A visit to the shore means a fun day in the sand, sun and sea. You’re sure to make plenty of memories that you want to save with photos and videos on your phone, and that calls for a bit of beach-proofing. Preserve your memories and your devices from the potential hazards the shore can present to make sure your vacation goes smoothly.
When it comes to the beach, the heat, the sand and the water can cause problems for your technology. Don’t let those dangers stop you from enjoying your day at the shore! Instead, learn how to beach-proof your phone and other electronic devices with the tips below and enjoy your beach vacation more.
Too much heat can ruin your phone’s screen or battery, and it may also lead to some unsafe situations. If you’re using your phone when it overheats, you’ll notice how hot it’s gotten, or you may even get a warning that your device is overheating. Prevent the damage and danger with a few steps on how to protect your phone from heat.
You might think your devices are safer in the car than they are in the sun, but that could make the heat problems worse. If you leave devices in an open spot of your car where there’s no sunlight, the sun will move throughout the day and could eventually cast light on your electronics. Even if you put your phone in the glove compartment or center console of your car, the car will still heat up while you’re at the beach, basically becoming an oven for your devices, and that’s no good!
If you can’t leave devices in the car, you may have to bring them with you. In that case, keep them out of direct sunlight and the heat with some shade. A beach umbrella will help create some shade for your phone, and, as a bonus, it’s a great way to help you beat the heat. If you don’t have a beach umbrella, keep your phone under a light-colored clothing item. You could also fold a corner of your towel over your phone, but don’t place it on the sand. You’ll have to remember it’s there, as well, because you don’t want to pick up the towel and have your phone fall to the sand.
Having apps running in the background of your phone can cause it to heat up quicker. Close all your apps and, if you can, turn off location services, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other features of your phone that stay running in the background even when you’re not using your device. The best practice is to power your phone off before putting it in the shade. If you’re a beachgoer who wants to capture moments right when they happen, you probably won’t want to turn off your devices, though, so follow whatever precautions you can to prevent your electronics from overheating.
There’s more you can do to protect your phone from the heat at the beach if you’re still concerned. Use the tips above and these extra steps to protect your electronics from the sun and heat:
You may get the urge to put your overheated phone in a cooler with ice packs, but taking it from one extreme temperature to another could create condensation or cause other problems. If your phone isn’t hot and you want to prevent it from heating up, you could keep it in a cooler bag as long as there aren’t ice packs or liquid in it, which could make your device too cold or get moisture on it.
Along with those tips, you should also avoid using your phone too much while at the beach. The heat from your hands will warm up your phone, and using it in direct sunlight won’t help, either. Instead, focus on the sights and fun happening around you and leave your phone alone when you aren’t capturing your seaside memories.
Of course, the best way to protect your electronic devices from the heat is to avoid bringing them to the shore. Whether you leave them at home or in your hotel room, they’ll be safe from the sun and heat. But we know you want to capture memories, and having a phone with you also provides a sense of security. You could choose one person from your family or group of friends to bring their phone to the beach to cut down on the risk of damaging other devices, but if everyone wants their phone with them, use the tips above to keep your devices cool.
Ocean water presents a problem even for waterproof electronics. Though “waterproof” means different things for different devices, mainly related to the depth and the time the phone can experience submersion, it always refers to freshwater. Saltwater from the ocean can corrode parts of your phone or electronics, so keep your phone dry by taking some of these measures.
Put your phone in an airtight plastic baggie or waterproof pouch for additional protection to your waterproof phone case. If you’re using a baggie, be sure to press the air out as you seal it. That’ll help you use the touchscreen if you need to. A sealed bag or waterproof pouch can help protect your phone from any drips after you come back from the water or when you use your phone with wet hands. Don’t submerge your phone in water, though, even if it’s in a sealed bag or pouch. Just use it as an extra precaution.
You may feel tempted to hop out of the waves, head back to your beach blanket and check your phone. Before you read those unread messages or snap a pic, however, be sure to dry off completely. Wet hands will pose a problem for your phone, but you may also drip water onto your phone as you use it, so drying off is a must. Keeping your phone in a bag or pouch will help if you forget to dry off, but even with that precaution, it’s best to make sure your hands are dry before using your electronics.
