It’s always exciting to get everything out and open the pool for summer. We try to use our pool as much of the year as we can, but when the rain comes and goes, we leave a lot of the outdoor things in storage until we’re sure it’s over. So, it’s always fun to officially take out all of the pool accessories and toys and get ready for a ton of pool fun.
We put in our pool several years ago and while it has (and continues to be) a big expense, it’s also one of our favorite home projects of all time. The kids love it and it provides endless entertainment and exercise. In the summer, we practically live in it, so that’s given us lots of time to think about what we need to make the space as functional as possible. Here are some of our favorite pool accessories and toys that we’ve found so far.
1. Pool Toy Storage:
We added this a couple summers ago and it continues to work hard for us! The large space can store all of those big pool toys and pool floats, while the hooks are great for hanging swimsuits or other things to dry. Admittedly, we are low on pool floats at the moment, but when we are fully stocked, it creates quite the pile in this thing. The front section is great for adding baskets where we store our favorite small things, like sunscreen, pool toys, and goggles. The baskets I have for it are not a perfect fit, so I will not be linking those. I’m not thrilled with them, but we already own them, so I’m not going to replace them until they break. Sadly, they have lasted quite well.
This outdoor storage rack does stand up to the elements, too. We actually left it out all winter the first time, but we did relocate it under the overhang this winter, because rain water and leaves were getting stuck around it. It’s been a good find and we’re happy with it.
Shop outdoor pool storage here
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2. Pool Towel Rack:
What happens to all those wet swimsuits and towels once they are finished swimming? I figured out really fast that we needed somewhere to store them. I considered the cute hooks that get screwed straight into the side of the house, but then I worried about wet towels lying against the house and what that might do to the paint and then the hooks being exposed to the elements through winter. I ended up opting for a freestanding towel rack and it’s been a good addition. It’s super lightweight, easy to put together and take apart, and can be moved around with little effort. It holds a lot of towels and swimsuits, although just a light breeze will knock the swimsuits off. I like to keep this closer to the house so that my kids won’t forget to hang up their wet things as soon as they get dressed. So far, so good. The design has been improved since we bought it and I’m linking the new one.
Shop outdoor pool towel rack here
3. Outdoor Patio Umbrella:
This outdoor fringed striped umbrella is so cute. It’s a big one, too, at 9 feet wide. I had a great umbrella in the shallow section of our pool, but sadly, we made the mistake of leaving it in the pool through a storm and it snapped. I couldn’t find the same one again, but I stumbled on this one and fell in love with the fringe and style. The price is right and I like that it tilts a little so I can block out as much soon as possible. There are so many adorable outdoor umbrellas for such great prices.
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4. Our Favorite Sunscreen:
We have tried a lot of sunscreen over the years, but once we found this one two years ago, we’ve stuck with it and never looked back. It’s the unicorn of sunscreens. It sprays on super easily and covers the skin evenly. The smell is also amazing, like a vacation in Hawaii. And, it doesn’t have some of the bad chemicals that are in a lot of spray sunscreens. Since we’ve been using it, we haven’t had any issues with sunburns, and that’s saying a lot, since I happen to burn quite easily. Of course, like any sunscreen, we reapply after awhile to make sure we stay protected.
Shop our favorite sunscreen here
5. Our Favorite Pool Toys:
We’ve had a lot of pool toys over the years. A lot of them break quickly or aren’t as cool as they look. Diving toys are consistently a fan favorite around here and these ones are a bit bigger than most, which makes them easier to find. The colored sharks are also great, because it comes in a pack and they can see them under the water. The duck set is our new favorite though. There’s three colors: yellow, white, and black, which makes it perfect for games with multiple kids, since each can go after a particular color.
- Catch the Duck pool toys
- Robo Alive Robotic Turtle Toy
- Shark Diving pool toys
- Pool Mermaids – These are not shown in the pictures, because my dog destroyed them at the end of last summer, but we are going to buy them again because they are so cute.
- Pool Slide – Can’t forget our pool slide! This is so much fun for the kids. The fact that it’s plugged in and has water helps on super hot days. I spent a lot of time reseraching and choosing this slide and we’ve been very happy with it. Here’s an older picture with a clear shot of the slide.
6. Our Favorite Swim Goggles:
Why is it so hard to find good goggles? Are my kids pickier than most? We’ve been through a lot of them and finally found one that all of them like. All of them! I see why. They are comfortable, the suction is tight enough to keep out water, and the polarized lenses protects their eyes. Oh, and they come in a very affordable pack of two! Very happy with these.
Shop our favorite goggles
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What outdoor or pool accessories are you shopping for? I share more about our pool in this post, and plan to share more ideas soon. Pools are a huge investment, especially if you’re putting one in, but in our case, it’s been worth it so far.
For more pool and outdoor posts, you might also like these:
- What’s in my pool bag? Check it out here!
- 25 Incredible Pool Floats for Summer
- How I got rid of mosquitos in my home
- 8 affordable outdoor sets that only look expensive
If you have a favorite pool tip or pool accessory, share it in the comments below!
Have a fabulous day,
E
