The list of things you should remove from a hot car is surprisingly long and includes:
Shield your stuff from the summer heat
Melted lip balm, warped sunglasses, and spoiled mayonnaise — oh my! When the weather is warm, the inside of your car heats up fast. Really fast. And if you aren’t careful, that kind of temperature can wreak havoc on anything that you leave in your car.
When the weather is 80 F, just 20 minutes in the sun can heat your car to 100 F or more!
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Sunglasses and prescription glasses: Extreme heat may warp the plastic or crack a lens — plus, they may be too hot to wear!
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Sunscreen: Strangely enough, soaring temperatures reduce the shelf life of your sunscreen. If your sunscreen has a change in color, texture, or smell, it’s best to throw it out.
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Wet swim gear: If you don’t dry your suit and towel, the moisture and warmth can create mold and bacteria.
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Lip balm and lotion: These are both chemically altered and lose effectiveness when left in the sun. And if you’ll be outdoors, you’ll want lip balm with SPF 30 or higher to protect your smile from sunburn
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Toothbrush and toothpaste: Very high temperatures can cause separation or damage to some toothpastes. For your toothbrush, any heat and moisture can breed bacteria, and it may damage the battery in an electric toothbrush.
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Mouth guard: A mouth guard protects your teeth and surrounding tissues while you play summer sports and activities. But if you leave it in the hot sun for too long, it will begin to warp and not fit as well.
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Medication: The heat can alter the composition of your medication and make it less effective.
If you need to keep life-saving medication nearby, try using a medicine holder on your keychain. This way, they will always be available and you won’t have to leave them in your car.
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Batteries: When left in the heat, they’ll lose effectiveness and maybe begin to leak toxic battery acid.
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Lighters: Smoking is bad for your teeth and gums, but heat can cause the gas in your lighter to expand and leak, creating a fire hazard.
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Aerosol cans: Products like hairspray or shaving cream may explode if the temperature is over 120 F.
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Food and drinks: To avoid both messy stains and potential food poisoning, you’ll want to remove these foods and drinks from your car:
- Chocolate and candy: These sweet treats don’t just contribute to cavities — they also melt quickly in the sun.
- Gum: All kinds of gum will also melt. It’s great to use sugar-free gum to freshen your smile — just remember to keep it out of the heat.
- Plastic water bottles: When your bottle is blazing hot, chemicals from the plastic may seep into your water.
- Pressurized containers: Biscuit cans and other pressurized containers can pop when they get too warm.
- Soda and beer cans: The heat may cause a change in taste or cause the can to explode.
- Fresh and perishable items: Dairy products, fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, mayonnaise, and many other foods will spoil quickly.
Whole-wheat crackers and nuts have a better chance of holding up in the heat. All nuts provide protein, and almonds also give you calcium for healthy teeth and bones.
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Plants: Romantic flowers and potted houseplants alike will wilt if they’re left in the hot car.
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Electronics: Melting plastic or damaged batteries can be a problem with tablets, laptops, cell phones, and other electronic devices.
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Crayons: Parents, you’ll want to bring crayons inside before they make your backseat a gooey mess.
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Beauty products: Like crayons, makeup and lipstick may end up melting.
It goes without saying, but avoid tragic accidents by never leaving people or pets in your car. Outside temperature of 70 F and more make it deathly hot inside the vehicle.
Protect your stuff — and yourself! — from the heat
Remember to double-check the front, back, and trunk of your vehicle to make sure the high temperatures don’t damage your belongings!
