RVers put pool (aka “swim”) noodles on slide-out corners and awning braces to protect our noggins from hard knocks. But did you know that there are many other uses for those dollar store foam beauties?
More ways to use pool noodles while RVing
- Cut two pool noodles into equal halves. Apply hot glue to the long sides of the noodles and press together to make a mat. The mat will save your knees as you work on your rig (e.g., checking tire pressure).
- Prevent creases in pants you put on hangers. You’ll need a 14-inch length or so of noodle. Use a sharp knife to make a slit along one long edge of the noodle. Position the noodle over the wire hanger. Drape pants on the hanger as usual, right over the noodle.
- Stand a swim noodle inside your boots to keep them upright in the RV closet.
- Tired of losing socks and other small objects down gaps and small spaces? Tuck lengths of pool noodles into the gaps between appliances and the wall.
- Heavy bucket? Don’t let the wire handle cut into your hand. Make a slit in a short length of the noodle. Slip the noodle over the wire handle to make carrying a heavy load much easier.
- Keep the glass plate in your microwave secure as you travel. Stand the appropriate length of noodle inside the microwave to keep the plate safe.
- You know how the silverware tray always slides to the back of the drawer? Cut a pool/swim noodle to the size you need and place it behind the tray at the back of the drawer. The noodle will keep the tray from sliding.
- Exterior RV windows need washing? Put slit pool noodles over the ladder where it rests against the RV. This will prevent the ladder from damaging your rig’s paint. In a pinch, a short length of pool noodle can act as a squeegee, too!
- Use swim noodles to keep electrical cords untangled and contained. Simply slit one side of the length of the noodle and push the cord inside.
Can you add to this list? Do you use pool noodles for anything other than what I mentioned here? Your comments are welcome.
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I am full-time stationary in New Jersey. For my water hose I wrapped heat tape around it and then put a pool noodle over the hose.
Thanks, Mary, great idea for my home well also
I place a piece of pool noodle under the bathroom sliding door to keep it from sliding during travel.
I slit the pool noodle along the long edge and it clamps on the edge of the extended slide to protect against head buts, particularly when accessing the storage bays below. Also use in storage to keep wiper arms off the windows and keep the wipers out of harmful sunlight.
We also use them on the slide bottoms to prevent head bonks. However, removing them before bringing the slides in is on my departure checklist. As a good friend of ours says, “Ask me how I know.” 😬
I use them to protect the blades of the windshield wipers from the sun. Just cut to size, open on the side and install while parked.
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Slit a length of pool noodle and put it on the edge of the picnic table. That way, when you sit facing “out” you can lean against the table for back support.
Like!
Good one.
I use them in the refrigerator in place of spring rods. I find they work better. i also slit them and put them on the top edge of folding crates we put on the floor of our 5th wheel while traveling to avoid damage to the woodwork, furniture, etc
That fridge idea is great! spring rods can be a hassle.
My hubby sliced through a noodle cut in half and put on our windshield wipers of our coach. We did the same for a footrest on our zero gravity chairs.
I use a 4″ piece of pool noodle on a bungie cord in my kayak to put fishing lures and hooks into while fishing. Keeps them safe and easy to get to.
I cut short pieces and place them over my antenna blades and the rain gutter spouts to protect my RV cover during storage.
I use a short section, (cut a slice longwise )to slip on my Freezer (Vertical shelf inside) the and the same with the refrigerator door to keep air gap while in storage. It maintains air space and airs it out!
I love these extra uses! Very creative.
1/2″ pipe insulation works better on hangers to prevent creases. Swim noodles take up too much room in the closet. Pipe insulation also works well in some of your other suggestions when you don’t want something quite as thick as a pool noodle. They come in several diameters, so you can use whatever one works best for the situation. I use 3/4″ pipe insulation to protect my windshield wipers while sitting in the desert sun in Arizona. They come pre-slit lengthwise.
I have to agree. We have used pipe insulation tubes for other things… they’re a little smaller diameter/circumference, and of course they’re dull neutral gray color, which is sometimes a bit more preferable for us.
This is a Keeper Page. Keep’em coming, friends! DH and I are just getting started in our FT RV life, and these ideas are gold!
I use one to protect windshield wipers while in storage. Put one on the canopy support to keep from conking my head.
Cut noodles lengthwise and slip over the edges of freestanding tables to keep them from banging into the walls.
Cut noodles lengthwise and slip over closing edge of sliding door to fill gap to wall and keep cold air out of heated bedroom.
I place a short piece of pool noodle on my fridge shelf when not in use. It holds the door open just a couple of inches for ventilation then I Velcro strap the door secure.
We use lengths of noodles on our portable porch rails to keep from getting burned by them in the hot Arizona sun.
Tons and tons if different uses. I always keep three or four of the various sizes, and replace them as they wear out.
The make perfect insulation for water hose in cold weather camping. I use the large ones for that.
They also make hoses and cords visible. I use high visibility colors and run sections of hose and electrical cord through. Helps saving cords from tripping, lawn mowers, etc.
Also same thing for guy wires. Makes them more visible.
Cannot be without them. I always cut a chunk for just about any use.
When you’re full timing, noodles are an indispensable tool on travel days! Just as with the idea to use in the microwave when on the road, I use them in my dishes/cups cabinet, too. I cut one to a tight fit to stand on the top plate, between it and the shelf above them, and another to put in front of the plates, between the plates and cabinet door. Using the same tactic, I stand a couple of others in strategic cups at the front of the cabinet to keep them, and those behind them from moving.
I also use them at the front of pantry shelves to keep cans, boxes or containers from sliding or shifting. A slit noodle works great on the front of wire shelving racks to keep them from damaging inside cabinet doors, too.
I put a large diameter pool noodle under the fitted sheet on the length of my 4 year old granddaughter’s dinette bed. Help prevent “thumps” in the middle of the night.
Pool noodles on arms of awning to soften head bumps!
Also protects our door from slamming into the awning arm
Four pool noodles wedged into the corners underneath the canopy over your picnic table, etc., will keep rain from pooling overhead and making the canopy sag.
We put them on all edges of our slide outs so if you walked into an open slide out edge it helps protect. That includes the bottom edges so if you have to retrieve something from a basement storage it protects from gouging your head or back if you strike an edge! Simply slice one edge and cut to lengths. We even were able to buy noodles from the Dollar Store with colors that blended and complimented the color of our RV!
Because we don’t like dinette cushions that are straight up and down, we put noodles behind each cushion so that they are at an angle. Much more comfortable!
A large diameter noodle placed behind the sofa-sleeper cushions to keep them from sliding back when sitting makes it more comfortable at the outer edge.
I use a pool noodle under my arms in the pool to float in the cool water on a hot summer day. 😂 But I do love these ideas and will need to buy some additional pool noodles now.
Brilliant idea regarding your use of pool noodles, David! Thanks! 😆 —Diane at RVtravel.com
3 noodles taped together in a pyramid shape, and placed under the slide out awning to prevent rain water from pooling, attach a small rope to remove them…..DON’T forget to remove them!
Use a slit pool noodle (lengthwise) on our slide out (top) to keep the awning above from chaffing. We also use them on our drawer handles when the slides are retracted, to protect the island in case the drawer decides to open while heading down the road.
We use pool noodles on the edges of slide outs because they are brightly colored. However, for most other uses we use pipe insulation from any hardware store. Muted gray, pre-slit and various inside/outside diameters.
When we folded out the hide-a-bed, metal parts stuck out near the pillow area. We cut a pool noodle to fit over these elbow obstacles.