The Clever Pool Noodle DIY That'll Give Your Swimming Pool A Glowing Upgrade

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Swimming pools are an excellent backyard feature for socializing, relaxing, and enjoying family time, but pools can often look a little dreary after dark due to a lack of appealing lighting. However, what if you could extend the entertainment with a magical idea to brighten up your pool late into the night? This clever hack only uses two materials and will make your outdoor space seem like a luxe getaway in no time.

To start, you will need pool noodles, sliced crosswise into roughly 2-inch circles. Given that they are on average around 55 inches long, each one is good for about 27 floating lights. This is the perfect hack if you already have noodles lying around, but they can also be purchased relatively inexpensively, such as these from Dollar Tree. Remember that, even in the dark, the color of the noodles will still be visible due to the tealight's glow, so make sure to choose ones you like! Once you have cut the pool noodles into rings, simply pop the tealights directly into the center. If your tealights are too big for the existing hole, you can cut it wider to help them fit; however, you'll want to test one first to make sure that the light still floats in the thinner ring. One great option for this hack is to use solar-powered tealights, such as these VOOKRY ones on Amazon, which cost $14.49 for 6, because they do away with the need to change batteries and simply charge up on their own in the sun. Finally, set your new floating lights into the water and enjoy your new peaceful oasis.

With any hack involving water and electricity, safety is incredibly important. The Electrical Safety Foundation warns against having any exposed wires or sources of electricity in or around water. It is therefore crucial to keep the battery compartment of the tealight firmly closed at all times to avoid electrical problems and any harmful side effects if the battery leaks. For an added layer of protection, you can wrap some tape around the bottom of the light to ensure the battery compartment stays closed and is not sitting in water. Additionally, while many electric tealights are waterproof, not all can be submerged in water so it is worth checking the packaging for safety advice.

LED lights, or LED solar-powered lights, are recommended for this DIY because they do not heat up like incandescent bulbs do. This means that they will not be in danger of melting the pool noodle or becoming overheated. However, it is good to be aware of other downsides or safety precautions to consider when using LED lights of any kind. Whichever way you choose, you will have magical lighting floating around your pool on a budget your wallet will love.