Old Pool Toys
Pool toys make pool time memorable. But what do you do when they get old or when your kids outgrow them?
Pool toys are made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a plastic categorized in recycling symbol 3. Curbside recycling programs rarely accept Plastic #3, because it requires processing at centers that specialize in PVC. Now if your neighborhood’s recycling center specializes in PVC, let us know so we can spread the word! Otherwise, here are a few fun ways to repurpose old pool toys:
The pool noodle. A classic toy used to joust, splash, thwack, and balance. The pool noodle can serve a practical purpose in your garage. If you’re like me, sometimes you chip the paint when you open your car doors in the garage. Enter the pool noodle bumper. Simply measure where the car doors meet the garage wall, level your pool noodle, and drill. A few 1-5/8-inch drywall screws will do the trick.
The pool noodle can also serve a decorative purpose. For all you DIY crafters, pool noodles make great witch legs at Halloween. Simply cut the pool noodle in half and stuff each half into a pair of striped Halloween tights. Slap on a pair of black heels then tuck the legs in a dresser drawer, in a black cauldron, or under your doormat or sofa. Pinterest has all sorts of creative variations for those of you who want to take your designs to the next level.
Pool floats. The swan. The donut. The pizza. The Popsicle. Mostly floatable foods. Typically these are tossed at the first sign of a leak. Yet it’s easier to patch these floats than you might think. First, locate the leak: blow up the float, submerge it in water, and look for bubbles. Next, draw a small circle around the hole. Then deflate the float and dry the area around the hole. Last, cut a piece of plastic from a float made of similar material and patch the hole with goop or super glue.
What about the rings? The water guns? The basketball hoop? Sure, none of them look great mounted on your wall. But before you toss them, ask any friends or family whose kids might like those toys. If their toy bins are already full, you can always donate your toys to Goodwill or The Salvation Army.
With a little ingenuity, it’s easy to repurpose your old pool toys and make room for their replacements next summer.
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