Simple Strategies to Protect Your Cell Phone at the Beach

Spending a beach day with family or friends is an inexpensive way to get out the house and have a little fun. You can jump in the waves, play volleyball or sit back and soak in some vitamin D. But if you’re bringing your cell phone with you, make sure you take steps to keep it safe and damage-free. Here’s a look at five easy ways to protect your phone at the beach or anywhere where water damage risk is higher than normal.

1. Keep your phone cool and shaded.

While packing for a beach or water park day, make sure you bring supplies to keep you and your cell phone shaded from the sun, like an umbrella or proper beach bag. This is particularly important if you’re headed to the beach during the heat of the day, which can be between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Shade not only protects you from sunburn, it also keeps your phone from overheating and damaging your battery.

2. Store the phone inside a plastic bag.

For added protection, pack your cell phone in a plastic bag or container. This is essential because a tightly sealed plastic container not only protects against water, but other damaging elements as well, like sand or an exploding bottle of sunscreen. Elements like sand particles or water can seep into crevices like the earphone jack or the power jack, which can be nearly impossible to remove or dry.

3. Clean your hands before touching your phone.

Keep in mind that your phone is only protected while inside a bag or container. Before checking text messages, making a phone call or playing games, make sure you clean your hands thoroughly before reaching in.

4. Use a waterproof phone case.

Even when you have no intention of taking your phone near the ocean, accidents can happen, so be prepared for the unexpected. Place your phone inside a waterproof case to protect it from accidental splashes of water. These also come in handy in everyday life, protecting your phone from accidental drops in running water, in toilets, or over the stove.

5. Don’t leave your cell phone in the car.

If planning a day full of outdoor activities, it might seem safer to leave your cell phone in the car so you don’t have to worry about any water damage, or about someone stealing your cell phone while everyone’s having a good time. This thinking makes sense in theory, but leaving your phone in the car can also be dangerous, especially on hot days when the temperature inside your car may increase to over 100 degrees. This type of heat exposure can completely kill your battery, or significantly shorten your battery life. As a result, your inexpensive trip may end up costing you more in the long run.

Bringing your cell phone on trips means you can capture amazing ocean views, family memories and communicate easily. But between the dangerous natural elements and the risk of human error, you’re setting yourself up for a bad combination. Take measures to protect your phone from damage and you’ll be glad when the moment strikes.