There are certain things you should never leave in a hot car. Of course, we’re all aware that children and pets should never be left alone in a hot car. The risk of vehicular heatstroke and death is very real in hot vehicles. But that same heat can have surprising effects on everyday items that many of us tend to leave in our cars without a second thought.
In this article we’re going to discuss 10 things you should never leave in a hot vehicle.
1) Personal Care Products
Things like deodorant, shampoo, and lotion can all be affected by heat. Some kinds of deodorant can melt if the temperature gets high enough. Lotion and shampoo can become less effective or can absorb harmful chemicals from their plastic containers. This is mostly a problem for those people who shower at the gym or work.
2) Gym Clothes and Beach Wear
You’ll want to avoid leaving any kind of clothing item that gets wet in your car. Sweaty gym clothes sitting in a hot and humid car can be a breeding ground for bacteria. The same goes for damp bathing suits, towels, and hats. If you do have to leave these things in the car for a short period just don’t forget to take them out and wash them as soon as you can.
3) Electronic Devices
Leaving electronics in a hot car is just asking for trouble. Even when it’s not hot out, leaving a mobile phone or tablet in your car can make a thief’s day. But, when it is hot outside, you run the risk of permanently damaging your electronics. This is a double whammy as to why you shouldn’t leave any of your important electronics such as your laptop in a hot car. Always remember that heat and electronic devices don’t mix.
4) Beauty Products
Leaving makeup such as lipstick in a hot car can cause it to melt. Powder-based beauty products generally hold up better in the heat. Although it’s rare, compressed cans such as hair spray can explode when exposed to extreme heat. If you can help it, it’s better to remove all beauty products from your car unless you’re certain that heat won’t degrade or affect them negatively.
5) Batteries
Chances are you’ve seen a leaking battery at some point. Batteries aren’t designed to hold up to extreme heat, and the inside of our cars can get up there. While it’s good to keep an emergency flashlight inside your car, just keep in mind that the batteries can leak acid after sitting in the heat. One alternative to this is a battery-free flashlight. These types of flashlights operate on solar power and/or a built-in hand crank. They are great for keeping in the glove box or as a spare to your main flashlight.
6) Food Items
It can be hard to keep food cold while traveling. While it’s common sense to not leave your milk or other perishable items inside a hot car, other food items don’t hold up well in extreme heat. Chocolate is one, along with candy, vegetables, and fruits. If you don’t have a cooler for your food, crackers, nuts, and granola are all foods that will last a while in the heat.
7) Plastic Bottles
Plastic bottles should never be left in the car. If they are, they should be recycled or thrown away when removed— not reused. Plastic bottles are often made with chemicals that may be harmful to human health. If a bottle sits in the sun or the heat, the plastic can begin to disintegrate and the chemicals can leak into the liquid inside the bottle. This is why it’s never a good idea to drink out of a plastic bottle that has been sitting in a hot car, even after it has been cooled down. It’s best to keep plastic bottles in a cooler with ice and to remove them as soon as possible.
8) Discarded Food Wrappers and Trash
While it’s hard to avoid generating trash in your car, it’s always a good idea to remove that trash as soon as it is convenient. Scraps of food or remnants of drinks can fester in the heat and begin to stink before long. Bacteria grows easily in such conditions, and it can be hard to remove or mask the smell once it has settled into your car. A good habit to get into is one of throwing away any trash in your car every time you stop to get gas or purchase food.
9) Sunscreen
Sunscreen is a good item to have on hand to protect your skin from the sun. However, if you leave a bottle of sunscreen in the heat of your car for too long it can be rendered ineffective. If you’ve ever read the fine print of your sunscreen you’ll recall that it said something to the effect of “keep away from extreme heat and direct sunlight”. So next time you think about leaving your beach bag in the car, remember to take out your sunscreen!
10) Medications and Medicines
Many over-the-counter medicines and prescription medications have warnings in the fine print that say something like “store in a cool, dry place”. This is because the active ingredients in these drugs can often become ineffective when exposed to extreme heat. This is especially troubling for those people who depend on their medications to stay healthy and function. Even if your medication doesn’t warn against heat, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Take your medication with you out of the car.
In Conclusion
There are other things like leaving guns, ammo, and bullets in a hot car that are actually okay to store, if it is done properly. Many people have other things like an emergency kit in their car for the unexpected flat tire or break-down in the middle of nowhere.
But, things like electronics, batteries, medications, and sunscreen can all be rendered useless when left in a hot car for too long. It’s a good idea to regularly take inventory of what’s in your car— especially in the summer months— and figure out what you can leave and what you need to bring inside with you.
Again, you should never leave a child in a hot car.
If it’s at all avoidable, you should never leave your dog in a hot car, either. In fact, for further education on this important topic, you can learn how to keep a dog cool in the car and the best car fans for dogs to deepen your knowledge and ensure you keep your pet safe.