7 Unique Ideas to Repurpose Old Pool Toys That Save Money

Why it matters: You’ve got a garage full of deflated pool floats and broken water toys that seem destined for the trash bin. The big picture: Those colorful plastic pieces can become surprisingly useful household items with just a little creativity. What’s next: We’ll show you seven clever ways to transform your old pool toys into practical solutions for your home and garden.

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Turn Pool Noodles Into Home Organization Solutions

Pool noodles aren’t just for floating anymore. Their flexible foam construction makes them perfect organizational tools that’ll tackle clutter throughout your home.

Create Drawer Dividers for Small Items

Cut pool noodles to fit your drawer dimensions and create instant compartments for utensils, office supplies, or craft materials. The foam grips drawer sides naturally, keeping dividers in place without adhesives. You’ll transform messy junk drawers into organized spaces with this simple 5-minute solution.

Make Door Draft Stoppers for Energy Efficiency

Slice a pool noodle lengthwise and slip it over your door’s bottom edge to block cold drafts. The foam compresses when the door closes, creating an effective seal that reduces energy costs. This weatherproofing hack works especially well on exterior doors and basement entrances.

Design Cable Organizers for Electronic Devices

Cut small sections of pool noodles and slit them open to create cable holders for your desk or entertainment center. Thread charging cables, computer cords, or TV wires through the foam to eliminate tangled messes. The bright colors help you identify cables quickly while keeping workspaces neat.

Transform Inflatable Pool Floats Into Indoor Furniture

Old pool floats don’t have to become yard sale casualties when they lose their water appeal. You can give these colorful inflatables a second life as surprisingly comfortable indoor furniture pieces.

Convert Large Floats Into Comfortable Floor Seating

Large unicorn floats and pizza slices make excellent floor cushions for game nights or movie marathons. Simply clean them thoroughly and add fabric covers for durability. These oversized inflatables provide firm yet comfortable support that’s perfect for teens’ bedrooms or casual living spaces.

Repurpose Ring Floats as Unique Ottomans

Ring floats work brilliantly as ottomans when you place a circular cushion on top. Choose rings with flat surfaces rather than those with built-in cup holders for stability. You’ll create conversation-starting footrests that add playful color to any room while providing functional seating.

Create Outdoor Lounge Chairs from Sturdy Floats

Pool loungers that’ve lost their water appeal can become permanent patio furniture with weatherproof fabric covers. Focus on floats with reinforced backrests and sturdy construction materials. These repurposed loungers offer familiar comfort for deck relaxation without the hassle of inflation and deflation.

Convert Pool Balls Into Creative Home Decor

Those vibrant pool balls sitting in your garage can become stunning decorative pieces with just a few simple modifications. Their bright colors and durable construction make them perfect for indoor and outdoor design projects.

Design Colorful Garden Planters

Drill drainage holes in large beach balls and pool balls to create eye-catching planters for succulents and small flowers. Their waterproof material withstands outdoor conditions while adding playful pops of color to your garden beds, patios, and balconies throughout the growing season.

Make Unique Lamp Bases for Ambient Lighting

Transform inflatable pool balls into one-of-a-kind lamp bases by inserting LED light kits through small openings. You’ll create soft, diffused lighting that casts colorful patterns on walls and ceilings, perfect for children’s bedrooms, game rooms, or outdoor evening gatherings.

Create Fun Storage Containers for Kids’ Rooms

Cut openings in beach balls and pool balls to make whimsical toy storage solutions that kids actually want to use. These lightweight containers hold everything from building blocks to art supplies while maintaining their shape and adding cheerful organization to playrooms and bedrooms.

Repurpose Pool Toys Into Garden and Outdoor Solutions

Your old pool toys hold untapped potential for outdoor projects that’ll make your neighbors curious about your creative genius.

Use Foam Boards as Plant Protection Barriers

Foam kickboards make excellent plant protection shields during harsh weather or pest invasions. Cut them into custom sizes to create windbreaks around delicate seedlings or tender plants. The waterproof foam material withstands outdoor elements while providing flexible barriers that bend without breaking, protecting your garden investments season after season.

Transform Water Guns Into Garden Spraying Tools

Large water guns become precision watering tools for hard-to-reach hanging baskets and delicate seedlings. Remove any broken trigger mechanisms and use them as manual spray bottles for fertilizer application or pest control solutions. The ergonomic handles and adjustable nozzles give you better control than traditional spray bottles, making garden maintenance more efficient.

Convert Diving Toys Into Garden Stepping Stones

Weighted diving toys create unique pathway markers through flower beds and garden areas. Bury the heavier diving sticks or rings partially in soil to establish walking paths that won’t shift during rain or foot traffic. Their bright colors help visitors navigate your garden layout while adding playful touches to otherwise utilitarian landscaping elements.

Turn Old Pool Accessories Into Exercise Equipment

Pool accessories don’t have to lose their usefulness when they’re past their swimming days. You’ll discover that many pool toys make excellent exercise equipment with simple modifications.

Create Resistance Training Tools from Foam Noodles

Pool noodles provide perfect resistance for strength training when you stretch or compress them. Cut them into shorter lengths for bicep curls and chest presses, or keep them whole for full-body stretching exercises. You can also tie knots at the ends to create handles for more comfortable gripping during resistance workouts.

Make Balance Boards from Sturdy Pool Platforms

Inflatable pool platforms and kickboards become excellent balance training tools for core strengthening. Place a deflated platform under a wooden board to create an unstable surface for squats and planks. You can adjust the difficulty by changing how much air remains in the platform underneath.

