8 New Uses for a Tennis Ball

Clever ways to repurpose an everyday item.

1. Bulb Remover

Use half of a ball (see instructions on how to cut it at bottom) to remove a warm lightbulb from its socket.

2. Comforter Fluffer

Speed up the drying time of bulky bedding by tossing a couple of tennis balls in the load.

3. Arm Weights

Cut small slits into two balls. Fill with pennies or sand, then seal with tape or superglue. Take the weights on your next power walk.

4. Spa Tool

Roll sore feet over tennis balls for a soothing massage.

5. Jar Opener

Conquer lids by using the rubber lining of a cut ball to aid your grip.

6. Makeshift Safe

Cut a slit in a tennis ball, then place valuables (jewelry, cash, etc.) inside. Just keep it far away from Fido.

7. Reader Tip: Floor Guards

Cut an X into four balls and slip the feet of an ironing board inside.
Ruth Amundson, Westby, Wisconsin 

8. Reader Tip: Painkiller

Lie down. Place a tied sock containing two balls under the spot where your head and neck meet. Tuck your chin and gently nod your head up and down.
Meg Junker, Dayton, Ohio

How to Safely Cut a Tennis Ball

• Draw a line around the diameter or the place you want to cut.
• For extra stability, secure the tennis ball in a clamp.
• Wearing sturdy work gloves, pierce the ball with an X-Acto knife or a box cutter, then slide with steady pressure. (Dead balls give a bit more and are easier to cut.)