The everyday item you should NEVER store in your car during a heatwave
With scorching temperatures predicted this weekend, car owners need to remove one particular everyday item if they've been keeping it in their vehicle.
With temperatures soaring in recent days and set to hit 34C in parts of the country on Saturday, motorists need to ensure this one product is not in their cars.
During heatwaves, the interior of a vehicle parked in the sun can quickly turn into a fierce heat. And this can cause severe damage to all manner of objects we might have dotted around the cabin, door pockets and boots of our motors.
Aerosol cans, which are commonly stored in cars for a number of reasons, can become extremely hazardous when exposed to high temperatures.
Some drivers might keep a gym bag with a deodorant can in the back seat for convenience, while others might common store a tin of air freshener spray, especially those who regularly transport pets and want to cover up the odour of wet dog.
Here's the reason why they're an increased risk in a heatwave and the 12 other items you might want to consider removing from your motor to avoid an expensive cleaning bill.
Aerosol cans dispense fine mists or sprays using a product mixed with a propellant, which is typically a liquefied gas under pressure.
When the nozzle is pressed, this pressure allows the product to be expelled.
This can itself is typically made from one of two metals - aluminum or still - in order to withstand this internal pressure.
But it is this pressure that makes aerosols particularly dangerous when exposed to heat.
Most aerosol cans are pressurised to between two and eight times the atmospheric pressure (29-116 psi). However, this can increase dramatically in rising temperatures when additional heat expands the gas inside.
When a car is left in the sun, outside climates like those recorded this weekend can easily see the temperature inside a car exceed 50C - typically the safety threshold for aerosol cans.
This level of heat increases the pressure inside the can beyond the safe limit, which could potentially trigger a rupture or explosion.
RoSPA, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, recommends drivers should never keep aerosols inside their cars.
This is even the case in winter temperatures, which can also rise quickly and cause a sudden increase in pressure.
'You should keep them in the boot,' RoSPA says.
If an aerosol can ruptures or explodes, there is also a secondary risk of physical damage posed by the contents.
Chemicals inside can be volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and once released can be harmful if inhaled or come into contact with skin in a confined space, such as a car with all the doors and windows closed.
VOCs are known to cause respiratory issues, skin irritation, and other health problems.
Drivers have been urged by fire services to be mindful of the different aerosol cans that could be stored in their car that they might not realise could be harmful.
On top of deodorants and air fresheners, some car owners might also keep hairspray, cleaning products, glass cleaner and other automotive-related products - like tyre inflators cannisters, lubricants like WD40 and deicers - in the cabin rather than the boot.
Other items to remove from your car in a heatwave
Car insurance comparison site uSwitch said there are various items you could be keeping in your car that should be removed during a heatwave:
Diffusers: Most car diffusers are made of plastic. Prolonged heat can cause the plastic to warp, potentially damaging the diffuser and causing the oils to leak onto the interior of your car, resulting in stains. In extreme cases, some essential oils, particularly those with high flammability (like citrus oils), could pose a fire risk if they become too concentrated due to heat evaporation.
Fizzy canned drinks: Because of the increased pressure brought on by the warmer temperatures, carbonated cans left in a hot car can often burst. This could result in an expensive mess, as leakage could stain the upholstery.
Bottled drinks: It might seem logical to have a bottle of water in the car ready for a heatwave, however, there are widespread health concerns over the use of Bisphenol A and phthalates (BPA) in plastics, which act as binding agents to make the material more flexible. Leaving plastic-bottled water in a hot car may cause these agents to be released into the water.
Cleaning gels: Although they're a popular TikTok cleaning hack, most cleaning gels have a melting point. Leaving the gel in a hot car can cause the ambient temperature to exceed this melting point, turning the gel runny and sticky and making it likely to stain the interior of your car.
Hand sanitiser: These often contain alcohol which is flammable and could become a fire hazard.
Sun cream: Ironically, leaving sun cream in your car can be a bad idea when temperatures soar. The active ingredients can break down and cause the bottle to crack or perish, leaking a mess onto the upholstery that's notoriously difficult to remove.
Chewing gum: If exposed to warm temperatures, chewing gum can lose its elasticity and viscosity, causing it to go soft or melt. If left on a seat, it could become stuck, resulting in damage to the interior of your car.
Pens: An overheating pen can burst and leave ink in the vehicle. Clean-up can be expensive and stains challenging to remove.
Sweets and chocolate: Car snacks are common on summer road trips, however, they are prone to melting if left in warm temperatures over a long period. Again, this can result in stains to a vehicle's interior.
Vapes: Although also posing a risk to the battery overheating, if a vape is left in a car in hot weather, you also run the risk of returning to a pretty big mess. The increased temperature will cause the liquid to thin, which can leak from the tank into your car.
