5 Clever Ways to Reuse Tennis Balls
Posted on July 17, 2025 By Alison P.
Picture the scene: You're out on the tennis court, standing at the baseline, ready to serve with ball in hand. You like to get in the zone by bouncing the ball a few times, so you flick your wrist downward and send the tennis ball hurling toward the court surface. The ball lands, but instead of popping back up and returning into your hand, it only bounces up an anemic few inches. Your opponent shouts from across the court: "Dead ball!"
"Dead?" We beg to differ. That tennis ball may not be useful in that exact moment, but there are all kinds of ways to breathe new life into a tennis ball that's lost its bounce. If you've got a cache of tennis balls that have recently retired from their athletic careers, we've got five useful suggestions to give these fuzzy little troupers a second act.
Pool Cleaners
Sometimes a high-traffic swimming pool can end up with an unappealing slick on the surface from sunscreen, hair products, and other cosmetics that can come along for the ride into the pool. Tossing in a few tennis balls can make a difference! The felt nylon exterior of a tennis ball serves as a virtual oil magnet, and it'll soak up undesirable greasy film from the pool surface as it floats along. Three to five tennis balls should do the trick, depending on the size of your pool and the number of swimmers.
Dryer Helpers
Did you know a tennis ball can help with better results in the clothes dryer? After you've given the ball a good washing, throw it into the clothes dryer during your next drying cycle. It'll give an extra-fluffy texture to towels and blankets, lessen static electricity, and shorten drying time by spreading the clothes apart from one another. Don't forget that tennis balls are made of rubber, so avoid creating any weird smells by only using it in low-heat drying cycles.
Jar Openers
It's always frustrating to have a jar in the kitchen that just refuses to open. If this is a common occurrence for you, why not turn an old tennis ball into a couple of jar grippers? Grab a utility knife and carefully cut along the seams of the tennis ball, and you'll have two surprisingly-effective rubber grips to keep handy for any troublesome jars.
Sound Dampeners
Maybe you've recently installed a projector and sound system to create your own personal movie theater. Maybe your husband has just started recording his own podcast. Maybe your home doubles as a rehearsal space for your daughter's new punk band. If you're looking for some sound-dampening solutions and you've got a stockpile of used tennis balls, you've got the makings of some very effective acoustic panels. Grab a bagful of tennis balls - the number depends on how large of a panel you want to make - and use a serrated knife to cut them in half. With a hammer and some long nails, fasten rows of them to a piece of MDF with the fuzzy side up, and you've recycled your way into a sound-dampening solution. If you're looking to get artistic with it, dye the tennis ball halves in different colors and arrange them into geometric patterns, or even into pixel art.
Charitable Donations
There's something to be said for that inner warmth you feel after doing good in the world, and there are plenty of places where tennis balls can be a useful donation. Donate them to a local school or community center for use on chair legs so they won't loudly scrape along the floor. Donate them to a local retirement home or a hospital for use to help walker legs glide more smoothly. And of course, as a mainstay in the doggie-toy world, tennis balls can certainly be donated to entertain the furry residents of your local animal shelter or dog rescue. Just be sure to contact the organizations for a go-ahead before you make your donation.
Not keen on any of these approaches? There's no fault in thinking that these suggestions aren't up your alley - let yourself be creative and serve up even more clever alternate uses for these little neon MVPs. If you're looking to ace a goal of being more frugal, old tennis balls can definitely be used to your advantage!