Keeping things dry will also help protect electronics from humidity. To further keep your phone and devices safe from humidity, dry them properly before putting them in a sealed bag and make sure the bag itself is dry on the inside. If you were to seal a device in a bag with a bit of water, the heat and the water would create steam and humidity.
Don’t use your phone near or in the waves. A waterproof phone case and a baggie or pouch may give you peace of mind, but you wouldn’t want to drop your phone in a wave and have it swept away, anyway. Keep your phone at your spot in the sand, then head out and enjoy the water. Waterproof cameras, like GoPros and similar devices, are OK to use in the water, but be sure to use a strap or mount for it and follow the manufacturer’s directions, so you don’t lose or damage your device.
You may not think sand would be as much of a threat to your phone as the heat or water, but it can create some problems for your devices. Sand can cause your buttons to stick, scratch up your screen or block the ports on your phone. Prevent those problems with these ways to protect your phone from the sand.
It’s not a surprise that the best way to beach-proof your phone and save it from the sand is to keep it away. But it is the beach, after all, and it can seem impossible to protect your electronics from the sand that’s everywhere along the shore. Luckily, there are some things you can do to keep your phone out of the sand and vice versa:
Essentially, make sure wherever you set your phone down or store it while you enjoy the water isn’t on the sand. Some beachgoers clean out peanut butter jars or similar containers to keep their phone, money and keys in, but other sealable containers will work just as well. Take extra precautions and make sure anyone playing in the sand is doing it away from your devices — and other beachgoers. If kids are digging in the sand, they could accidentally throw some your way, getting it on and in your devices.
You should also shake off your beach towel or blanket if you get sand on it, just in case you want to set your electronics down. Shake towels and blankets away from people and your devices to avoid throwing sand at others or electronics.
Plenty of phone gadgets and accessories exist, and many of them will help beach-proof your phone. Start with a quality screen protector and case, which you probably have already. Those accessories will help protect your phone from scratches that the sand can cause.
For beach-proofing protection that goes beyond the cosmetic, use dust plugs. These go into the ports on your phone, from chargers to audio jacks, and keep dust out, but they’ll also work to protect against sand. You’ll find dust plugs in various colors and sizes that fit your phone, and some even feature charms to create a fun and functional accessory.
If you don’t have a dust plug, you can always go the DIY route. Reuse those broken charger cords and wired earbuds to create dust plugs from scratch. Trim the wires, but make sure you leave enough of the cord and plug so you can easily put the DIY dust plug in your phone and pull it out when your day at the beach is over. Get crafty and customize your DIY dust plugs or keep them simple if you only plan on using them for a beach trip or two.
Sometimes, you may forget to take precautions against the sand for your devices. If you do get sand in the ports or other areas of your phone, you have a few options for cleaning it:
Still see some sand in your devices? You could try to clean it with a toothpick, but be sure to work carefully and avoid scratching your phone or the inside of its ports. Other cleaning options include a clean makeup brush or a plastic cuticle pusher. Whatever you use, make sure it’s clean, soft or flexible and small enough to get in the ports of your phone.
Sun, sand and sea are the major things to look out for on your visit to the beach when it comes to protecting your devices. Still, you can make extra sure your phone is safe and clean after your trip to the shore with a few final considerations:
Make your trip to the beach a fun one! Take all these precautions to avoid damaging your phone or getting it dirty, which would put a damper on your visit to the shore.
Now that you know how to beach-proof your phone and other electronic devices, head to the shore! Create memories in Ocean City, New Jersey, and capture them, too, with help from the beach-proofing tips above. A trip to the shore can be anything from relaxing to exciting, and Ocean City has plenty to offer around the ocean. From the Boardwalk to shops and dining options, there’s something everyone will enjoy.
Plan your next vacation to Ocean City, New Jersey, and experience fun in the sun! Discover what makes Ocean City a top vacation spot with your friends and family on your next trip.
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