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Beach Laundry Tips for Your Next Holiday

Everybody loves the beach, building sandcastles, swimming and sunbathing. Beaches are fun but the laundry afterwards can be quite the headache. Luckily for you, we have a couple of beach laundry tips that will wash away your laundry worries!

1. Check That Sand Is Fully Removed From Towels and Shoes

While you’re at the beach, it’s easy to love the sand until you realise your clothes are cluttered with sand. One of the most important beach laundry tips, for you, is always to make sure the sand is fully removed from your towels before putting them in the washing machine.

Consequently, sand could harm your washing machine. Excessive sand will cause your machine to get clogged. To prevent this, get your towels and shake them to remove any sand. If your towel is already wet, take advantage of the hot weather and hang it outside. Once dry, give it a shake again to double-check the sand is gone.

Once you are 100% sure sand is out of towels, put them in the washing machine and dry them in the tumble dryer afterwards to maintain their fluffiness.

If your shoes have sand inside them, take them off and give them a shake to remove them.

Alternatively, you can wear sand-friendly shoes to prevent sand being trapped inside your footwear.

Beach Laundry Tip - Remove SwimSuit

2. The Swimsuit Needs To Be Hand-Washed

Our second beach laundry tip is to make sure you are hand-washing your swimsuit. Doing this will ensure better results. A swimsuit is something all beach-goers take pride in and it deserves to be taken care of properly even if it’s a very sporadic outfit.

Firstly, fill your sink with water (lukewarm preferably) and soap. Then start to rinse your swimsuit gently and scrub it to remove any dirt or stains. We highly advise you not to put it in the dryer as the high temperature can cause the fabric to get damaged.

People swimming at the beach

3. Come Prepared With a Laundry Basket

When we think of beach preparations, we think of bringing beach mats, ice boxes, food etc. To be a step ahead, why not bring a small laundry basket? If you’re travelling with family, it might be best to put all the towels in one basket as opposed to carrying them with you. If there is a shower available in the facilities near the beach, you can have a shower and leave your dirty swimsuit in the laundry basket!

It is essential that you also bring a bin bag to put all your rubbish away. The beaches are beautiful and they need to be kept clean!

Beach Laundry Tip - Laundry basket

You now have the beach laundry trips that will save you stress and time next time you have a day out on the beach!

If you feel you won’t have time to do your beach laundry, just book with us! Choose a collection date and we’ll come, clean your beach laundry, and deliver them back to you within 24 hours!

Visit the Laundryheap website today or download the free Laundryheap app on iOS or Android!


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Clothing to avoid wearing to the beach

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

A day at the beach is the ultimate way to relax. Lying back on the golden sand, cooling off in the glittering sea, staying refreshed with a delicious ice cream. Before heading to the beach, make sure that you are wearing the right clothing for ultimate relaxation by avoiding these items. 

  • Jeans
  • Dark colours 
  • Tight clothes
  • Expensive jewellery 
  • Shoes

Jeans

Jeans, along with any heavy clothing, should be avoided at all costs when heading to the beach. As a material, jeans are too stiff and heavy to possibly be comfortable to relax on the sand in. Wearing them will only result in your legs becoming unbearably sweaty. As well as this, you want to wear something to and from the beach that is easy to remove and put back on, not a pair of jeans that will only stick to you if you aren’t completely dry from your recent dip in the ocean. 

Photo by Mica Asato from Pexels

Dark colours

As a rule of thumb, avoid all dark colours when heading to the beach. Dark colours absorb more heat than their lighter alternatives, making your body temperature rise rather than trying to cool it down. When you are on the beach, exposed to the sun for long periods of time, it’s best to opt for white or lighter colours as these reflect the sun.

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Tight clothes

A day at the beach should be relaxing and comfortable, something that won’t be achieved if you are wearing tight clothing. Even if you aren’t on the beach, tight clothing should be avoided when it is warm as the material clings to your body and raises your temperature. Instead, opt for light, breathable materials, such as cotton and linen, that are looser on the body and will aid in regulating your body temperature. 

Photo by Artem Beliaikin from Pexels

Expensive jewellery 

A dip in the sea is the perfect way to cool off from lying on the hot sand all day. Unfortunately, the salt from the water can erode gold, silver, or platinum jewellery, causing irreversible damage. Before going for a swim make sure to remove ALL of your jewellery if it is particularly sentimental. Alternatively, leave your jewellery at home so there is absolutely no risk of it being damaged or stolen whilst you are swimming. 