Disposable lighters: With the lighter exposed to hot temperatures, the fluid and gases inside the lighter expanded, causing internal pressure to rise. This can result in potential fires that can damage the car or even harm those inside it.
Mobile phone and tablets: During warm spells the temperature in your car can rise to almost twice what it is outside. Your phone has a safe internal temperature it needs to maintain, but if it's left in a hot environment for an extended period of time, it could end up shorting out, catching fire, or even exploding.
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Here's the reason why they're an increased risk in a heatwave and the 12 other items you might want to consider removing from your motor to avoid an expensive cleaning bill. Aerosol cans dispense fine mists or sprays using a product mixed with a propellant, which is typically a liquefied gas under pressure. When the nozzle is pressed, this pressure allows the product to be expelled. This can itself is typically made from one of two metals - aluminum or still - in order to withstand this internal pressure. But it is this pressure that makes aerosols particularly dangerous when exposed to heat. Most aerosol cans are pressurised to between two and eight times the atmospheric pressure (29-116 psi). However, this can increase dramatically in rising temperatures when additional heat expands the gas inside. When a car is left in the sun, outside climates like those recorded this weekend can easily see the temperature inside a car exceed 50C - typically the safety threshold for aerosol cans. This level of heat increases the pressure inside the can beyond the safe limit, which could potentially trigger a rupture or explosion. RoSPA, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, recommends drivers should never keep aerosols inside their cars. This is even the case in winter temperatures, which can also rise quickly and cause a sudden increase in pressure. 'You should keep them in the boot,' RoSPA says. If an aerosol can ruptures or explodes, there is also a secondary risk of physical damage posed by the contents. Chemicals inside can be volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and once released can be harmful if inhaled or come into contact with skin in a confined space, such as a car with all the doors and windows closed. VOCs are known to cause respiratory issues, skin irritation, and other health problems. Drivers have been urged by fire services to be mindful of the different aerosol cans that could be stored in their car that they might not realise could be harmful. On top of deodorants and air fresheners, some car owners might also keep hairspray, cleaning products, glass cleaner and other automotive-related products - like tyre inflators cannisters, lubricants like WD40 and deicers - in the cabin rather than the boot. Other items to remove from your car in a heatwave Car insurance comparison site uSwitch said there are various items you could be keeping in your car that should be removed during a heatwave: Diffusers: Most car diffusers are made of plastic. Prolonged heat can cause the plastic to warp, potentially damaging the diffuser and causing the oils to leak onto the interior of your car, resulting in stains. In extreme cases, some essential oils, particularly those with high flammability (like citrus oils), could pose a fire risk if they become too concentrated due to heat evaporation. Fizzy canned drinks: Because of the increased pressure brought on by the warmer temperatures, carbonated cans left in a hot car can often burst. This could result in an expensive mess, as leakage could stain the upholstery. Bottled drinks: It might seem logical to have a bottle of water in the car ready for a heatwave, however, there are widespread health concerns over the use of Bisphenol A and phthalates (BPA) in plastics, which act as binding agents to make the material more flexible. Leaving plastic-bottled water in a hot car may cause these agents to be released into the water. Cleaning gels: Although they're a popular TikTok cleaning hack, most cleaning gels have a melting point. Leaving the gel in a hot car can cause the ambient temperature to exceed this melting point, turning the gel runny and sticky and making it likely to stain the interior of your car. Hand sanitiser: These often contain alcohol which is flammable and could become a fire hazard. Sun cream: Ironically, leaving sun cream in your car can be a bad idea when temperatures soar. The active ingredients can break down and cause the bottle to crack or perish, leaking a mess onto the upholstery that's notoriously difficult to remove. Chewing gum: If exposed to warm temperatures, chewing gum can lose its elasticity and viscosity, causing it to go soft or melt. If left on a seat, it could become stuck, resulting in damage to the interior of your car. Pens: An overheating pen can burst and leave ink in the vehicle. Clean-up can be expensive and stains challenging to remove. Sweets and chocolate: Car snacks are common on summer road trips, however, they are prone to melting if left in warm temperatures over a long period. Again, this can result in stains to a vehicle's interior. Vapes: Although also posing a risk to the battery overheating, if a vape is left in a car in hot weather, you also run the risk of returning to a pretty big mess. The increased temperature will cause the liquid to thin, which can leak from the tank into your car. Disposable lighters: With the lighter exposed to hot temperatures, the fluid and gases inside the lighter expanded, causing internal pressure to rise. This can result in potential fires that can damage the car or even harm those inside it. Mobile phone and tablets: During warm spells the temperature in your car can rise to almost twice what it is outside. Your phone has a safe internal temperature it needs to maintain, but if it's left in a hot environment for an extended period of time, it could end up shorting out, catching fire, or even exploding.
