This summer has been so hot. Are you getting tired of getting into a ridiculously hot car? Us, too.
Did you realize that a car parked in the sun on a sweltering hot car becomes oppressive inside in mere minutes? That’s why, in our Summer Safety For Furry Friends blog post, we remind everyone that car temps can become lethally hot before you know it! That’s why experts advise us to never leave humans or animals unattended in a car.
HeatKills.org is an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of leaving kids and pets in hot vehicles. Their graphic below illustrates how quickly a vehicle’s interior can heat up. YIKES.
To help you keep your cool, we’ve assembled some tips, tricks, and products to make it a little easier to get in your car on a sweltering day.
Park Smart
On an unbearably hot, cloudless day, find relief from the heat by finding some shade. Choosing a space in a parking garage, beneath trees, or in the shadow of a building can help keep your car cooler, making any extra steps worth the effort.
Be mindful, however, of the neighborhood, and avoid parking too far away from your destination if the area isn’t the safest, especially if you’re returning to your vehicle after dark.
Also, be aware that shaded areas may become sunny if your car remains in the same spot for a few hours during the day.
Windows – To Crack or Not to Crack
Many folks swear by the old practice of leaving a car’s side windows or sunroof open a crack to keep their vehicle’s interior temperature down. While this practice does let built-up heat escape and helps to facilitate some airflow through the car’s cabin, it’s only a modest amount.
Is a car interior that’s just a few degrees cooler worth the risk of leaving your car more vulnerable to theft or vandalism? A skillful car thief could get inside your car with the windows or sunroof open even just an inch. ABC News reports that for one thief “a car with a window cracked open was an unlocked car”.
If you opt to crack your windows, once again be mindful of the surrounding area. Park in visible areas close to other vehicles, ideally where there’s a decent amount of vehicle and foot traffic. Parking in view of a surveillance camera also doesn’t hurt.
Another thought on the “nay” side: a sudden rainstorm could make a mess of your car’s interior.
Shade Your ‘Shield
A windshield sunshade is an effective way to keep the temperature inside your car under control, even if you’re parked in the sun. Find the best sun shield here. While sunshade keeps a car’s temperature down by blocking the primary entry point for the sun, some drivers simply hate the look of them. But seriously? In a standoff between unattractive vs. unbearable, I’m team ugly. If you’re on team attractive, note that there are companies who offer hundreds of custom models that allow for a perfect fit and vehicle color match.
Go Under Cover
Car covers are an effective way to keep your vehicle out of the sun as they block the sunlight, much like a layer of clothing prevents you from getting sunburned. Interior temperature reduction is based on the thickness of the cover. A thin cover will reduce the sun's effect slightly, but a thicker (or reflective) cover will be very effective. The cover will protect the vehicle from bird droppings, tree sap, and other chemical fallout in both cases. As an added benefit, a car cover keeps your vehicle from the eyes of thieves. Make sure to choose an 'outdoor' cover engineered against UV rays and offers some water resistance ('indoor' covers will deteriorate quickly and soak up moisture).
Go Under Cover Inside
If a windshield sunshade is out of the question to cool your ride, you can cover the parts of your car’s interior that get the hottest. Options here include a dashboard cover, steering wheel cover, and covers for your seats.
There are plenty of car dashboard covers from which to choose. Like the windshield sun shades, look for a higher quality product that provides a good fit and effectively complements your car’s interior décor.
Your steering wheel and leather seats (especially darker-colored seats) are the other interior parts that absorb heat. Your hands will appreciate a cool wheel and bare legs will thank you — especially if you’re wearing a dress or shorts – if those seats are covered.
Use a light-colored fabric seat cover during the hottest months of the year, or simply place a towel on the seat. Covering the steering wheel with a towel is a practical, inexpensive way to keep it cool to the touch.
Get Shady
Sunshades for your car’s passenger windows can keep the interior of the car cool when you’re parked and help protect your passengers from sun rays while you’re on the road.
Get Breezy
The last of our car cooling tips is to try a battery-powered or solar-powered ventilation fan.
A small electric fan can quickly cool down the interior of a hot car by encouraging airflow. The portable Amacool fan has three twisty arms that make it easy to secure to a headrest, and the fan’s head can be adjusted both vertically and horizontally to send a breeze in any direction. With three speed options and a rechargeable battery, this affordable, tiny fan is a versatile summertime essential that can make a hot day a little more bearable.
The solar-powered ventilation fan is fairly new on the market. They clip onto a cracked window and keep the air moving inside a parked car, relying on solar power. If the sun is already shining, make it work for you!
Using two fans set up on the side windows (front or rear) should increase the cross-ventilation airflow and decrease the temperature even more. Higher-powered, more effective models can be purchased that have a larger solar panel that sits on your dashboard and powers the fans.
The quality and reliability of this product seem to vary widely. Some online reviews dismiss cheaper models as too gimmicky and not very effective. Consumers who left reviews for other fan models praise them as ingenious and highly effective.
Lastly – and most importantly – make sure that you aren't leaving anything in your car that can't handle the rising heat – check your backseat for pets and kids!
Oh, and P.S.: Did you know that leaving a water bottle in the heat can be hazardous to your health? When exposed to heat, the chemical bonds in plastic can break and cause BPA and other chemicals to migrate into the water. Beyond that, hot cars provide an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive, potentially contaminating the water in opened bottles and causing illness if consumed.