If you’re one of the 3.1 million Aussies lucky enough to have a backyard pool, you’ll know that it comes with more than just splashes and summer fun—it also brings a whole lot of clutter.
From pool noodles to inflatable loungers, keeping everything organized can be a real challenge. Leave them lying around the pool? They’ll likely get blown away. Toss them in the shed? Hello, mould and mess.
But one clever Aussie has come up with a simple, affordable solution—using a trailer net from Bunnings to keep pool toys neatly stored and out of the way.
Sharing the idea in an online group, the savvy pool owner thanked the original poster for the tip:
“Thank you to whoever posted this idea for the pool floaties. brilliant!!!”
The accompanying photo showed how she had stretched the trailer net along her pool fence, keeping all the toys secure.
Fellow pool owners were quick to jump in with praise, with many calling it “genius.”
“Omg! What a brilliant idea!” one person commented.
“O-M-G this is genius!!! I currently have mine all tied up with elastic cord and it’s a mess!!” wrote another.
The post quickly gained traction, with many people either confirming they had used the hack for years or saying they were off to Bunnings to grab a net ASAP.
“Been using the nets for years… toys dry off and wind won’t blow them away! Winning!” one shopper shared.
A cheaper alternative—just $11.90!
While the original poster used the Lion Trailer Net With Hooks ($25.90 at Bunnings), another savvy shopper pointed out that there’s an even cheaper option available.
“You know what’s even better…. The nets are only $11.90 at Bunnings,” they revealed, referring to the Syneco Tie Down Trailer And Luggage Net—which works just as well for pool toy storage.
“I have the $11.90 one, been using it for nearly a month and it’s still going strong!” they added.
Another shopper did warn that their cheaper net only lasted one season thanks to it perishing in the sun, but it “definitely did the job for the summer”.
Is this hack pool compliant?
As clever as this hack is, not everyone was convinced. Some users chimed in with warnings about potential safety risks.
“Just beware of any little kids trying to use it to climb over the fence. My nephew did it with a plant years ago at my parents house,” said one user.
“Great idea, but pool compliance goes out the window, as you’ve got an instant climbing hazard,” another warned.
In Australia, pool fencing laws vary by state and depend on when the pool was built. However, all pool owners must maintain a non-climbable zone around their fences.
This means:
- No trees, shrubs, barbecues, ladders, chairs, or toys within 90cm of the pool fence.
- The non-climbable zone extends 30cm inside the pool area as well.
- Any horizontal bars on the fence must be at least 90cm apart to prevent climbing.
So, while this Bunnings hack is a brilliant way to keep pool toys tidy, pool owners should double-check their local compliance laws before installing it near their fences.
