Travel Guides Beach Vacations
Caitlyn Knuth
When summertime rolls around or you’re looking to escape the cold and snow in winter, it’s hard to resist the appeal of a sunny beach getaway with family and friends. From scenic shorelines and waves to lazy afternoons under the sun working on that perfect glow, there are a lot of reasons to head to the waterside locale. According to the United States Lifesaving Association, over 300 million people made time for a beach-focused adventure in 2022.
While it’s easy to focus exclusively on the fun of a beach vacation, there are also some less-than-favorable situations that can come along with spending any significant amount of time on the sand. Sunburns tend to top the list of beach vacation risks, alongside water safety issues. Beyond these factors, the sand itself can be an issue for some beachgoers who can end up with irritated skin as a result of spending time on the shoreline. Others simply don’t love the way beach sand so easily sticks to sunscreen on arms, legs, hands, and feet.
Just because you don’t entirely love the mess that comes along with a beach day, or enjoy the feeling of sand between your toes, it doesn’t mean you have to cancel your upcoming beach vacation. There’s a simple solution to creating an entirely sand-free zone wherever you set up. All it requires is making sure you pack a fitted sheet for the journey.
A simple hack for sand-free beach fun
YouTube/SuzelleDIY
Bed sheets are typically something you use daily. Much like other fabrics used in the home and stored in your closet, they undergo wear and tear over time. Typically, it’s recommended that standard bed sheets be swapped out every two years. If you’re due to upgrade your set and you have an upcoming beach vacation on the calendar, everything you’ll need to keep sand at bay during your getaway is already available to you at no added cost.
Beyond creating a shift-free foundation for your sleeping situation, a fitted sheet can be repurposed into a sand-free zone for you, your family, and your friends on your next beach-bound journey. This simple swatch of fabric keeps sand from getting on your skin or damaging accessories. It’s also an easy way to protect your beach towel while sunbathing.
The setup process is refreshingly easy. Once you find your perfect place on the shoreline, spread the fitted sheet out as far as it will go with the elastic seams facing up. Next, you’ll take your heaviest accessories like your beach bags, buckets, and coolers, and use them to weigh down each of the four corners of the fitted sheet. This will keep the sheet firmly in place while also creating a raised fabric wall around the perimeter. Feel free to throw your beach towels inside as well as any items you don’t want to risk getting sandy or wet and you’re ready to enjoy the day.
Easy clean up included
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Creating a sand-free zone on the beach with a fitted sheet is great for keeping your valuables safe, and protecting sensitive skin as well as your accessories. However, there’s even more you can add to the setup if you want to keep the space extra clean. A few simple additions will ensure sand doesn’t have a chance of making its way inside.
Position a bucket of water just outside your fitted sheet as a designated place where those looking to enjoy some time relaxing can rinse off their feet thoroughly before stepping inside. Next, place a clean towel just inside the fitted sheet for visitors to step on after rinsing off. This creates an additional barrier against water and sand getting into the clean space you’ve carefully created.
When you’ve had your fill of time on the beach, your fitted sheet sand barrier can be repurposed yet again. This time, it will work wonders as a clean-up tool. Leaving only footprints behind in the sand is a simple task when you can fold up small items into your fitted sheet and carry them all back to your vehicle in one easy trip.
