Summertime is all about taking trips to the beach with the people you love most. Turning on your “out of office” notifications, trading your work clothes for flip flops and bathing suits, and recharging your batteries with some much-needed rest and relaxation by the water. That’s, of course, assuming that everything goes exactly as planned for your beach trip.
Since we want to make sure that you make the most of your beach day, we’ve put together a list of eight beach hacks to make sure that you have the best experience possible. So, here’s to no longer getting sand all over your blanket (or phone), fearing that you’ll lose (or soak) your valuables, and forgetting when to reapply your suntan lotion. After all, vacation days at the beach should always be stress-free and fun.
Beach Hack #1: Pack Your Beach Bag The Night Before
There’s nothing worse than getting a late start on your beach day, especially if it’s because you’re running around your house or apartment looking for everything that you need for the beach. So, take some time the night before your beach trip to pack your beach bag.
This is an extremely important beach tip for parents with little kids. That’s because, as you know, everything takes longer once your little ones are up and moving in the morning. By packing the night before, you’ll be able to save crucial time the day of your beach adventure. And who knows, maybe you’ll be one of the first beachgoers to arrive, allowing you to pick any spot on the beach that you want for the day. Then you can mark your territory with your beach umbrella.
Beach Hack #2: Two Words – Mesh Bag
While you need to bring all of your kids’ beach gear with you whenever you go to the beach, you don’t need to bring all of the sand from the beach home with you, too. One of the ways to solve that problem is to use a mesh bag to carry your kids’ beach toys around in. This way the excess sand will fall out on the beach rather than in your car or later in your house.
Beach Hack #3: Bring A Fitted Sheet With You
Sure, we’re all going to the beach so that we can dig our toes into the sand, but that doesn’t mean that we want our beach blanket or towel to be filled with sand, as well. One way that you can limit the amount of sand that will be blown or kicked onto your beach towel or blanket is by using a fitted sheet instead.
All you have to do is lay a fitted sheet upside down on the sand, put four heavy objects in each of the corners (think the cooler that you brought, a heavy beach bag filled with beach gear, etc.), and then pull the sheet up and taut. This will create four short walls around you, which is also ideal if you have young kids. And for those of you who value comfort, you can lay a yoga mat down inside your fitted sheet to relax on.
Beach Hack #4: Pack Baby Powder For The Beach (Even If You Don’t Have A Baby)
Stepping foot in the sand for the first time is always a treat. Trying to get the sand off of you at the end of your beach day? Not so much fun. However, all you need to do to remove sand from in between your toes, or other areas of your body, is to use some baby powder.
That’s right, just air dry for a little bit after you get out of the water and then apply baby powder to any area of your body where sand is still sticking. The powder works by absorbing excess moisture on your skin, which then makes it easier to brush off the sand. You can also use baby powder in your wet hair to help release any grains of sand that are stuck in your scalp. And if the beach that you go to is known to get buggy from time to time, you might also want to pack some bug spray to bring with you just in case the bugs are out that day.
Beach Hack #5: How To Never Forget To Reapply Suntan Lotion Ever Again
Sunscreen needs to be applied before heading out into the sun and then reapplied every two hours or so. But, let’s be real, when you’re having a blast at the beach, how often are you actually thinking about the last time that you applied sunblock? Usually, not until it’s too late.
So, to avoid sunburn, write the date and times of reapplication on your sunblock bottle with a permanent marker. This way you’ll always know the last time that you applied your sunscreen, as well as when you need to apply it next.
Beach Hack #6: A Safe Way To Protect Your Phone From The Sand
As anyone who has ever kept their cell phone in their beach bag knows, sand will always find a way to end up inside, and pretty much all around your phone. To help protect your phone (and valuables) from sand (and also water), you can place them inside an empty plastic peanut butter jar. Just wash the peanut butter jar out when it’s done, and then put your phone, keys, wallet, or anything else that you don’t want sand to get inside. This particular beach tip is also a great way to reuse a plastic item that you already have in your home. And if the jar is large enough, chances are that it will probably float, as well, which is never a bad thing when you’re at the beach.
Beach Hack #7: The Diaper Trick
Bringing your baby, or little ones that are still in diapers, to the beach? Take advantage of the diaper trick then when it’s time for you to go swimming. That’s right, by placing your valuables in a diaper, and then wrapping the diaper up as if it is dirty, chances are that no one will be walking off with your valuables. Unless, of course, they’re cleaning up the beach and think they’re doing you a favor. Or, if they’ve read this article and now know that the best place to hide valuables are in seemingly dirty diapers. So, while we don’t recommend bringing valuables to the beach in the first place, you can try the diaper trick, but at your own risk.
Beach Hack #8: Add A Cork (Or Another Flotation Device) To Your Keys
If the diaper trick isn’t really up your alley, or if you’re someone who prefers to keep your valuables on you, then make sure that you add a cork or some other type of flotation device to your keys if you plan on taking them into the water with you. While a cork or flotation device won’t necessarily get your keys back to you if the current is strong, at least you’ll stand a fighting chance of finding them again if you notice they’re gone. If there’s no flotation device on your keys and you lose them, then they’re pretty much guaranteed to be lost if you accidentally drop them since they’ll sink to the bottom of the ocean.
So, the next time you’re heading out to the beach, make sure to remember these helpful beach hacks. And have the best time!