Set the timer to 26 seconds

Online timer for 26 seconds

Stay beside the beach shower while you rinse the sand from your feet, keeping an eye on the water and your belongings as twenty-six seconds runs down. That brief window suits a quick wash after stepping off an Australian beach, especially when other swimmers are waiting and the outdoor tap has modest pressure.

With wet hands and sandy thongs nearby, the countdown may be easier to hear than to watch. If its browser tab slips into the background, the timer usually continues, although some phones may delay or silence an alert when battery-saving settings restrict the browser. Remaining beside the shower means the running water itself provides a useful cue if the screen is no longer visible.

While standing at the rinse station, a phone can sit close enough for the alert to be heard without bringing a laptop onto damp concrete. A laptop may suit a nearby picnic table, but wind, spray and distance make it less practical for this short wash. Place the phone beyond the splash zone, leave its volume audible, and stop rinsing when the sand has cleared rather than using water merely to fill the remaining time.