Quick Fix: Avoid Door Dings With A Pool Noodle

Published: December 2019

Have you ever pulled your car into your garage, opened the car door and accidentally hit the wall? Just like that, the side of your car door has a ding. We’ve all been there, but there’s an inexpensive way to help avoid dents and dings. A pool noodle may be the key to helping protect your car doors, according to Precision Garage Door of Salt Lake.

Watch this video to see how a pool noodle can become a bumper for your car door.

Video Transcript

— [VIEW OF EMPTY GARAGE WITH WALL ON THE LEFT SIDE.]

— [CAR PULLS INSIDE THE GARAGE AND PARKS.]

— [THE PERSON INSIDE THE VEHICLE OPENS THE CAR DOOR. THE DOOR HITS THE GARAGE WALL.]

— [SPLIT SCREEN VIEW SHOWS MEASURING TAPE AND PENCIL, BOX CUTTER, BLUE POOL NOODLE AND ROLL OF MOUNTING TAPE.]

— [ONSCREEN TEXT]: Measuring tape (+ pencil)

— [ONSCREEN TEXT]: Box cutter

— [ONSCREEN TEXT]: Pool noodle

— [ONSCREEN TEXT]: Mounting tape

— [VIEW ZOOMS IN ON THE MEASURING TAPE AND PENCIL.]

— [VIEW CHANGES TO SHOW THE MEASURING TAPE LINED UP AGAINST THE GARAGE WALL, WHERE THE VEHICLE DOOR HIT IT.]

— [ONSCREEN TEXT]: Door impact [AN ARROW POINTS TO THE AREA WHERE THE DOOR AND WALL MEET.]

— [A HAND TAKES THE PENCIL AND DRAWS A LINE WHERE THE DOOR HIT THE WALL.]

— [VIEW CHANGES TO SHOW HANDS CAREFULLY CUTTING A POOL NOODLE LENGTHWISE WITH THE BOX CUTTER.]

— [HANDS PULL THE POOL NOODLE IN HALF.]

— [THE ROLL OF MOUNTING TAPE IS SHOWN.]

— [HANDS TAKE FOUR LONG STRIPS OF MOUNTING TAPE. THEY ARE PLACED ON THE FOUR EDGES OF THE POOL NOODLE.]

— [VIEW CHANGES TO SHOW THE POOL NOODLES TAPED TO THE GARAGE WALL.]

— [A VEHICLE PULLS INTO THE GARAGE AND THE PERSON INSIDE OPENS THE DOOR. THE DOOR HITS THE POOL NOODLES.]

— [ONSCREEN TEXT]: SQUEAK

— [ALLSTATE LOGO]

— [ONSCREEN TEXT]: Quick Fix

— [ONSCREEN TEXT]: allstate.com/blog

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Step 1: Gather the Materials

First, gather these materials:

A dry pool noodle
A box cutter or utility knife
Double-sided foam tape
A pencil
A measuring tape (optional)

Step 2: Cut Pool Noodle in Half

Use a utility knife or box cutter to cut the pool noodle in half lengthwise. Take care when cutting — do this step on a flat surface such as a workbench or the garage floor. You may also want to consider wearing work gloves while cutting.

Step 3: Determine Where Your Car Door Meets the Garage Wall

Carefully open your car door to determine where it makes contact with the garage wall. Using a pencil, lightly mark the point of contact on the wall. Using that mark as your guide, draw a longer line horizontally across the wall. If desired, you can use a measuring tape to make sure you are extending your line at the correct height or for the length of the pool noodle.

Step 4: Attach the Noodle to the Garage Wall

Cut two strips of mounting tape the length of the pool noodle. Apply these strips of tape to the edges of the noodle. Then, attach the noodle to the wall, horizontally along the line you marked earlier.

Alternatively, The Family Handyman says you could use nails to attach the pool noodle to the wall to really help it stay in place. However, be sure to use the appropriate tools and nails for your garage wall.

Step 5: Test Your Handiwork

Again, carefully open the car door. It should now touch the soft pool noodle instead of the wall. If it doesn’t, remount the noodle at the appropriate height.

No one likes dents in their car, especially when it is from something as simple as opening the door. Use this quick fix to help avoid door dings by mounting a simple pool noodle to your garage wall.

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