As we head into summer, store displays are changing. Exit big puffy coats, snow shovels and Ice Melt. Enter the beach balls, wide-brimmed hats and pool noodles. It’s amazing to me how many uses there are for the pool noodles in RV life. Since the pool noodles aren’t in stores year-round (though of course you should be able to find them on Amazon anytime) I thought a post on a few of the ways RVers user this super inexpensive gadget would be a perfect beginning of summer post.

Increase Air Circulation

Condensation can be a big problem in RVs. You might remember my horror story of discovering mold on the bottom of my mattress only 30 days after taking delivery of my brand-new rig. The best solution to prevent condensation is multi-faceted. But one of those facets is increased air circulation.

I addressed the air circulation issue, in part, by purchasing Hypervent Condensation Prevention Matting from Defender Marine Outfitters. The same company also offers the Froli system which is another popular choice for under the mattress.

But many RVs beds are against one, two or even three walls adding a level of difficulty to getting that needed air flow.

Thanks to reader Marie for the idea of using a pool noodle between the mattress and the wall or walls. The pool noodles are squishy so using one won’t shift your mattress too much. You may want to cut the pool noodle up to extend it the length of the mattress, leaving open sections for the air to flow in and out.

In case you are wondering, another facet of the condensation solution is to keep a window or two cracked, even in cold weather. Also, try using a dehumidifier. I’ve tried a couple of products and my favorite is the Eva Dry since it doesn’t need continuously plugged in and I don’t have to deal with water or emptying it.

Bumper on Slide Outs

When I was a new RVer, I noticed a couple of people who had RV slides used pool noodles along the edge of the slide when it was extended. On my daily walks I’d stare at these as I walked by trying to figure out their purpose. I was making the whole thing way too complicated as I looked for some grand reason for the pool noodle hack.

Turns out it was a simple one.

It hurts when you run into a corner of an RV slide so the pool noodle works as a bumper to prevent bruises and cuts. And pain.

Bumper on Awning Support

The idea of this one is the same as above. However, even more than as a bumper, using a pool noodle on your awning support arm makes it more visible. Those supports can be thin and, against the sun, can be hard to see. Running into it could be painful, especially if you hit it in your throat or face, but it could also damage the awning support by bending or breaking it.

A colored pool noodle makes the support arm more visible thus reducing the chances of someone running into it. Thanks to reader David for this suggestion.  

Another Awning Idea

You know how water can pool on the top of your awning when it’s extended? Extended awnings have a slight downward slope so water can run off. But, often, the awning fabric will dip a bit allowing water to pool on top of it.

In a past hacks post, I offered one solution to this problem. By slightly tilting one side of the awning so it isn’t completely level, you let gravity do the work of ensure rainwater runs off.

But there is also a pool noodle solution. This idea comes from reader Ken. So, thanks to him.

Pool noodles tucked between the main brace of the awning and the fabric as well as any center braces your awning might have will help prevent the fabric from dipping. Basically, it pushes up the fabric allowing the water to run off rather than pool.

Protection

No, I don’t mean to suggest that a pool noodle can be used as a weapon for safety. Rather, it might be able to help prevent you from breaking or damaging parts in your RV. And, again, the bonus is potentially preventing scrapes or bumps that can lead to bruises.

So. look around your RV. Do you see anything sticking out? Is there something you always bump into or trip over? Can a pool noodle help?

My Protection

Now every RV is going to be different but I will share how I use the pool noodle for “protection.” In my wet bath there is a handle to open and close the access to the gray tank. What I mean is that when I am camping (stationary), I pull the handle out to open the tank so water can drain into it. However, on travel days, I push the handle in to close the tank so water inside the tank can’t slosh up through the drain and get into the bathroom.

You wouldn’t think I would have an issue with a handle that’s in a small space between the composting toilet and the wall. But I keep shampoo and stuff in a little bin farther back in the space. And I have caught myself on the handle or the bar (when it’s open) before. Frequently I caught a pant leg on the handle. And, once, the plastic part of the handle broke. There was no fix. It needed replaced.

Now, a four-inch (or so) section of pool noodle stays on the handle when it’s pushed in and over the bar when it’s extended. Haven’t broken it or got caught on it since.

An Aside

Wondering why having an open or closed valve to the gray tank is important? Let me tell you a little story to illustrate why.

Once at a visit to Oliver, they ended up filling my gray tank when they were testing something. Then they returned Quill (my rig) with the handle in the open position. Let’s just say, my bathroom was a stinky mess by the time I got parked. And, since the bathroom serves as storage on travel days, my air fryer motor was soaked and ruined. Plus, I headed to a boondocking spot only to find the gray tank completely full. So, it was kind of a mess all the way around.

Swimming….Duh

When I think of swimming and pool noodles, I think of children. But it turns out, I’ve seen tons of adults using them in my travels. Now, most of the places I’ve stayed have not had a pool or it wasn’t opened at the time I visited. But when I stayed in Desert Hot Springs, the RV park had not one, but two, pools. In the adults-only pool, there was a daily exercise class. And, you guessed it, they used a pool noodle.

But even more than that, I’d see people just hanging out throughout the day in the pool using them for buoyancy. The most common was when swimmers shaped the pool noodle as a horseshoe and wrap it around their front and under their arms. Basically, like an open-ended innertube. The second way I saw them use kept the same horseshoe shape but the swimmers then put it in between their legs so they were sitting on it.

Be Careful

In all the examples where the pool noodle wraps around something (like an awning arm or a handle), you’ll need to take a razor blade or knife and cut the length of the noodle to create an opening. Be careful because those are sharp but also take care not to cut too deeply. You only want to go through to the middle. Otherwise, you’ll end up with two halves of a noodle.

If you know of other uses for pool noodles in RV life, please add to the list by commenting below.

Links to Relevant Posts:

• How to Grow Mold in 30 Days: A Cautionary Tale
• RV Tips Tricks, Gadgets and Hacks
• Desert Hot Springs
• Introducing My New Oliver Travel Trailer

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• France Luxe Ultracomfort Headband
• Mr. Art Wood Pot, Pan & Bowl Wooden Scraper
• Doctor’s Best High Absorption CoQ10
• Silicone Molds, Large 6 Holes Semi Sphere Chocolate Molds
• Overbest RV Inline Water Filter with Hose Protector

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