After a day spent at the beach, the sand seems to have a knack for getting everywhere. It clings to towels, sticks to swimsuits, and often winds up coating the bottom of the shower when you rinse. The most natural reflex is then to turn on the water and send all those little grains straight toward the drain. Yet, this action isn’t necessarily the best for the plumbing. A much simpler method is to use absorbent paper before cleaning the shower.
Absorbent paper helps keep the shower and the pipes cleaner
Unlike many kinds of dirt found in a bathroom, sand obviously does not dissolve when it meets water. When large amounts are regularly carried down the drain, the grains can settle in the trap or travel further along the pipes. On their own, a few particles after a beach outing won’t necessarily cause a clog, but their buildup can promote gumming up, especially when they mix with hair, soap, or other deposits already present in the pipes.
That is precisely where absorbent paper can be useful. Rather than rinsing the shower tray or tub immediately, it is better to first remove as much sand as possible. If the grains are still wet, a few slightly damp sheets of absorbent paper allow you to pick them up easily: the sand adheres to the paper and can then be disposed of in the trash, Le Figaro reports. If there are many grains, it is also possible to wait for the surface to dry before collecting the grains with a small scoop or, if you have one, a wet-and-dry vacuum.
The right steps to prevent sand from invading the shower
This trick mainly offers the advantage of avoiding turning the shower into the starting point for all the beach residues brought back. Once the bulk of the sand is removed, cleaning returns to normal: simply rinse the surface to remove the last grains, then use your usual cleaner if needed. So absorbent paper is not meant to clean the entire shower, but to perform a first step that limits what goes into the drain.
Even more effective: reduce the amount of sand that reaches the bathroom. Even before entering the house, towels, clothes, bags, and beach toys should be carefully shaken outside. Shoes can also be brushed and feet rinsed, when possible, before crossing the threshold. These gestures prevent the sand from dispersing on the floor, carpets, the sofa, or even into the sheets.
A cleaner shower thanks to this post-beach reflex
Textiles also require a few precautions. Putting a towel still full of sand directly into the washing machine is like moving the problem to another appliance. It is better to shake it out vigorously outside before washing. As for swimsuits and damp clothing, it’s better not to leave them cooped up in a bag for too long after returning from the beach: between salt, moisture, sweating, and sunscreen residues, unpleasant odors can quickly appear.
Slipping a few sheets of absorbent paper into the shower after the beach is therefore a much less odd gesture than it might seem. It is simply a way to mechanically recover the sand before it is carried away by the water. This small precaution takes a few seconds, makes bathroom cleaning easier, and helps limit the buildup of residues in the pipes. A reflex particularly interesting in summer, when the back-and-forth between home and the beach becomes frequent.
