5 Tips for a Sand-Free Car
There’s only one drawback to spending the day at the beach: all that sand you unintentionally bring into the car at the end of the day! Sand has a sneaky way of getting into every nook and cranny, seam, and crevice, making clean-up a challenge. This year, be prepared with a few anti-sand tips and tricks.
Shake, Shake, Shake
Probably the first and most effective way of removing the bulk of sand off any item is to give it a good shake. Vigorously shake out towels, beach blankets, sun hats, bags, and even your hair before getting in the car. Caution: watch where you shake! Be sure to avoid shaking your sand towards other beachgoers.
Rinse, Rinse, Rinse
Beach toys may be the worst offender for transferring sand into the car. Rinse them off before packing them in the car. If you brought a cooler, it too needs a good rinse-off before heading to the car. While lake water will do the trick, a public faucet away from the beach is a better option.
Brush & Sweep
While shaking sand off everything is a good start, fine sand often clings. Always keep a soft-bristled brush or mini broom stashed in the trunk, helps to easily remove sand from everyone’s feet before loading into the car. Remember to knock sand off your brush with a few taps.
Repurpose old linens
Those traveling with a pet may find the best solution is an old towel, sheet or blanket spread across the backseat. This will help collect sand that comes loose during the ride back home. The key here is to carefully remove the protective layer only after you’ve unpacked the car so that no sand escapes.
Use Baby Powder
A little-known trick, baby powder, or talcum powder, is one of the best ways to remove stubborn sand from between your toes, and other areas of the body, especially on kids. Just sprinkle some on and rub your hands back and forth together to dust away stubborn sand.
Interesting note: Pack beach chairs rather than lying directly in the sand on a beach towel. This will help lessen the amount of sand stuck to you at the end of the day.
Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash
