9 Things You Should Never Leave in Your Car

Emmet Pierce
It’s fine to keep many things in your car. In fact, our cars can become storage areas for clothes, sports equipment and even snacks. But some things are likely to cause problems if left in a vehicle. They won’t respond well to extreme temperatures, or may attract thieves who break into vehicles. What follows are nine examples of things you should not leave behind after parking your car.

1. Prescription medicines

According to the National Institutes of Health’s Medline website, you shouldn’t keep medicines in the glove compartment of your car, where heat, cold and moisture can damage the effectiveness of drugs. Many medicines need to be stored at room temperature, and parked cars rarely remain at that point during summer and winter. It’s smart to check the guidelines that come with medications to make sure they’re stored at the correct temperatures, Dr. Richard Honaker, chief medical officer of Your Doctors Online, tells Money Talks News. “If you think your medication has been exposed to extreme temperatures, especially heat, call your pharmacy or health plan for replacements,” he says.

2. Sunscreen

It’s important to use sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.While it’s wise to take along sunscreen when you travel, don’t leave it in a hot car. That’s because the effectiveness of sunscreen products can be diminished by exposure to heat. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the shelf life of sunscreen decreases if it has been subjected to high temperatures.

3. Perishable food

During hot summer months, it’s important to think about how you will transport your groceries home from the supermarket.In hot weather, groceries should not be placed in the trunk of a car, since bacteria can multiply quickly at high temperatures, according to the Food and Drug Administration. It’s safer to put food in the air-conditioned passenger compartment.Remember to refrigerate or freeze meat, poultry, seafood and other perishables within two hours of their purchase. If temperatures outdoors exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit, refrigerate within one hour.

4. Aerosol cans

Aerosol cans, such as those containing spray paint, sunblock or deodorant, shouldn’t be kept in your car since they are sensitive to heat. Pressurized cans may expand, possibly causing them to explode.Road & Travel Magazine reports that most aerosols are meant to be stored at temperatures under 120 degrees Fahrenheit. During summer months, outside air temperatures can rise above 90 degrees in many parts of the country and temperatures inside cars can exceed 130 degrees, creating the possibility of an explosion.

Says Road & Travel:

“Don’t store aerosol cans in places where there is no ventilation or where the temperatures cannot be controlled. You or your child can be seriously injured or killed if riding in close proximity to these materials when they blow.”

5. Cellphones

There are good reasons not to leave your cellphone behind when you leave your car. If the phone is visible inside the passenger compartment, thieves may break into your vehicle. Also, the extreme cold temperatures cars are exposed to during winter months could damage your cellphone. Time Magazine reports that iPhones are made to operate in temperatures above 32 degrees. In very cold weather, smartphones may suffer from shortened battery life and their glass may even shatter.

6. Important documents

Vehicle registration documents need to be kept in cars. However, storing other important papers such as tax forms or bank statements in your car can leave you vulnerable to identity theft.With enough information about you, thieves can assume your identity to make purchases in your name.

7. Pets

Leaving a pet alone in a parked car while you run errands can endanger the animal’s health, notes People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.When the outside temperature is 78 degrees, temperatures inside a parked car can rise to 100 degrees in a few minutes. On a 90-degree day, the temperature inside a car can hit 109 degrees in under 10 minutes. PETA says that animals can have brain damage from heat exposure or even die from heat stroke in as little as 15 minutes.The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals notes that cars can overheat even when their windows are left open an inch or two.

8. Wooden musical instruments

Cold temperatures in cars can damage musical instruments. If an instrument is made of wood, such as violin or a guitar, cold air can cause cracking. That’s expensive to repair, notes The Des Moines Register.Extreme cold or heat can cause the glue that holds wooden instruments together to fail, according to MusicArts.com.

9. Canned foods

Never leave cans of food in the car during freezing weather. When canned food freezes, the liquid expands and can break the seal, spoiling the food.

 

 

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S Mojarradi
S Mojarradi
Studying Ph.D. in ELT | Listening To Lyric Music | Studying Novels | Retired | Loving Nature | People | Especially Paintings |

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