As temperatures drop and everything starts to freeze over, your car becomes a giant ice box. It might be tempting to leave things in your car and deal with them later but some things shouldn’t be left in a freezing car. Believe me – the resulting chaos and regret will not be worth it. Whether you’re running errands or just want to avoid unloading your car, here are 10 important items to bring inside during freezing weather.
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Bottled Water
Water in plastic bottles? When exposed to freezing temperatures water inside plastic bottles can expand and fracture the container, resulting in a spill during thawing. Freezing also changes the taste of water – nobody wants to drink water that tastes strange. Always store your water bottle in a moderately cool, dark place.
Food
Some people believe it’s okay to leave drink cans or snacks in their car but freezing temperatures can ruin all types of food. When frozen fresh produce thaws it turns wilted and mushy. Canned food can burst because liquids inside expand when they freeze. It’s disgusting and creates a big mess.
Aerosol Cans (Like Spray Paint or Deodorant)
Freezing an aerosol is like playing with fire. When the liquid in the can freezes, it expands, which will make the can burst inside your vehicle – this is a situation you want to avoid at all costs. And even after thawing, you will find that aerosol products like spray paint and deodorant no longer work as usual.
Electronics (Phones, Tablets, Laptops)
Cold weather and electronics don’t mix. Your phone will lose battery power more quickly in cold temperatures and extreme cold can even cause it to stop functioning. Freezing temperatures can also permanently damage the batteries of laptops and tablets. Not to mention – using a frozen screen is a huge hassle!
Medication
Many liquid medications lose their effectiveness when they freeze into a solid form. Imagine taking your insulin or prescription medicine only to discover that cold temperatures have damaged it. Freezing medications can also pose risks to your health, which is why you should store them in a warm place.
CDs, DVDs, or Vinyl Records
Your old-school music collection needs protection, too. Severe cold weather causes CDs and DVDs to warp and damage vinyl records with cracks, which makes them unplayable. Good vinyl records cost a lot so you’ll want to protect them from cold weather damage. If you have to carry them in your car, keep them safe from freezing by placing them inside a bag.
Cameras and Lenses
Anyone who loves photography understands that camera equipment holds immense value. When you move your camera and lenses from a cold car into a warm space freezing temperatures cause condensation to form inside the equipment. Moisture buildup inside camera equipment leads to internal damage. Keep your camera inside or in a temperature-controlled bag to keep it in good shape.
Sunscreen and Lotion
You may not consider sunscreen during winter months but freezing temperatures inside your car can cause it to become separated or develop into chunks. The thick sunscreen that you trust might turn into an unusable mess that loses effectiveness. The same goes for lotions – they become too thick to spread well when frozen so make sure to store them inside and maintain their smooth texture.
Spare Keys
Spare keys are a handy backup, but metal keys become too cold to use in freezing conditions, which prevents them from turning properly. Also, when temperatures drop below freezing, the battery in your key fob could lose power more quickly, leaving you without access to your vehicle. Always store your extra key where it will stay warm so you’re prepared when you need it.
Gasoline Additives
The purpose of gasoline additives is to optimize fuel performance however freezing temperatures can impact their effectiveness. When gasoline additives freeze, their performance decreases and they may cause poor car performance. It’s not something you should tamper with in the cold weather. Store them indoors where freezing temperatures won’t affect them.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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