Riding mower front scoop. 27 Pool Noodle Hacks That Will Improve Your Life

Those colorful foam pool toys come in handy all around the house, garage and yard. And with a little ingenuity, they can be even more fun in the water.

JOSETTE TAYLOR/GETTY IMAGES

Even in a world of floating basketball hoops and donut-shaped rafts, the pool noodle is still the most ubiquitous pool toy of all. But this humble piece of foam is more than a symbol of summer fun — it’s a DIY workhorse.

What Are Pool Noodles Made Of?

Polyethylene. It’s a closed-cell foam made from millions of tiny bubbles pressed together. That’s why it’s such a great pool toy — water can’t penetrate the foam cells, and it’s light enough to float. The material bends but bounces back from compression and retains its shape.

You’ve probably seen polyethylene in packing materials. If you’ve ever done any plumbing work, you might have noticed foam pipe insulation and pool noodles are the same thing.

Polyethylene foam can be difficult to recycle. Fortunately there are lots of non-pool uses for pool noodles, so you can reuse them all over the garage and throughout the house.

They’re so handy it’s worth keeping a few pool noodles around the workshop. And if you can’t find a pool noodle, you can always grab some pipe insulation at the hardware store.

You’ll find some of our favorite pool noodle hacks in the list below.

Via @PennyJo8/TikTok

Keep Your Plants Cool

For plants in pots, you can use pool noodles standing vertically to fill the container to about 3/4 of the height of the container. That way you won’t need as much soil in your largest containers, and it’ll help with drainage, keeping the soil from getting over saturated.

Family Handyman

Pool Noodle Water Hose

If you need to fill up a bucket that won’t fit under the faucet in your sink, bust out a pool noodle. Set the bucket on the floor, slip the noodle over the faucet and run it down to the bucket.

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Pool Noodle Wrist Rest

Prevent wrist fatigue during a long day in the home office by making this pool noodle wrist rest.

First, mark where you want to cut the noodle. For the wrist rest shown, we made the height slightly less than half the full noodle diameter. You could cut the noodle exactly in half and make two equally-sized wrist rests.

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Pool Noodle Door Bumper

A door banging into a wall is annoying. Worse, it can knock a hole in your drywall or dent your trim. But that’s easy to prevent with a little help from one of these foam miracles. Simply cut a slit lengthwise in a short section of pool noodle and slip it onto the edge of a door, cupboard or gate.

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Stay-Put Drawer Organizer

Drawer organizers are handy, but they tend to move around every time you open or close a drawer. Easily solve that problem with a pool noodle.

Measure the distance from the back of the organizer to the back of the drawer. Then cut the noodle to size with a utility knife. The pool noodle should fit snuggly in place so the organizer stays put. You could also cut the pool noodle in half lengthwise to reduce the amount of space it takes up.

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Super-Fast Floor Squeegee

Here’s a classic handy hint for rounding up water on your garage or basement floor. Assemble this simple squeegee by slipping a piece of foam pipe insulation over the tines of a rake. Then just push the water to the drain or out the door. — Art Rooze

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Floating Beverage Barge

This cheap, easy DIY pool accessory keeps your drinks cool in the pool and close at hand.

Cut short lengths of pool noodles to fit a plastic bin. (A bin with a lip keeps the noodles in place.) Thread a bungee cord through the center of the noodles to keep them snug against the sides. For a handle, tie a length of rope or cord onto the bungee. Add a small circle of pool noodle as a float to make the handle easy to grab.

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Luggage Rack Protector

I needed to pick up a ladder from a friend. To keep the luggage rack on my new SUV from getting scratched, I covered the bars with pool noodles. I just slit the pool noodles down the side with a utility knife and taped them on. The cushion of foam also kept the ladder from rattling. Don’t forget to strap down your cargo before you go! – Gerald Ruppert.

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Prevent Car Door Dings!

