I brought half the beach home with me last summer. Sand in the car, sand in the towels, sand in places I do not want to think about. Then a friend who grew up near the coast taught me the tricks her family has used for years, and my next beach trip was a lot cleaner.

Get Rid of Sand Before You Leave

The secret is to deal with sand while it is dry and still at the beach. Sand sticks to wet skin and damp towels, but dry sand brushes right off. Before you get in the car, dust everyone off with a dry towel, and do not let wet suits sit on the car seats.

The Baby Powder Trick

• Dust baby powder or cornstarch on sandy skin. It absorbs moisture and the sand wipes right off.
• Shake towels hard before they go in the bag, and wash them separately at home.
• Use a mesh bag for toys so sand drains out instead of collecting.

Cleaning the Car After

Sand in the car is the hardest to get out of carpet. Once it dries, vacuum it, then bang the floor mats together outside. For the last stubborn grains, a squeegee or a balloon rubbed over the carpet pulls sand up surprisingly well. I keep a small brush in the trunk now for a quick sweep before I drive home.

Honestly, the baby powder trick is the one that changed everything. My kids thought it was fun, too.