’re not wearing them.
4. Ergonomic wrist support
Wrist posture matters more than you think. If you’re working on a computer for more than an hour or two a day, supporting your wrists can prevent discomfort and repetitive stress injuries. Easily and economically up your ergonomic game by cutting a pool noodle to the length of your keyboard (or mousepad).
5. Crease-preventing hangers
Sure, you might not be wearing your “fancy” pants much these days, but it’s still important to take care of them. (Who knows when you’ll need to put on a pair?) Prevent unsightly creases in your pant legs by adding a section of a pool noodle to your hanger before hanging them.
6. Paintbrush dryers
Clean-up is almost half the work of house projects. If you’re painting any areas of your home, make sure your brushes dry thoroughly after you wash them by cutting a few slits in a small section of a pool noodle. Then, use a knife to cut another lengthwise slit at the bottom of the noodle, then set it on the outer edge of a plastic food container.
7. Cushion sharp corners
Kid-proofing your space? Don’t forget to cushion the soft corners on coffee tables and end tables. Instead of buying potentially costly store-bought cushions, simply grab a knife and cut slits in the middle part of a pool noodle section. Then, bend in half and attach to any sharp corners you want to soften
8. Door stopper
Keep doors open or keep them from slamming by cutting up a noodle and sticking it to the side of the door. It will keep it propped and no more listening to that loud slamming sound!
9. Keep headbands & jewelry organized
Instead of piling your or the kid’s headbands on top of one another, make this super simple organizer with a noodle. The crafters at Baubles and Babbles even covered theirs in this nice fabric!
10. Trampoline covers
Cover up those pesky and pinching springs on the side of the trampoline with pool noodles! They’ll keep your kids safe, and they’re fun and colorful too.