After a day at the beach, the car, truck, SUV, or other vehicle’s interior becomes coated in the thin white powder substance. Sand is an unavoidable nuisance that is challenging to manage despite your best efforts. There is no way to prevent sand from beaches from entering the vehicle. The fresh and saltwater beaches of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina are picturesque. After a day on the shore, follow these 10 tips for cleaning car after beach day. 

Avoid The Mess In The First Place

The best method to prevent cleaning a car after the beach is by reading these 10 tips on keeping your car clean at the beach. However, let’s face it, a day on the shore will require the necessity to clean the vehicle. 

The key to avoiding messes from sand is prevention. Prevent sand from entering the vehicle by placing sheets in the rear of the vehicle where gear is stowed, plastic bins for salty toys and gear, and cleaning sand from the body before entering the car. 

Remove Washable Floor Mats

Removable rubber floor mats are worth the expense because they are easy to clean compared to those without rubber mats.

After a day at the beach, carefully remove the floor mats, shake, rinse, allow to dry, and reinstall. Rubber washable floor mates are a time saver compared to cloth carpets. 

Vacuum The Interior

For those who visit the beach consistently, we are all aware that the vehicle’s interior becomes covered in sand. 

Vacuuming a vehicle removes the sand by sucking it into the bag or canister. Depending on your level of preparation, removing all of the sand requires between fifteen minutes and over two hours. 

We recommended removing sand from the body and covering the vehicle’s interior to prevent the need to vacuum for extended periods. 

Wash The Exterior of The Vehicle

While some beaches allow vehicles to drive along the surf, most do not. Whether you are parked on the shoreline or a distant parking lot, it is essential to wash the vehicle. 

When parked within close proximity of saltwater, the vehicle becomes quickly coated in salt, particularly during periods of high winds. Salt air is corrosive and must be washed as soon as possible. 

While freshwater is not corrosive, sand and other debris cover the car because of the ability for the wind to travel across lakes at high speeds due to the lack of trees. 

Whether you are visiting a saltwater or freshwater beach, be sure to clean the vehicle after a day in the sun. 

Wipe Down Flat Surfaces

When entering the vehicle, the fine sand particles become airborne, covering the car’s interior with a thin dust-like layer. 

After a day at the beach, take a damn microfiber cloth and pull the dirt from the dash and other flat surfaces in the vehicle. 

Clean Door Thresholds

One of the most overlooked places on a vehicle is the threshold between the exterior and interior of the car where the occupant steps. 

The most frequently contacted space is the threshold as you enter and exit. Feet contact the threshold when getting into and out of the vehicle, thus making them coaxed in sand. 

We recommend a bucket of soapy water, rag, and drying cloth to clean the thresholds. Avoid soaking the transition as you may damage the surrounding carpet. To clean the threshold, dip the rag in soapy water, wipe the dirt with a cloth, and dry with a rag, 

Remove Sunscreen From The Interior 

Sunscreen is oily and doesn’t land only on the skin. After applying lotion with the hands, the sun protective layer transfers to everything you touch within the vehicle.

After pulling in back home, mix a bucket of dish soap and water. With a rag dipped in the mixture and rung out, clean the steering wheel, interior door handle, window control, and other areas that have been touched. 

Wash Seat Coverings

The seats of vehicles are challenging because they take the brunt of a beachgoer between sand, sweat, and moisture. 

When the seats are fitted with covers, remove and wash in the washing machine. For those that are not covered, clean with a rag dipped in a bucket of water and dish soap. 

Allow The Interior Of The Car To Dry

After taking the time to clean the vehicle’s interior, the process makes components wet. Never close the doors and windows and walk away. 

After cleaning the vehicle, leave the doors open for between one and five hours after cleaning. Leaving the doors closed results in the formation of an odor due to improperly drying. 

Apply An Air Freshener

Despite leaving the doors open to allow the vehicle to dry, an unpleasant smell may persist.

To leave the vehicle smelling fresh, place a disposable air freshener in the car to leave it smelling fresh.

Check out the Frebreeze Car Air Freshener 4 Pack. The air freshener clips with ease the air conditioning or heating vents. 

Follow These 10 Steps For Cleaning Car After Beach

It is essential to clear a vehicle after a visit to the beach to remove the sand, sweat, and sunscreen. Without cleaning, the car will appear unkempt and not have a pleasant smell. Don’t let cleaning deter you from spending a fun day at the beach in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Simply follow the 10 steps for cleaning car after beach.