Urban Cars Blog presents: items you shouldn’t leave in your car over winter months!
Your car is a great addition to your belongings because it can take you places; it’s amazing to help you run errands, go on road trips, and so many other things. You already know that you need to take care of your vehicle so that you can enjoy it for as long as possible, but if you want to protect all of your things, keep reading.
There are many items you shouldn’t leave in your car during the winter months because low temperatures can wreak havoc on your belongings. Besides being a potential target for thieves, leaving these things in plain sight can cause your car or yourself serious damage.
Are you curious to know what we’re talking about? Make sure to read along with us until the end of this article, because these are all the items you shouldn’t leave in your car over the winter months!
1. Aerosol cans
We start our list of items you shouldn’t leave in your car over the winter months with aerosol cans. Never leave spray paint, hairspray, dry shampoo, or even deodorant in your vehicle when the temperatures are too high or too low, because you risk creating a mess.
Extreme weather conditions can lead to destabilized pressurized cans, and they can even crack or explode if left for too long. It’s better safe than sorry, so take them home and place them according to the instructions on the package.
2. Important documents
This isn’t exactly part of the items you shouldn’t leave in your car over the winter months, but it is part of the things you must keep at home.
Your important documents, such as bank statements, tax forms, contracts, insurance, identity cards, or even mail you need to shred, must be kept private and safe, not in your car.
Even if you put them in a secret place and your vehicle has tinted windows, it’s never a smart choice to leave them out of your immediate reach. Just think about how devastating it would be to have your car robbed and your identity stolen afterward.
Keep your personal information safely in your home, and you’ll be good.
3. Musical instruments
Did you know that musical instruments are one of the items you shouldn’t leave in your car during the winter months? They’re pretty sensitive in general, but extreme cold can cause them to go out of tune.
And that’s not even the real problem, because some instruments, especially those made of wood, can shrink and even crack due to extreme weather conditions.
4. Gas tank on low
Your gas tank should never be left on low, especially during the winter, when temperatures can quickly drop below freezing. If you want to help keep your fuel lines alright, make sure you always keep your tank more than half full.
You can take an extra safety measure and use a fuel-line antifreeze to keep lines from freezing. Your car will thank you; trust me!
5. Insulin
Just like other types of medications, cold temperatures can cause them to lose their effectiveness, and insulin is no exception. If you have any insulin, make sure you keep it safely at home, in your purse, or in your backpack.
6. Electronics
Depending on how your car looks and the things that can be seen from the outside, your vehicle can always be a victim of a robbery, but it’s best to keep it safe by keeping your belongings, such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets at home.
Not only is it better for your safety, but it’s also better for the life of your electronics. These are items you shouldn’t leave in your car over the winter months because extreme temperatures can affect the device’s battery life and even damage processors.
7. Eggs
Eggs can cause a serious mess if you leave them in your car during the cold winter months. They can freeze in their shells and then crack, and you’ll have to spend a good couple of minutes deeply cleaning your car.
8. Pets
We don’t imagine that you’ll forget your pet in the car, but since the temperature can quickly drop below freezing, staying in the car for too long when it’s cold outside isn’t exactly pleasant.
While some states forbid pet owners to leave their furry friends in the car, whatever the season might be, it’s never a good idea to leave fur babies in the vehicle when it’s too cold or too hot, because they can be at risk and even start suffering from health problems.
9. Canned goods
Did you know that canned goods are among the items you shouldn’t leave in your car over the winter months?
Experts say that, just like soda and beer, canned products can freeze and expand. While these cans won’t explode and create a mess in your vehicle, the food might deteriorate as a result of this expansion breaking the seal.
A frozen can that has not been thawed can be safely defrosted in the refrigerator and used in a meal. However, make sure you allow the canned food to completely defrost before you open it.
If the canned content doesn’t smell or look good, don’t taste it because it can be dangerous, but throw it away ASAP.
10. Glasses
You might need your glasses to see better or to protect yourself from the sun or the pearly white color of the snow, but make sure you never leave them in your car, especially during extreme weather conditions.
Both heat and cold can cause damage to your frames, but temperatures below freezing point can cause your frames to snap, so if you don’t plan on investing in a new pair of glasses anytime soon, you’d better take them with you when you’re done driving.
Keep reading to discover items you shouldn’t leave in your car over the winter months!
11. Keys
Okay, we’re sure you don’t leave your keys in the car and then go on about your day, but if you have to drive in the morning and the weather is terrible, you might want to start your car and let it warm up for a couple of minutes.
However, make sure you don’t leave the key inside and let your car warm by itself because it makes your vehicle an easy target for robbery. Moreover, some states completely forbid doing such things, so better safe than sorry.
12. Batteries
We’re almost done with these items you shouldn’t leave in your car over the winter months, and this time we’ll talk about batteries. If you think about leaving a spare set of AA batteries in the car “just in case,” think twice.
You’ll find that your batteries will run out of energy sooner due to the cold temperature. That’s because severe temperatures affect the electrochemical reactions within the battery, and alkaline batteries can even burst and leak.
Instead of keeping extra batteries in your car for winter situations, consider investing in wind-up flashlights, or put those batteries in an essential bag and keep them in your purse or backpack. Have it when you drive, and then leave it at home.
13. Fizzy drinks
Fizzy drinks are other items you shouldn’t leave in your car over the winter months, especially in below-freezing weather. The reason behind this is that extreme temperatures will cause them to explode and leave quite a mess behind.
When a carbonated beverage freezes, its expansion will apply pressure to the CO2 within the container, which will result in an explosion.
Psst: If you want to take care of your car and keep it clean and shiny, here’s a wonderful kit for you to check out!
14. Glass bottles
If you have a glass bottle that’s filled with a beverage, make sure you take it with you after you park your car, because it can cause a mess. When the liquid inside freezes, it will grow in volume, which will cause the glass to break and create an incredible mess that can be dangerous for you as well as for other passengers.
Do you know any other items you shouldn’t leave in your car over the winter months? Let us know in the comments below! If you liked reading this article and you want to check out something else from Urban Cars Blog, here’s a good one for you: 5 Cars to Avoid in Retirement
