The Summer’s 10 Best Beach Hacks
Nothing’s better than a day at the beach, but it comes with its own set of problems—such as keeping drinks cool, electronics safe from sand, your beach blanket from blowing away, and even the sting of a jellyfish from hurting. Check out these tips and tricks for all of that and more, including why you should always bring baby powder to the beach.
Bruce and Jeanne Lubin
The Easiest Way to Get Sand Off Your Hands
Although it might seem more natural to try to wash sand away with water, it’s actually easier to remove sand from your hands or other body parts (and even your clothes) with baby powder. Just sprinkle some on and rub your hands back and forth together to dust away the sand. The powder soaks up the moisture that’s making the sand stick to your skin.
Keep Bathing Suits Mildew-Free
Another great reason to bring a bottle of baby powder to the beach with you is because it can prevent mildew from causing that funky swimsuit smell (you know the one). Stick your bathing suit in a resealable plastic bag, and sprinkle in some baby powder or baking soda. It will keep moisture away until you get around to washing it.
DIY Ice Pack/Hand Washing Station
Make homemade ice packs go further with this cool hack (pun intended). After you’ve used up body wash or shampoo, add a bit of hand soap to the bottle and then fill with water. Keep in the freezer until you’re headed to the park or the beach, then put in your cooler to keep everything cool. When it’s time to leave, use the soapy water for a quick clean-up!
Keep Blankets from Blowing Away
If you have some old house keys, give them a new use by sewing them to the corners of your beach blanket. It will keep it from blowing around, and even keep sand off your blanket because it will stay put once you put it on the ground.
Iced Coffee That Lasts Longer
A morning on the beach is always made better by a nice iced coffee—but you always have to add twice as many ice cubes to keep it from getting warm too fast. To make sure the melting ice doesn’t dilute your drink, make ice cubes using the small amount of coffee left at the bottom of your coffee pot each morning. Use them in your iced coffee and it will never taste watered down. This is also a great tip for iced tea!
Help for a Jellyfish Sting
If you or a family member gets stung by a jellyfish on the beach, vinegar can help ease the pain. If you don’t have any vinegar available, seawater can also help.
The Fastest Way to Chill Drinks
As we shared on our recent podcast, the quickest way to get canned drinks cold is to layer ice with salt in your cooler. Because salt lowers the freezing point of water, your beverages will get colder, faster.
Keep Valuables Safe on the Beach
When you’re headed to the beach, make sure to keep your electronics in plastic freezer bags. Sand can easily get inside them, so the plastic makes the perfect see-through barrier. You can also bury this bag in the sand under your beach blanket if you’re hitting the water and not leaving anyone behind to watch your stuff. Another great way to keep thieves away? Place your valuables in a balled-up diaper. Would-be thieves will assume it’s dirty, and will never think you hid your valuables inside!
Take Less Sand Home with You
Make it easier to keep the sand on the beach, where you found it, instead of coming home with your beach toys. Store them in a mesh laundry bag, and the sand will slip out the holes before you’re even off the beach.
Help for Sunburns
Did you overdo it at the beach? Instead of buying aloe vera or another expensive sunburn treatment, try cooled green tea, vinegar, or another one of these all-natural sunburn remedies.
For more tips for your summer vacation from all over the internet, check out our Vacation Tips! board on Pinterest. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Facebook!
About the Author
Bruce Lubin and Jeanne Bossolina-Lubin are the proud parents of three boys and more than a dozen books. After saving thousands per year using everyday tips and simple lifehacks, they started their own business in the hopes of sharing their knowledge with others. They have been known to go into their friends’ refrigerators to turn their eggs upside down so that they last longer.