How To Keep Sand Off You At The Beach: 7 Tips & Tricks

Do you ever find yourself being friends with people who absolutely despise the feeling of sand? It’s quite amusing how they willingly join you at the beach but are constantly trying to avoid any contact with sand. They’ll go to great lengths to dust off any sand that manages to find its way onto their towel or body.

Over the years, I’ve picked up some handy tricks on how to keep sand from sticking to you at the beach. These are my 7 helpful tricks to share with you!

How To Keep Sand Off You At The Beach

It’s really unlikely to go to the beach and not end up with a single grain of sand on you, but there are some ways to minimize the amount of sand on your skin. These include:

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  1. Put sunscreen on before you leave home
  2. Use a mesh bag for your items
  3. Wear shoes on the beach
  4. Use a beach blanket or mat under your blanket
  5. Choose a chair instead of towel for relaxing
  6. Avoid the waves
  7. Rinse and dry off

That’s our quick list for how to keep sand off you at the beach! If you want to understand why we suggest these, keep reading.

Before You Go: Put On Sunscreen at Home

Applying sunscreen once you’ve reached the beach might seem easier, but trust me, applying sunscreen at home (at least for the initial round) will prevent sand from sticking to your skin.

Sunscreen, being a lotion, initially makes your skin slightly stickier to the touch. If there’s any sand around you, it’s bound to end up in your sunscreen. And there’s nothing worse than rubbing sandy sunscreen on your body.

So, minimize sand sticking to your skin by allowing the sunscreen to soak in while you’re on your way to the beach.

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What to Bring: Use a Mesh Bag For Your Items

You’re going to want to bring a bag with you to the beach – and if you can, make sure that it’s a mesh bag.

Using a mesh bag is essential to prevent sand from accumulating in your bag. Opting for a mesh bag also enables you to shake off any sand from your belongings before wearing the bag on your shoulder or back, ensuring that you remain free from any additional sand. (Check out our favorite mesh backpacks)

What to Wear: Wear Shoes On The Beach

shoes on the beach

If you hate the feeling of sand on your skin, it’s likely you’ll want to keep wearing shoes while wandering the beach. And that’s a normal sight to see at any beach!

It’s just a good idea to think about which kinds of shoes you’ll wear to keep sand away from your feet! We’ve got many suggestions on shoes to wear to the beach here. And a plus side, you won’t risk burning the soles of your feet on a hot day.

If you don’t want to wear shoes the whole time you’re at the beach, make sure to bring a towel to brush off your feet before sitting down on your blanket.

Relaxing At The Beach: Use a Mat Under A Towel

If you’re planning on spending a lot of time at the beach, lounging on a towel, there’s an easy way to keep sand from sticking to your body.

All you need is an extra large beach towel and a mat – like a yoga mat or beach mat. This creates a barrier between the sand and your towel, so that the sand doesn’t go through the towel onto you.

This is an easy way for how to keep sand off you at the beach if you want to lay on a towel.

Relaxing At The Beach: Choose a Chair Instead Of A Towel

Alternatively, you can also choose to sit in a chair instead of on a towel.

This is a good way to keep sand off your legs and bottom half, as long as you make sure to brush the sand off the chair before sitting down. If you’re elevated from the sand, it’s a lot harder for sand to sneak onto you.

You can also bring a towel to put over the seat of the chair, giving you an extra layer of protection from any sand that might be kicked up.

(Check out our favorite beach chairs)

Relaxing at the Beach: Stay Dry On The Beach

Of course, one of the best ways to keep sand from sticking to you is to stay dry while you’re at the beach.

If you can avoid getting wet, whether from the ocean or just from sweat, you’ll be less likely to have sand sticking to your skin.

This can be difficult if it’s a really hot day, but if you can stay in the shade and drink plenty of water, you should be able to avoid getting too sweaty. (Check out our favorite beach umbrellas)

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If Sand Does Get On You: Rinse & Wipe off Sand

If you do end up with some sand on your skin, the best way to get it off is to rinse and wipe it away.

Head to the ocean and let the waves wash over you. You can even use a small pail or bottle of water to pour over yourself if you’re not comfortable going into the ocean.

Then, use a towel or brush to gently wipe away the sand. Make sure to get any crevices or folds in your skin!

How To Keep Sand From Sticking To You: Final Thoughts

Now that you know my 7 tips for how to keep sand off you at the beach, you can enjoy your time at the beach without constantly worrying about getting covered in sand. Remember to put on sunscreen before leaving home, use a mesh bag for your items, wear shoes on the beach, choose a mat or chair instead of a towel, stay dry and rinse off any sand that does get on you.

Have a great time at the beach! So, keep these tips in mind and enjoy a relaxing day at the beach without constantly trying to dust off any stray grains of sand.