The Sand-Free Cottage: 8 Ways to Keep the Beach at Bay

This week we’re combing by means of the Remodelista archives for a few of our all-time favourite summer time tales. Right here’s one:

In summer time nothing beats the texture of sand between your toes. Until, after all, you occur to be inside. Sandy flooring (or worse, sheets) are the bane of each seaside cottage. However, as this native Cape Codder has found, there are methods to maintain the sand at bay.

Listed here are eight options to cease sand on the door.

Images by Justine Hand, besides the place famous.

1. Arrange an out of doors foot-washing station.

A great day on the seaside normally ends with a bathe to take away all sand, salt, and sunscreen. However what about all these to-ings and fro-ings all through the day? For fast rinses, create a delegated out of doors station particularly for rinsing sandy ft. All you actually need is a low hose or spigot—be sure little beach-goers can attain the deal with. Or just maintain a big bucket of water close to the door.

2. Double up on doormats.

Regardless of my efforts to put in a foot-wash station, some will all the time overlook to rinse their sandy ft. Subsequently my subsequent line of protection is a collection of sand-trapping doormats, on each sides of the edge.

3. Take away all footwear earlier than coming into.

Even with double doormats, I nonetheless encourage everybody to take away their footwear, by establishing a delegated space for footwear. Ideally this space is exterior the house, however nonetheless in a sheltered space—a porch is greatest. The hope is {that a} assortment of footwear will subtly remind all visitors that shoe elimination is most well-liked, with out your needing to nag an excessive amount of.

4. Deploy sandtraps (rugs).

Sand, particularly when mixed with sunscreen, is notoriously sticky. For these particles that make it previous my out of doors sand elimination gauntlet, I deploy sand-trapping ground covers, equivalent to sisal and sea-grass rugs. Simply you’ll want to vacuum effectively.

5. Maintain a sand elimination bucket in your automobile.