So what do you do with pool noodles once summer is over? You could store these tall, awkwardly-shaped bits of polyethylene foam for next season, or repurpose them into these 10 useful everyday home hacks.
Keep Doors Open
Keep a handful of these pool noodle door stops in a junk drawer for those occasions when you just really wish your doors would stay open. Instructions: Cut a 3-inch segment from a pool noodle and bisect lengthwise to create a slit that can be opened around the bottom edge of a door.
Kneel Comfortably
You can spend $8 on a knee pad from Home Depot or Amazon, but why? Pool noodles are made from the same polyethylene foam, and you can make this pool noodle knee rest in less time than it would take to drive to the store. Instructions: Cut a pool noodle into three 1-foot segments and secure them together, side by side, using a large rubber band or twine.
Keep Your Boots Upright
Floppy boots look untidy, and, in the winter, they don't dry evenly. Pool noodles are a cheap way to keep your boots neat and upright in your closet. As an added bonus, the polyethylene foam absorbs moisture to help boots dry quicker. Instructions: Cut pool noodles 4-6 inches longer than the height of your boots. Rest the pool noodle segments inside of your boots to keep them straight and absorb moisture.
Rest Your Wrists When Typing
You can spend upwards of $20 for a keyboard wrist wrest, or you can make this pool noodle version for free! Instructions: Cut an 8-12 inch segment from a pool noodle, depending on the size of your keyboard. Cut the pool noodle segment in half; so that the flat side rests firmly against your desk or table.
Keep Drawer Organizers in Place
This pool noodle hack is perfect to keep drawer organizers in place. Instructions: Cut 3-6 inches from the end of a pool noodle, depending on the depth of your drawer, and then place it between the back of the drawer and your drawer organizer.
Secure Your Flashlight
Trying to angle a flashlight into a dark space while you're working is challenging, but having the flashlight roll away is downright frustrating. Instructions: Cut a 4-8 inch segment of pool noodle, depending on the length of your flashlight. Bisect the pool noodle segment so that it can accommodate your flashlight. Mount the lighting rig to a banister, shelf or any other surface to hold your flashlight securely.
Prevent Pants From Creasing
Keep your hanger from creasing your dress slacks with this pool noodle hack. Instructions: Cut a 1-foot segment from a pool noodle before bisecting the section with scissors or an X-Acto knife. Insert a hanger between the cut so that the pool noodle rests on the clothing hanger.
Hold Your Paintbrushes
Where do you put drippy paintbrushes, especially when you want to minimize the mess during a DIY project? Try this pool noodle paintbrush holder! Instructions: Cut a 6-inch segment from a pool noodle before bisecting the section of pool noodle to mount to a square dish. Cut 2-3 inch slits to accommodate the handles of your paint brushes.
Protect Kids From Sharp Edges
Whether you want to protect your table during an upcoming move, or protect visiting grandchildren from your table — this pool noodle trick is a cheap way to ensure everyone and everything stays safe. Instructions: Cut a pool noodle into eight 4-8 inch segments. Bisect each of the segments with a box cutter to accommodate the edges of a table before mounting the pool noodle sections around the corners.
Drain Your Potted Plants
Whenever you repot a plant, it's important to add rocks to the bottom of the pot to help the soil drain off excess water. But seriously, who has a bunch of rocks handy? Solution: use a pool noodle. Instructions: Chop a pool noodle into small 1-inch sections, much like you would dice an onion. Fill the bottom of a pot before transferring soil on top of the chopped pool noodles.
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