I noticed several dings in my car door from opening and banging it against the garage wall. My grandkids had outgrown their pool noodles and I was about to throw them away, but then I thought, “Whoa, this could be the solution!”

I cut the pool noodle in half, the long way, with a utility knife and fit it onto the studs in my garage. The pool noodle should stay put on its own. For a more permanent solution, adhere the pool noodle to the studs with construction cement or a couple of nails. Voilá, no more door dings. — John Greene.

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Trunk Bumpers

Keep a couple of sections of pipe insulation or pool noodles in your trunk to protect the paint and your oversized cargo.

Fishing Rod Organizer

I got sick and tired of my fishing rods getting tangled, so I came up with this easy fishing rod organizer. All you need is a length of 3-in.-dia. PVC pipe and a pool noodle.

Drill 1-in. holes spaced every four inches in the PVC pipe. With a utility knife, cut slits in the noodle four inches apart. Line up the noodle on the wall so that at least two of the slits sit over studs.

Pull those slits apart, slide in a fender washer and screw the noodle to the wall with 2-in. screws. Then screw the PVC pipe to the wall beneath it at a comfortable height and insert your fishing rods. Look Ma, no more tangles! — Brian Jones.

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No-Pinch Trampoline Springs

Here’s a simple way to cover trampoline springs to guard against pinched fingers. Cut a pool noodle into short sections, slice lengthwise and slide them over the springs.

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Lift Gate Protection

When you open the lift gate of your van or SUV, it’s easy to hit a cross brace of the garage door and chip the paint on the gate. Protect it by using a pool noodle as a cushion. Just slit the noodle with a utility knife and slip it over the brace. You can also use pre-slit foam pipe insulation. If it slips off, use double-face tape to hold it in place. – Mary Sprang.

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Crafty Water Raft

Ahoy there, mateys! Just tie these pool noodles together for a fun pool float that won’t deflate! You’ll need five large noodles (4-1/2-in.-dia.), two medium-sized noodles (2-1/4-in.-dia.), six feet of 1/2-in. PVC pipe and 36 feet of nylon cord.

To begin, lash the five large noodles together with a double half-hitch knot. Next, lace the cord in between and around each of the noodles, securing them together into a raft. When you get to the noodle on the end, turn around and lace them again back to the beginning. End with another double half-hitch. Cut the cord close to the knot.

Now cut the smaller noodles to get three lengths equal to the width of the raft. Thread three PVC pipes through the holes in the three smaller noodles, then thread the cord through the PVC and use nylon cord to attach each short noodle to the large noodles. Tie one noodle at each end and one in the middle to make the raft more rigid and stable.

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High-Visibility Boundary Marker

Each year I mark the boundaries of my yard so the snowplow driver doesn’t damage my lawn. For years I used rebar along the perimeter, but the driver couldn’t see it at night. Even with reflectors on the rebar, it would still get hit, bent or broken.

Now I’ve found a better solution. I slip a brightly colored swim noodle over the rebar. You can’t miss the markers now. – Bill Remia.

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Simple Pool Noodle Storage Hack

What’s simpler than a five-gallon bucket? It sure beats pool noodles rolling all over the garage or pool house. Concrete form tubes work well, too!

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Ladder Padding

I spend a lot of time on my ladder, and leaning against the rungs all day was taking a toll on my shins and thighs. Then I got Smart and slit pieces of my kids’ pool noodles lengthwise and wrapped them around the front of the rungs. Instant relief!

The cushions are easy to move as you work. Just make sure you never stand on the pool noodles and always place them higher than you’ll step. They can create an uneven step or fall off if you step on them. — Dave Switzer.

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Pool Noodle Boot Storage Hack

Shoe organizers can look messy when they’re full of tall boots. No more floppy ankles if you use pool noodles to keep boots upright. Also great for drying mukluks!

