from the publishers of: Verywell, Real Simple, EatingWell, Shape, Parents, Health and Allrecipes
As the old saying goes: reduce, reuse, recycle. Here in the South, folks have been finding new uses for old items for generations. That is easy enough advice to follow when it comes to say, coffee filters, bars of soap, and mason jars; some items require a little more creativity. Take, for example, those giant floating foam pool noodles.
If you’ve got a few old pool noodles tucked away in the garage or gathering dust out in the shed, don’t toss them just yet. Those bright foam tubes might be past their prime for the pool, more likely to sink than help swim, but they still may have plenty of life left in them. With a little creativity, pool noodles can be repurposed in all sorts of practical ways around the house and yard. We reached out to a few folks with some surprising ideas for repurposing those brightly colored floaties. Turns out, pool noodles are surprisingly versatile. Whether it’s for softening a sharp edge or using in arts and crafts, those old foam tubes have plenty of uses when summer’s over.
Here’s a look at a few ways this humble item can come in handy around the house and yard—no swimsuit required.
“I am always thinking of ways to use items when entertaining. One of my favorite ways to use pool noodles is to insert flexible spa tubing into the holes of a few noodles to create a giant archway. Then stick a ton of faux flowers all over the noodle to create a beautiful flower arch for parties or entertaining,” says Aleka Shunk of party planning service, Aleka’s Get Together.
“My favorite unexpected use for pool noodles is to cut them down and use them as boot shapers to keep the boot shaft leather from creasing,” suggests Mindy Godding, founder of Abundance Organizing in Richmond, Virginia.
“In our RV, we cut down pool noodles and use them to keep items from moving in travel,” says Becca Ellison of The Handyman System. “We add one wedged in the microwave between the curling and the spinning plate to ensure nothing moves. We do the same for filling the extra space in the cup cabinet during travel.”
“Cut pool noodles and place them along the edges of sharp furniture, like glass tables, for an easy and affordable babyproofing solution,” suggests Blanka Molnar, parenting expert and Conscious Parenting Coach at Awarenest.
“Another way is to take one noodle and hot glue the ends together in the shape of a circle. Then stick in all sorts of inexpensive decorations, flowers, or anything seasonal to create a wreath for your front door,” says Shunk.
“All pet owners understand the challenge. One moment a toy is in view, and the next it’s sitting underneath the couch and nine times out of ten, it is impossible to retrieve,” says Ryan Majors of Price Self Storage. “To fill in the gap, slide a pool noodle underneath. It’s an easy fix that stops toys from disappearing and keeps your home tidy.”
“Something that I have done with old pool noodles before is turn them into DIY outdoor squeegees,” says Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Cabana. “It’s super easy! All you need is a garden rake and a knife to cut the pool noodle to the length of that rake head. Then you press the stakes of that rake into the noodle, and it’s ready. You can use it to do things like push water off your deck/patio, clean up spills in your garage, or just move any water around outdoors.”
“When my kids outgrow their noodles (or destroy them), I cut them up and toss the pieces into deep planters to fill up space. Saves me from using an entire bag of potting soil and makes the whole thing way less heavy,” notes Shunk.