Photo by Leah Kelley from Pexels

Shoes

Sand is a natural exfoliator and will lift dead skin cells and smooth the soles of your feet. It is also incredibly irritating and will find its way into any small gap possible. When heading to the beach, always opt to wear flip flops or sandals rather than shoes. If you wear shoes you will be trying to get sand out of and off of them for days, maybe even weeks, after you leave the beach. If you wear sandals, you can easily shake the sand from them once your day is done. 

Photo by Nathan J Hilton from Pexels

Whilst you’re having fun in the sun, let us take care of your laundry. Simply head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app. 


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Why do we need clean beaches?

Photo by Adrianna Calvo from Pexels

Every day 8 million pieces of litter enter the sea. This includes plastic bags, metal cans, fishing nets, and cigarettes. Beach clean-ups are essential in preventing human waste from reaching the ocean and causing more damage to our environment. These are just 5 of the reasons they are so important. 

  • Beaches in the ecosystem
  • Saving marine animals
  • A thriving economy 
  • Limit illness 
  • A safer environment 

Beaches in the ecosystem 

Beaches are an integral part of our ecosystem. They provide a home for thousands of marine species, some of which can’t be seen by the naked eye. These tiny organisms are essential in the process of seawater filtration and nutrient recycling, which gives us fresh water to drink. In addition to this, many marine creatures, such as sea turtles, use beaches to nest and lay eggs. If beaches continue to be polluted, these species will have no space to nest, leading to their extinction, and a drastic shift in the food chain. 

Photo by Jolo Diaz from Pexels

Saving marine animals 

8.3 million tonnes of plastic is discarded in the ocean every year, killing 1 million marine animals. Beach clean-ups lower the chances of species coming into contact with and being harmed by waste left on the beach. What may seem like only a plastic bottle, could cause serious harm to marine life, so it’s best to pick it up and eliminate the risk. 

Photo by Lucien Wanda from Pexels

A thriving economy 

Beaches attract millions of tourists to coastal locations, encouraging them to explore not only the beach but the local attractions. Globally, tourism makes up for 1 in 4 jobs, making it a financially viable industry we must continue growing. If our beaches are overly polluted, tourists won’t be interested in visiting coastal areas and spending money on local businesses, resulting in global job losses.

Limit illness

The pollution we put into the ocean can end up making us sick. The average seafood eater will consume 11,000 fragments of plastic every year, the chemicals of which can make you incredibly ill. Picking up as much plastic as possible from our beaches will prevent it from polluting the waters and the marine life we may end up eating, lessening our chances of becoming ill. 

Photo by Harrison Haines from Pexels

A safer environment 

Polluted beaches filled with discarded litter are not only damaging to the ecosystem but are also incredibly dangerous for visitors. Broken glass, plastic bags, and cigarette butts can cause serious harm to anyone strolling down the beach who may happen to accidentally step on them. The risk of damage increases for children who are more likely to pick up pieces of rubbish and mistake them for toys or ingestible items. It’s simply safer in all manners to pick up litter as soon as you see it. 

Photo by Ben Mack from Pexels

Whilst you help clean up your local beach, we will help clean up your laundry pile. Book your Laundryheap order now by heading to the Laundryheap website or downloading the free Laundryheap app. If you are residing in Dallas, use the code TRY25US to get 25% off of your first Laundryheap order.


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How to remove sand from your clothing

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

A day of sunning yourself on the beach and splashing around in the water is idyllic. What’s less than idyllic is when you can’t seem to get rid of the sand relentlessly sticking to every inch of your clothing- towels included. Hopefully, these tips will help when it comes to the tiresome task of removing sand from your clothing.

  • Start from the top
  • De-sand your items
  • Bag your items
  • Wash away the sand
  • Clean up any lingering sand

Start from the top

Sand seems to find its way into every single space it can stick itself to. To begin the removal process, start from the very top of your body, and work your way down. If you are at a beach with access to showers, make use of them. The quickest way to get rid of sand is by washing it away. If there are no showers, simply begin by shaking out your hair, and rubbing as much sand away from your body and swimsuit as possible. To get rid of the sand on your feet, try adding baby powder once they are dry. This will prevent you from picking up any more sand as you make your way home. 

