Georgia’s 100-miles of gorgeous Atlantic coastline offers some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Despite our love of surf and sun, most of us could do without the sand. Even after what you think is a thorough cleaning, sand gets left behind in some of the oddest places in your car. Here are four handy tips to get sand out of your Ford’s upholstery after a day at the beach.
Shake It Out
Before you load up the car with your beach accessories, vigorously shake out your towels and blankets. Sand finds its way into almost everything, so give your hair a good shake and use your fingers to really get in there. You’d be surprised by how much sand gets stuck in hair. If all this shaking sounds like a lot of work, opt for a beach chair instead of a towel. Sitting above the sand will help minimize its attraction to fabric’s surfaces. Make sure to dry off before you sit down to avoid contaminating your chair with the gritty stuff.
Rinse Off Beach Toys and Accessories
All our favorite beach toys, from blow-up rafts to a cooler, collect sticky sand on their surfaces, like magnets. Rinse everything off by dipping it in the ocean before you put it in your Ford. Some beaches in Georgia have public outdoor showers that you can use to rinse them off before heading home.
Use a Stiff Bristle Brush
Who doesn’t love curling your toes in the warm sand? It’s an essential part of the whole beach experience, but these little bits of grit stick to skin like glue. Beachgoers can pack a hand broom to brush away sand from feet and hands right before jumping in the car. A stiff brush is an essential tool to wipe sand off your Ford’s floor mats. Once you get home, remove your mats and give them a good brushing before putting them back.
Reach for the Industrial Vacuum
Very fine white sand is your Ford’s upholstery and carpet’s worst enemy. Sand works its way deep into carpet backing, so it can be challenging to get it all out. After using a stiff bristle brush, you will need to thoroughly vacuum sandy areas with an attachment with the best suction. Agitating the carpet while using the vacuum’s suction will get you a complete clean. A combination of a stiff bristle brush and tapping on the mats will do the trick. Move the hose slowly, so the vacuum has enough time to suck-up the debris.
If you made the preemptive attempt to keep sand out of the car by laying an old sheet or blanket across seats, cargo area, or trunk, once the vehicle’s unpacked, carefully remove the sheet and shake off the sand.
Next time you spend a day at the beach, remember to follow these easy steps to get sand out of your Ford’s precious upholstery and keep it looking like new.
“A Heavy Duty Truck Bed Cover on A Ford-150 Raptor” by Diamond Back Truck Covers used under license CC BY-SA 2.0/ cropped from original
