Most people would confess to using their cars as dumping grounds for all types of detritus; following the token bi-annual clear-out, the average car’s interior gradually falls into a state of chaos.
Not the end of the world, but potentially problematic when temperatures take a dive.
There are some everyday objects and items that should never be left in a car during winter. Some of which become susceptible to damage in cold temperatures, others representing a major health and safety risk.
To keep your possessions and your passengers safe this winter, here are a few things you should think about removing from your car right now:
Most medication is not designed to be stored in the fridge or freezer. Just as you would not place your meds in the freezer at home, it makes sense not to submit them to similar temperatures outdoors. Doing so could completely compromise their capability to do whatever they are supposed to do.
The chemical reactions that take place within a battery are adversely affected by colder temperatures. To such an extent that batteries left in cold temperatures for too long can discharge completely. Worse still, other types of batteries can leak and even burst in sub-zero temperatures.
As with medications, you would not want to even consider storing your laptop or smartphone in your fridge. Doing so would inflict damage on its highly sensitive components, most likely rendering it inoperable. Electronic appliances are for the most part not designed to work or be stored at sub-zero temperatures.
Extreme cold temperatures and rapid temperature changes can cause severe damage to both the frames and the lenses of most types of glasses. This also applies to most types of specialist driving glasses, which like their conventional counterparts are not designed to be stored at freezing temperatures.
Packing supplies when driving in winter in case you encounter difficulties is sensible. By contrast, loading your car with all manner of foods and drinks is not. From bottled water to fizzy drinks to canned food products and so on, you run the risk of these and countless other products exploding.
The same also applies to most conventional aerosols, which again are simply not designed to cope with extreme cold. Standard aerosols like deodorant, hairspray and even a can of WD-40 can become downright dangerous in cold temperatures. The canister could crack or even explode with potential to cause serious injuries.
Painting and decorating supplies should also be removed from cars and commercial vehicles. Exposed to freezing temperatures, paint will not usually become a health hazard in its own right. However, the freezing, separation and expansion of the paint will result in a lumpy and uneven substance that is completely unusable.