Auto experts have warned drivers not to leave certain items in their vehicles during the winter.
Most of us know not to leave things in hot cars to avoid damaging them. However, the cold weather can cause similar problems.
From tech to gasoline, there are a number of things not to leave when it gets colder.
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While it is convenient to keep some essentials in our cars so as not to carry them around with us, it can damage them or even our cars if they are kept in the cold.
GSF Car Parts has compiled a list of items that are strongly recommended not to be left in cars, vans, and other vehicles.
Electronic equipment
Most smartphone owners have experienced their phones overheating at some point, usually during the summer.
This is because phones, tablets, laptops, and other electronic devices have a temperature range where they work best.
With iPhones it is between 0 and 35 degrees Celsius.
Just like when they get too hot, if they get too cold, these devices may stop working properly, shut down, or have battery problems.
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Medication
Regular medication should also be taken with you when you leave the car.
While most medications aren’t harmful if they drop below freezing, it can be difficult to tell if they’re working as intended.
With insulin, however, it’s more serious.
Insulin must be stored in the refrigerator before opening and at room temperature after use.
However, when it freezes, insulin becomes ineffective and doesn’t lower your blood sugar the way it should.
If you need to take insulin, do not use it if it is frozen, even if it is thawed.
Aerosol products
Extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, can seriously affect aerosols.
In fact, it can even cause things like deodorants to explode if it gets too hot or too cold.
Products like this and hairspray are often carried and should be taken with you and not left in the car.
Wooden musical instruments
Musicians already know that temperatures can have a very strong effect on instruments, especially on wood.
When it’s cold, the wood narrows, making instruments such as guitars and violins slightly out of tune.
However, leaving them in your car can cause permanent and costly damage.
Sub-zero temperatures can even cause cracks in the wood, so it is always worth bringing them indoors.
A half-empty fuel tank
In the winter months it is always safer to have a full or almost full gas tank.
The more fuel there is in your tank, the less likely it is to freeze – which can lead to all sorts of travel disruptions.
Cold weather can also cause your tire pressures to drop, so it’s worth checking that out too.
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