Photo by Min An from Pexels

De-sand your items

Before putting your beach towels, flip flops, and any other items you have taken to the beach, back in your bag, give them a really good shake. Sand belongs on the beach, not in your personal belongings, so make sure to de-sand ALL of your items before heading home. If you miss this step you will be finding sand grains for days, maybe even weeks, after your beach trip. To help remove sand from smaller items, such as sun lotion or water bottles, use baby wipes. The moisture from the wipe will easily pick up the sand and remove it from your belongings. 

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Bag your items

Some items are harder to get sand off than others. For example, if your swimming attire is wet, sand will easily stick to it, and not so easily come off. For these items, it’s best to simply bag them up and deal with them when you get home. Make sure that you bring an ample amount of bags to the beach with you, as, if your clothing is particularly sandy, you may need to double bag. Securely tie your bags so that no sand can escape before you get home. 

Photo by Sanddollar from Pexels

Wash away the sand

For your bagged items, it’s important to wash them as soon as you get in. 

To wash your beach towels, use a hot wash setting unless stated otherwise, and dry either in a tumble dryer or by air drying. Once you have used the washing machine to wash your towels, run an empty wash. This will prevent sand from being transferred onto any clothes you wash in the future. 

When washing your swimsuit, it’s important to avoid using the washing machine as this will stretch the material and damage the item. Instead, fill a basin with lukewarm water and add a mild laundry detergent. Place your swimsuit in the water, and leave it to soak for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, swirl your swimming costume in the water, before lifting and rinsing it with cool water. After you have rinsed your swimming costume, leave it to air dry, rather than using the tumble dryer. 

If you have any other items, such as umbrellas or windbreakers, you can wash the sand from them using a hose. It’s important to wash all your items once you get home, unless you want sand to linger in your house.

Photo by Artem Beliaikin from Pexels

Clean up any lingering sand

Sand is pesky and can linger for weeks after your beach trip. The best way to clean up lingering sand is by hoovering and mopping it up. Use a hoover to suck up small grains of sand, and go over the area with a mop to make sure that there are no remaining grains. It’s best to do this step last to prevent yourself from constantly having to hoover and mop after de-sanding each item you took to the beach. 

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Whilst you’re de-sanding, don’t let your laundry pile up. Book a Laundryheap dry cleaning service, and we will take care of your laundry for you. To book your laundry service, simply head to the Laundryheap website, or download the free Laundryheap app.


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Best beaches in Sharjah

Sharjah has a desert climate, with the average daily temperature reaching 26 degrees celsius. This temperature, coupled with the array of beautiful beaches available, makes Sharjah the perfect beach holiday destination. The only question is, which of Sharjah’s beaches is the best to choose from? 

  • Al Khan beach
  • Al Fisht beach
  • Kalba beach
  • Khorfakkan beach
  • Al Lulayyah beach

Al Khan beach 

Located just five minutes away from the Sharjah maritime museum and Sharjah Aquarium, Al Khan beach is one of the most popular in Sharjah, especially for tourists. The 600 meters of sand provide ample space for relaxing in the sun, before taking a dip in the crystal blue ocean. For those who are slightly more adventurous, the Al Khan surf school offers a variety of water sport activities, including surfing, kayaking, and parasailing. If you are enjoying the beach with small children, there is even a play park to occupy their time, leaving you to relax and enjoy the sun warming your skin as you lay on the sand. 

Photo by Adrianna Calvo from Pexels

Al Fisht beach 

Al Fisht beach is the perfect location to enjoy a picnic and walk across the sand. Due to the strong currents, it is strictly prohibited to swim in the water, however, the white sands offer more than enough entertainment. Once you have enjoyed the beach, head to the Al Fisht park, directly opposite the beach, and take a stroll around the perfectly manicured grass lawns. For the little ones, there is a children’s play area complete with swings, see-saws, and a multitude of slides. On clear nights, Al Fisht beach is a popular spot for stargazing as the sounds of the waves crashing as you admire the stars make for an idyllic and relaxing evening. 

Photo by Sebastian Voortman from Pexels

Kalba beach

If you are an animal lover, Kalba beach is perfect for you. Located a stone’s throw away from Khor Kalba Conservation Reserve, it is not unusual to spot rare wildlife wandering across the beach. Kalba beach is also an important nesting site for hawksbill turtles, which are critically endangered, and Arabian-collared kingfishers. The pristine waters of Kalba beach make it a popular site for scuba diving, as both children and adults can discover the habitats of many underwater creatures. Unlike any of the other beaches in Sharjah, at Kalba beach you can spot local fishermen catching fish along the horizon. 

