Protect your car from beach debris this summer

With the majority of our country covered in desert, and a large portion of it covered in beach, Australians are well accustomed to sand. A day rolling around in this stuff is often where our favourite memories are made (like that time when you were five and you built a sand castle that, in your young opinion, was the greatest architectural feat since the Taj Mahal). However, this doesn't mean that we welcome sand in our cars.

The effects of sand on a post-beach car can be extremely frustrating and, in some cases, damaging. Thankfully, with a few simple tips, you can avoid bringing the beach home with you this summer.

Protect your interior

Particularly if you have children or pets, the first place you'll find sand will be all over your car seats and mats. Minimise the amount that gets into your vehicle by asking passengers to rinse off before they hop in. This should be done at a beach shower. Washing in the ocean won't get rid of all the sand and you'll likely end up picking up more on your way back to the car.

Beach towels are also notorious for their sand-holding capacity, so be sure to thoroughly shake them out before popping them in your boot. Keeping a healthy supply of plastic bags with you is a great way to contain any excessively sandy items.

A well-fitting floor mat will prove to be your greatest ally in the fight to keep the beach where it belongs. Not only will these protect your car floor from the evidence of coastal activity, all you have to do to clean them is pull them out and give them a good shake and a vacuum. 

Rubber mats are particularly useful for this, as they don't trap sand particles in their carpet fibres. These types of mats are also incredibly durable, meaning they'll definitely last for many summers to come.

Protect your exterior

Sand inside your car can be annoying because of its difficulty to clean. Outside your car, however, it can be damaging, especially for your paint job. Speaking to WLOX, David Poulos, the manager of an auto shop, explains that sand can eat away at the surface of your vehicle's exterior.

One way to prevent this is to apply a layer of wax across your car's body, which creates an invisible shield. A little bit of forethought will go a long way in keeping your ride in good condition.