10 things I hate about sand (and how I'll be avoiding them at the beach this summer)

If I had to name my biggest sand-related pet peeve, it would be the scratchy, dry feeling of having it on my skin. The worst! That's why I'm bummed I didn't know about this sand-scrubber-offer years ago. It's a little powder-filled pouch that buffs sand off your body so you don't feel dirty on the beach, and it'll be the first thing I pack for my next visit to the shore.

"We love this," raved a kindred spirit. "When we go to the beach, we stay out there for a long time, which means lots of snacks and food are eaten there, and who wants sandy hands while eating. It smells good and it works great. Not only does it take the sand off, but it also gets rid of the sticky feeling from sunscreen and salt water."

I much prefer sneakers to sandals since they offer more support, but having worn them to the beach, I know what a nightmare getting sand out of them can be. My next oceanside shoes will be of the variety that are easy to slip on and off (and thus, clean), and Senior Style Writer Rebecca Carhart makes a great case for this thoughtfully designed pair.  

"After learning that Jennifer Aniston owns multiple pairs of these flip-flops, I knew I had to give them a try for myself and am so glad I did!" she says. "While they may look like your classic, run-of-the-mill rubber flops, they actually have an orthotic design that makes them therapeutic for your feet. The foam material molds to your foot's unique shape, while the built-in arch support holds it in a comfortable position and the elevated heel reduces pressure. I've been wearing them non-stop since getting them and now want to grab them in another color." 

Related: I tried Jennifer Aniston's go-to $40 flip-flops and can confirm they are super comfortable

By now, you can probably guess that laying on a sand-covered sheet isn't my idea of R&R. Luckily, this sand-resistant blanket exists. Made of a waterproof nylon material, it's easy to shake clean should any specks land on it, and it even comes with anchor stakes to help keep it in place. Plus, it folds down to fit into a compact storage pouch, making it a sand- and space-saver. 

"This was the hit of my beach setup," praised a parent. "I have four kids and my husband and I, and there was still room. Just have to flick it, and the sands flies right off. ... One of my best buys this year."

I love the feeling of being wrapped up in a plush towel as much as the next person — but that fuzzy fabric is like a welcome mat for sand. No wonder thousands of shoppers are raving about this thinner Turkish cotton alternative. They say it's still plenty soft, but that the lower pile makes it less prone to having sand stick to it. Plus, it was designed to dry quickly and takes up less room in your beach bag than fluffier towels. 

"This is a wonderful towel; we packed these for our recent beach vacation in Hawaii, and they barely took up any room," touted a traveler. "The sand does literally fall right off of it, and they dry and absorb water very well. I would highly recommend these towels!"

My husband once turned our floor into a sandpit after bringing a beach bag into our house that had a thick layer of sand in it, and I'm still scarred to this day. Now, I'm not so naive to believe I'll be able to avoid getting sand in any bag I bring to the beach, but I do like the idea of not bringing said sand into my home. That's where this stylish satchel comes in; it's covered in holes, which, true, isn't very sand-resistant while you're actually at the beach. But those holes make ridding the bag of sand a cinch as you're packing up for the day — at least, that's what reviewers say.

"I don’t normally write reviews, but feel inclined to for this bag," shared a shopper. "This is hands down the best beach/pool bag ever. It's huge without being super bulky. The holes in it allow for sand to sift out or wet items to dry without getting old/moldy. I used this as my kids' swimming lessons bag and left their goggles in the bag after the lessons, and everything dried without issue. The bag is cute, which is a plus. There is a small zippered pocket for phone/money/keys."

I realize it's called a "sand"wich, but feeling those little granules between my teeth while I'm eating lunch is a total meal wrecker. Elevating food and drinks can help prevent this unfortunate situation, which is why this tray that attaches to your beach umbrella is so handy. It fits around umbrella poles of up to 1.5 inches in diameter and can hold a surprising amount in its four cupholders, four snack holders, four sunglasses holes and four phone slots. Take that, gritty BLT.

"This tray has transformed our beach days from dealing with sand in everything and balancing items on chair arms to relaxing [and] carefree," wrote a relieved beachgoer. "One of the best features is that all of the compartments have openings that allow sand to be easily brushed out."

I try to unplug when I'm at the beach, but I'll reach for my phone to take pictures from time to time. This inevitably results in bits of sand getting stuck in those grooves around the edges, and I swear there's still residue from beach trips past caught in there. Next time, I'll keep my phone in one of these touch-sensitive lanyard sleeves so I can use it while protecting it from sand and water. Since this pack comes with two, my husband can use the other for taking underwater photos. 

"This product is amazing!" exclaimed an enthusiast. "It was my best friend during my cruise to the Bahamas. I was in the water constantly and this kept my phone completely dry and safe from sand. My phone worked just fine within the pouch, and my pictures came out clear! I loved being able to take pictures above water and underwater. 10/10!"

Last year, I agreed to go to the beach with my husband and some family members. Cut to: It was so windy that there was sand blowing everywhere, and we had to leave after an hour because we kept getting pelted. Oh how I wished we'd had a sturdy tent to help shield us from those petite yet painful particles. This one can fit a few people (it comes in different sizes) and, according to the manufacturer, can be set up in minutes. I like that it has a bottom layer so you're not just sitting on sand, and the UPF 50+ fabric offers extra sun defense. It folds down into a small pack for easy transport, and the mesh windows help cool things down while allowing you to take in the view.

"Got this tent for my husband to use at the beach because he hates having sand all over him and would much rather be in the shade," said a thoughtful spouse. "Provides the perfect amount of shade and has windows that can be zipped up or down to allow a breeze. It is lightweight and fits inside our beach bag and is quick and easy to take down. Also easy to fold up if you have two people."

I'm swearing off of lotions and solely bringing spray-on SPF to the beach from now on. Why? I find that sand tends to stick to the runnier stuff more than the aerosol versions, the latter of which gets absorbed and dries more quickly. Plus, it's easier to reapply with a quick spritz rather than having to mess up your hands by slathering (a surefire way to attract sand).

Contributing Health Writer (and personal trainer) Emily Roethle awarded this one the title of "best spray" in her roundup of the best sports sunscreens, saying, "Despite humidity and sweat, this sunscreen didn't run or grow whiter with use. Quite to the contrary, it wasn't even noticeable. This spray feels very lightweight, and its glossy sheen dries in under five minutes, so you can quickly head out the door and on to your next adventure. The addition of vitamins C and E also makes this sunscreen feel moisturizing." Sign me up!

Sand at the beach is one thing, but sand in the car? Unacceptable. When sand gets in your car, it's more likely to get dragged into the house, and I will stop at nothing to prevent that from happening. You can rinse off your shoes and shake out your towels until the cows come home, but there's always a chance you'll miss some. That's why I'll be making sure our car is equipped with a vacuum whenever we go on a beach outing; it'll allow me to suck up stray sand before it has a chance of making it into the house 

Senior Home Editor Jessica Dodell-Feder went in search of the best car vacuums, and this 2.4-pound wonder made the cut. "This was the cheapest car vacuum I tried, yet it held its own in testing, outperforming models more than double the price," she says. "It had the second-best suction, inhaling almost all the dirt and debris I scattered across my backseat... . No wonder it's a Yahoo reader favorite. It even surpassed our tech editor's expectations."