Design Stretching Aids from Flexible Pool Toys

Water noodles and flexible pool toys excel as stretching aids for improving flexibility and mobility. Use them to deepen hamstring stretches, assist with shoulder rotations, or create resistance during yoga poses. Their buoyant foam material provides gentle support while helping you achieve better range of motion safely.

Transform Pool Toys Into Arts and Crafts Supplies

Your old pool toys contain a treasure trove of crafting materials that most people overlook. The colorful, waterproof surfaces and unique textures make them perfect for creative projects with kids.

Cut Foam Materials for Kids’ Craft Projects

Pool noodles and foam kickboards slice easily into shapes for endless crafting possibilities. You’ll get perfect circles, rectangles, and custom shapes that work great for stamping, building blocks, and sensory play activities. Kids love creating foam sculptures and learning shapes while developing fine motor skills through cutting and arranging these lightweight pieces.

Use Colorful Pieces for Stamping and Printing

Inflatable pool toys create amazing printing tools when you cut them into manageable sections. The textured surfaces of water wings, beach balls, and pool floats produce unique patterns when dipped in paint and pressed onto paper. You’ll discover that different toy surfaces create distinct textures – smooth vinyl makes clean prints while textured grips add interesting patterns.

Create Texture Tools for Painting Activities

Pool toy materials offer incredible texture variety for artistic exploration. Mesh pool bags become perfect tools for creating stippled effects, while the ridged surfaces of pool steps and ladders produce fascinating line patterns when used as painting tools. You can even use deflated inflatable toys as unique paint applicators that create one-of-a-kind artistic effects.

Convert Pool Equipment Into Pet Entertainment

Your pool toys don’t have to end up in the trash when they’re too worn for water use. These colorful, durable materials make excellent pet entertainment options that’ll keep your furry friends engaged year-round.

Make Interactive Toys for Dogs and Cats

Transform foam pool noodles into puzzle feeders by cutting slots and holes throughout the length. Dogs love working treats out of these colorful tubes, and the soft foam won’t damage their teeth. Cut kickboards into small squares for cats to bat around, creating lightweight toys that won’t break household items when knocked around.

Create Floating Toys for Pet Water Play

Large inflatable pool toys work perfectly for dogs who love water activities in kiddie pools or shallow ponds. Deflate beach balls partially to create floating fetch toys that won’t pop easily. Small pool rings make excellent floating treats dispensers – thread rope through them and let your water-loving dog retrieve snacks from the surface.

Design Comfort Items from Soft Pool Materials

Pool float cushions can be repurposed into orthopedic pet beds by removing the plastic outer layer and using the foam padding inside. Cover with waterproof fabric for easy cleaning. Cut pool noodles lengthwise to create bumper guards for pet crates or car seats, providing soft padding that prevents injuries during travel or rest time.

Conclusion

Your old pool toys don’t have to end up in landfills when summer’s over. With a little creativity and some basic tools you can transform these colorful items into practical solutions for every room in your house.

From organizing your home office to entertaining your pets these repurposing ideas prove that one person’s pool toy trash can become another’s treasure. You’ll save money on household items while reducing waste at the same time.

The best part? Most of these projects require minimal time and effort but deliver maximum impact. Start with one or two ideas that appeal to you most and watch how quickly you’ll begin seeing potential in items you’d normally throw away.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do with old pool noodles instead of throwing them away?

Pool noodles can be repurposed in many creative ways around your home. Use them as drawer dividers for organizing small items, create door draft stoppers to improve energy efficiency, or make cable organizers to manage electronic cords. Their flexible foam construction makes them perfect for home organization projects.

How can I turn inflatable pool floats into furniture?

Large inflatable floats like unicorns or pizza slices make excellent floor cushions for casual seating. Ring floats can become unique ottomans by adding a circular cushion on top. Sturdy pool loungers can be converted into outdoor chairs with weatherproof fabric covers, creating colorful patio seating.

Can old pool balls be used for home decor?

Yes! Drill drainage holes in large beach balls to create colorful garden planters for succulents. Transform inflatable pool balls into lamp bases by inserting LED light kits for soft, diffused lighting. You can also cut openings to make fun storage containers for children’s rooms.

What outdoor projects work well with old pool toys?

Use foam kickboards as plant protection barriers during harsh weather. Repurpose large water guns into precision watering tools for hard-to-reach plants. Transform weighted diving toys into colorful garden stepping stones, creating playful pathways that add charm to your landscaping.

How can pool toys become exercise equipment?

Pool noodles can be modified for resistance training and stretching exercises. Inflatable pool platforms and kickboards work as balance boards for core strengthening. Flexible pool toys aid in stretching routines and mobility improvement, providing affordable fitness equipment alternatives.

Are old pool toys good for arts and crafts projects?

Absolutely! Pool toys offer colorful, waterproof surfaces and unique textures perfect for creative projects with kids. Pool noodles and foam kickboards cut easily into shapes for crafting. Inflatable toys work great for stamping and printing activities, creating unique patterns on paper.

Can I repurpose pool toys for my pets?

Yes! Transform foam pool noodles into interactive puzzle feeders for dogs and lightweight toys for cats. Large inflatable pool toys become floating fetch toys for water-loving pets. Pool float cushions can be converted into comfortable orthopedic pet beds for added comfort and support.