How To Pack The Perfect Pool/Beach Bag

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Summer is officially in full gear, and if you are anything like our family we do our best to soak up every last drop of sunshine we can get! One of the best ways to do that is by heading to the pool or beach. However, there is nothing more frustrating than spending half of your day frantically searching your house for everything you might need. Even worse is when you get there and realize you still forgot a few things! Ugh!

I am here to tell you though that there is a better way, and going to the beach does not always have to feel like a mad dash to the finish line. The best way to do this is to put together an organized pool bag with everything you might need, so that way all you need to do is just grab it as you are running out the door!

The first thing to do is to choose your bag. I actually have two, one is for towels, and one is for everything else.

Speaking of towels, have you ever gotten to the pool and realized you forgot to pack the towels? I have and I would compare to forgetting to wear underwear! Like what? How did that happen?

So here is what I did to try to prevent that from happening again. I store all of my towels in this handy dandy thirty-one tote.

And not only that, but I actually have two sets! That way if one set is dirty or being washed, I can grab the next set! I also like that these totes are very durable and can be wiped clean of sand and dirt very easily.

The second bag is also a thirty-one bag but is used to hold everything else I could possibly need. Here it is….

It is made of a durable canvas like material and it zippers at the top. Here is what I keep in it and how I organize it all…

One of the most frustrating parts of packing a beach bag is all of the little things that get lost in the bottom of the bag. This bag is my solution to all of that. I love how much I can fit inside of it and I love all of the little pockets that keep everything separated and organized.

Here is what it looks like inside….

Here is a list of things I keep in here …

Chapstick
Nail clippers
Ear plugs
Bug Spray
Sunscreen
Small travel first aid kit
Q-tips
Book
Googles and dive toys
Wet wipes
Small comb and hair ties

I love how all of these things are in one place and very easy to find. Everything has a specific home so if something runs out or is missing it is easy to spot.

Here is a pic of the small pouch that I use to keep my kids’ goggles and small swim toys in ….

I also use a separate pouch for cell phone, keys, headphones, and pocket change for the pool….

The next thing I keep in my beach bag is a small water proof sack for our swim suits. I throw them all in here wet or dry and they are all contained…

Last but not least I keep a large water bottle and small lunch pail for food and drinks. Swimming makes everyone hungry and thirsty and things always seem to go better when I come prepared for that.