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Floating Flower Tea Lights

Use a zip-tie to fasten pieces of pool noodle together and stick candles in the holes to make a floating pool lantern. Plastic food wrap keeps the batteries from getting wet. You’re set for dreamy backyard pool time!

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Ladder Guards

I recently installed new gutters. When it came time to clean them out, I didn’t want my metal ladder to dent or scratch them, so I made ladder protectors out of an old swim noodle. (Foam pipe insulation would work, too.)

I cut 2-ft. sections of the noodle, slit them with a razor knife and stuck them on the sides of the ladder. They were the perfect cushions! If the noodle doesn’t stay put, tape it on. – David Gugliuzza.

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Make a Wreath

Use a pool noddle for a DIY wreath form.

Fasten the noodle with duct tape, then wrap it with fabric, ribbon or string. Wrap wire around the stems of fabric flowers and poke it through the fabric to anchor it into the noodle. Hang the wreath with wire or a picture hook.

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No-Roll Mini Work Light

Cut a small section of foam pipe insulation or a pool noodle and wrap it around a small LED flashlight. Wedge the foam into any crack, crevice or corner. – Costas Stavrou.

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Hanging Clothes

Here’s a closet storage hack you won’t want to miss. Keep your dress pants, shawls or scarves crease-free the cheap and easy way by covering a clothes hanger with a section from a pool noodle.

Cut the noodle to the length of the lower hanger rod. Then cut a slit the length of the noodle to make it easy to slip it onto the hanger.

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Comfortable Mowing

I don’t mind mowing my lawn, but the vibration from my lawn mower handle aggravated the arthritis in my hands. Then I taped a piece of a pool noodle over the handle. Mowing the grass is much more comfortable, and my hands don’t ache when I’m done. – Phillip E. Oinonen.

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Nifty Paintbrush Holder

Keep your watercolor paintbrushes dry and handy! Cut a short section of pool noodle, slice it part of the way through and insert brushes.

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How to Slice a Noodle

Use a sharp serrated kitchen knife to cut a pool noodle into sections.

Family Handyman

How to Slit a Noodle

Use a utility knife to cut a slit in a noodle lengthwise. The shorter blade cuts only the top side.

Choose a Mini Skid Steer from The Home Depot Rental

A mini skid steer is a compact utility loader that’s easy to operate in smaller areas where grading, loading or hauling is needed but space is limited. The Home Depot Rental offers mini skid steer rentals in a variety of sizes from well-known brands including Toro, Boxer and Ditch Witch.

Mini Skid Steer Operation Basics

Unlike its larger counterpart, mini skid steers offer walk-behind or stand-and-ride operation vs. seated operation. They are a great piece of equipment for working in tight spaces as they are easy to maneuver and operate. With a mini skid steer rental from The Home Depot you can tackle many of the same projects as a skid steer but with greater maneuverability in compact spaces. As an all-in-one piece of equipment that’s easy to operate, they’re a great rental for weekend projects. Need them to do a little more? We offer mini skid steer system rentals at select locations that come with a standard bucket and auger bits for enhanced versatility.

Projects Perfect for a Mini Skid Steer

A multiuse mini skid steer allows operators to prepare a workspace with grading and leveling, move materials easily around jobsites or properties and remove debris from light demolition work. Mini skid steer rentals are able to handle slight variations in terrain, including uneven surfaces and are ideal for work:

• On driveways, pathways and uneven surfaces.
• Drilling small or medium holes for posts or planting (with proper attachments).
• Carrying or spreading materials – great for low effort mulching.
• Grading and leveling in tight spaces where a skid steer would not fit or offer as much precision.

Mini skid steer system rentals add even greater flexibility – so you can leverage one rental for several projects.

Ready to get to work? The Home Depot Rental has all your rental needs in one place with 4-hour, 24-hour, weekly and monthly mini skid steer rentals in select Home Depot locations across the U.S. and Canada.

Primary auger sizes are 9 and 12.” Auger sizes cannot be guaranteed with delivery.

