My garage was built in 1952, which means it was designed for a car the size of a golf cart. I was opening my door exactly four inches, squeezing out sideways, and still dinging the wall. After the third paint chip, I bought a pool noodle. Not for swimming. For my wall.

This is maybe the simplest home hack I have ever used, and it has saved me hundreds in touch-up paint. Here is how to do it in ten minutes.

What You Need

One pool noodle. Two Command hooks or adhesive strips rated for at least five pounds. A utility knife or scissors. That is it. The total cost is about five dollars, and you can get everything at any dollar store or hardware store.

The Setup

Figure out where your car door hits the wall. Park your car in its usual spot, open the door until it gently touches the wall, and mark that spot with a pencil. Measure the height of that mark and install your hooks or adhesive strips at that exact level, spaced about two feet apart horizontally. Press the pool noodle onto the hooks—they pierce right through the foam. If you are using adhesive strips, you can also slice the noodle lengthwise and press it flat against the wall.

The noodle absorbs the impact. Your door touches soft foam instead of drywall or concrete. No more chips. No more holding your breath every time you park.

Other Uses for the Same Noodle

I bought a three-pack and used the other two for: padding the sharp corner of a metal shelving unit in the laundry room (my hip thanks me), and cutting a small section to put on the edge of my truck’s tailgate so loading lumber does not scratch the paint. Pool noodles are basically cheap impact protection for anything hard and sharp that keeps hitting something expensive.

My car door edges are still pristine. The garage wall has a slightly ridiculous-looking foam noodle on it. Worth it.