Khorfakkan beach

Khorfakkan beach is a favourite for both tourists and locals. Unlike Al Fisht beach, there is an abundance of fun water activities on offer at Khorfakkan. Whether you enjoy swimming, fishing, and diving, or want to try something more daring, such as kayaking or parasailing, there is plenty of fun to be had. Once you have exhausted yourself playing in the glittering sea, Khorfakkan beach has goalposts set up for a lighthearted football competition. At the end of the day, you can stroll down the beach to Oceanic Resort and Spa, which offers luxury accommodation and pamper packages, perfect for unwinding after a long day of having fun in the sun. 

Al Lulayyah beach

If camping on the beach under the stars sounds appealing to you, then Al Lulayyah beach is the perfect beach for you. You will find Al Lulayyah on the east coast, separated from the main road by farmland. Its peaceful tranquility attracts campers, particularly on the weekend, who pitch their tents right on the sand and enjoy a few days relaxing by the sea. If camping on the sand doesn’t interest you, one of the nearby farms welcomes campers, and even comes complete with a BBQ area and playground. Al Lulayyah beach is the ideal beach for taking things slow, enjoying a dip in the sea, and maybe even taking part in some fishing. 

Photo by Dziana Hasanbekava from Pexels

Whilst you explore the beaches that Sharjah has to offer, let Laundryheap take care of your dirty laundry. To book your Laundryheap service, simply head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app. 


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5 Tips For Your Baby’s First Beach Trip

Are you planning on taking your baby to the beach for the first time? If so, you need to take extra precaution to protect your baby’s sensitive skin from the sun. It is advisable for baby’s younger than six months to avoid the sun and sea altogether and stay in the shade. However, for baby’s older than six months, here are some useful tips for their first time at the beach.

5 Tips For Your Baby’s First Beach Trip

  • Stay sheltered
  • Apply sunscreen often
  • Bring baby Powder
  • Bring baby swimming gear 
  • Pack snacks and water

Stay Sheltered

To prevent your baby’s skin from being exposed to the sun for long periods at a time, set up or stay in a sheltered area. Bring a beach umbrella or a beach tent along with a large beach mat/ blanket. 

Hack: use a fitted sheet to create a safe play area for your baby. Just add bags to the corners of the sheets to keep them up and extended.

A windbreak will help give your baby a safe play area, so they don’t wander too far and provides some privacy for you and your family.

Apply Sunscreen Often

Use sunscreen lotion that is made for babies and toddlers, with a high SPF of 50 to ensure maximum protection. Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before your baby is exposed to the sun and re-apply the sunscreen every 1-2 hours.

Bring Baby Swimming Gear 

Don’t forget to bring appropriate swimming gear for your baby as well as swimming equipment to keep them safe when in the water. It’s best to let your baby get accustomed to the beach environment first by leaving them on the shore before taking them for a dip in the sea.

  • Sunhat: Although not exactly swimming gear, it will provide extra protection from the direct rays of the sun when going to take your baby a dip in the water.
  • Swim Diapers: Reusable or disposable, choose whatever will be easy for you to take care of after the beach. Just don’t your baby for a swim in regular diapers and clothes as it will not be comfortable.
  • UV all-in-one wet suits: You can choose to purchase a full body wet suit for more coverage if you prefer to use less sunscreen on your baby.
  • Baby float: If you want to enjoy a dip in the sea with your baby without having to worry excessively about their safety in the water, invest in a swimming float pool. Then you can both enjoy and relax.
  • Baby pool: A blowup baby pool is the ultimate versatile tool to keep the baby safely entertained and away from direct sunlight.

Bring Baby Powder

Baby powder will be super useful to bring to the beach because not only is it great for diaper rashes, but it also works wonders in removing sand from the skin and even from the hair.

Pack Snacks And Water

If your baby is already taking solid foods, prepare plenty of finger food snacks like breadsticks, as these are easy to eat. Freeze a few bottles of mineral water the day before, so your baby can stay hydrated with cold water at the beach.

If you’re breastfeeding, you can bring a shawl to cover up or find a private place to do it. Alternatively, you can prepare bottles of breast pre-pumped milk. For formula – feeding, take a few bottles of ready-made formula milk.

 

We know it can get a little messy washing beach clothes with all the sand that may still be stuck on them. Laundryheap can take that struggle away and have your clothes, towels and swimsuits washed and returned to you within 24 hours.