The Difference Between Riding Mowers and Lawn Tractors

David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience.

Whether you’re the type of person who looks at mowing the grass as a giant chore or it’s your time to take a mental break, the tool you use makes a big difference in how you approach the task. For first-time homeowners, the prospect of having a lawn seems exciting, but once you get to buying a mower—that task alone seems daunting. How do you choose from push and riding lawn mowers and lawn and garden tractors?

In general, tractors are more heavy-duty and do much more than mowers. Before deciding, think about several factors. How big is the area that needs mowing? Is it large enough that you fear push mowing would be too much strain on your back? Other considerations include the attachments, mulching capabilities, double duty as a snow removal device, and so much more.

Read on to navigate the world of push and riding lawn mowers and lawn and garden tractors and learn about the differences, pros, cons, and buying tips.

Lawn Tractors vs. Garden Tractors

The creme de la creme of grass maintenance machinery is a garden tractor. It has the most functionality and is the most expensive piece of equipment you can get. Still, it does it all from hauling heavy materials, cultivating soil, plowing snow, and more with its stronger engine and sturdier construction. Most have tillers, seeders, snow throwers, front loaders, backhoes, and it has a cutting width of up to 54 inches wide, covering wider swaths than all the other machines. You can expect to pay about 2,200 to 8,000 for one. Also, it’s the largest to store.

One step down from a garden tractor is a lawn tractor. Lawn tractors usually have more power than a riding lawn mower, offering cutting widths of up to 48 inches, much more than a riding lawn mower but less than a garden tractor. You can also see a difference in power levels between them. A garden tractor operates at about 24 to 29 horsepower (HP), a lawn tractor averages between 15 and 29 HP, and a riding mower has about the same power as a lawn tractor. A lawn tractor costs about 1,200 to 2,200 and can usually tow a cart. It may have some attachments, like a snow thrower. It’s also a large piece of equipment.

Lawn Mowers vs. Riding Lawn Mowers

Before we get into the differences between riding lawn mowers and push mowers, let’s review the difference between riding lawn mowers and lawn tractors. Lawn tractors have a mid-mounted cutting deck, while a riding lawn mower‘s cutting deck is under the front of the vehicle. Riding lawn mowers are more maneuverable with the cutting deck at the front. Maneuverability is essential when a lawn is dotted with shrubs and trees. Riding lawn mowers are usually a little more affordable than tractors, priced between 800 and 1,400. Riding lawn mowers may also have some snow removal and spring cleaning attachments, and they are a little smaller than tractors.

Warning

Riding and push mowers are cutting tools with sharp blades and are potentially hazardous around children. Providing a child a “vehicle” may seem like a great way to the lawned mowed, but only mature, responsible adolescents should be tasked to handle heavy equipment.

However, if storage space is an issue, and if your yard isn’t very large, then a riding lawn mower may be a little much for what you need. Next to consider are walk-behind mowers, including electric push mowers and self-propelled push mowers. If your yard is on the smaller side, an electric push mower may be a good fit for you. But, if you want some help getting the task done, then a self-propelled mower might be the better option.

Generally, a battery-powered electric push mower is adequate for yards up to a quarter of an acre. It is not as loud as a gasoline-powered model and can handle mowing up to a quarter of an acre on a single charge. Electic mowers come in battery-powered and corded models and are more eco-friendly than gas models. A cordless mower is best if you have about 1/4 an acre, but if you have a much smaller yard that’s only about 100 feet from the house, a corded mower might work best for you. A corded model costs about 100 to 300. A cordless starts about 120 and up. Gas-powered models are 300 and up.

A self-propelling lawn mower is suitable for a yard that’s between a quarter to a half-acre (or you detest the thought of mowing the yard). If a self-propelling mower with powered wheels is more your speed, they come in electric or gas-powered models. start at about 350 for an electric self-propelled mower and 400 for a gas-powered one.

Tips for Shopping for a Mower