Spending a day at the beach in the sand and surf is fun. But dealing with the messy aftermath? Not so much.

You can successfully tackle your biggest clean-up nightmares with these simple steps from the Good Housekeeping Research Institute.

see caption/Hill Street Studios (ENLARGE)

Beach trips don't have to mean that you'll be cleaning sand out of the car and house from now until Labor Day.

MAKE IT EASIER Bring baby powder along to sprinkle on beachgoers before they get into the car. Keep old towels in the car to cover the seats. In beachy locales, try the double-doormat strategy: Set a rough mat outside and a soft one inside to nab sand. More shopping news Where do you find Bubble Up soda?  Scars? cellulite? Solutions for skin imperfections  Ways to save on everyday spending  Feel like you're part of the team with Olympic merchandise  Seasonal sales offer bargains for outdoor furnishings  Back to Living page

The solution: Because sand can scratch floors (never mind getting stuck in carpet fibers), it's best to keep it from entering the house. That is, unless you enjoy sweeping and vacuuming. Before your family members head indoors, ask each person to use his or her beach towel to wipe loose sand from bare feet, shoes, legs and hair.

The trick to de-sanding sweaty, SPF-slathered bodies: Before toweling off, sprinkle skin with baby powder. Once the crew meets inspection, send them inside to shower.

Ask them to pile the towels near the car, and use your own towel to sweep sand off the car seats and out the car doors. Shake out the floor mats.

Next, tackle your beach tote. Dump all the contents of the bag on the driveway or sidewalk. Knock out the sand from the inside of the tote and off the bottom. Use your towel to wipe items you keep in the carrier all season, like your sunblock and beach toys. Put them back in the bag, and then throw your towel in the heap.

The solution: Resist the urge to leave the heavy cleaning until later. To keep your beach gear fresh and clean, unload everything from the trunk as soon as you get home and start de-gritting immediately.

Tap beach chairs and your sun umbrella on the ground a few times to dislodge dried-on sand. Then, spray everything down with a garden hose to keep salt from corroding the metal parts. Leave them open to dry so they don't mildew or rust.

Next, tackle the cooler. Grab two plastic trash bags and scoop the used food containers, freezer packs and leftover drinks into one. With your hose, blast all sides of the cooler, especially the wheels and latches. Let it dry with the lid up or off.

Shake out those hard-working towels and toss them into your second trash bag. Collect the two trash bags and your beach tote and head inside.

The solution: Leaving wet bathing suits and towels in a pile — whether on the floor or in the laundry hamper — invites musty odors and set-in stains. Instead, collect the suits in your towel-filled trash bag, and haul it to the washer. Toss in just the suits and select the "rinse only" option or turn the dial to the rinse phase of the delicate cycle and start the machine.

After they're done rinsing and spinning, take the suits out and hang dry. You can wash them later, if needed. Launder towels in warm water and your usual detergent; tumble dry.