Posted on 07/01/2018 12:55:34 PM PDT by sodpoodle
The heat of summer can make this otherwise beautiful season downright unpleasant. For drivers who don’t enjoy intense heat, getting into a car that has been parked in hot weather can feel like being roasted alive. Stay cool and get more out of your summer by using these tips to keep your car cooler when parked.
1. Use a sunshade or window visor. This tried-and-true method of keeping your car cool should be your go-to option to counteract hot interior temps throughout the summer. Put up a sunshade or window visor every time you exit your car for more than a few minutes. Keep it even cooler for long periods by putting a sunshade in your rear window as well.
2. Use a dash cover. A fabric or upholstered dash cover can go a long way towards making your car’s interior more comfortable. You won’t feel as overwhelmed by the heat if you don’t have to touch hot vinyl surfaces. Dash covers also protect sensitive vinyl from sun damage that can cause cracking and fading.
3. Cover your steering wheel with a hand towel. Even if you use a sunshade, it’s a good idea to cover your steering wheel with a small towel. This will help to keep the contact temperature of your steering wheel down.
4. Park in a shady area. Whenever possible, park in a shady area. If you’re going to be somewhere for an extended period of time, it’s worth it to walk a bit farther in order to park in the shade. You’ll be happy to enter a not-so-hot car when you return from your day out.
5. Keep your precious possessions out of the sun. Any tapes, CDs or delicate items that you keep in your car should be stored out of the path of direct sunlight. Try storing your tape and CD cases underneath the seat. You can also throw a blanket over your precious possessions. If you can’t find a place in your car that will conceal heat-sensitive goods, consider placing them in the trunk.
6. Park in a garage when possible. Whenever possible, park in a garage. Your car will be out of direct sunlight and will have the benefit of near-constant shade. Even a warm garage beats being parked in the sun all day.
7. Keep windows slightly cracked. While it’s not a good idea to leave your windows all the way open, it is a good idea to leave them slightly cracked. Check to be sure that you can’t fit your arm through the crack in your window. Even a small crack will promote ventilation and help to keep your car cool.
8. Purchase a solar-powered fan. Paired with cracked windows, a solar-powered fan can make your car feel downright pleasant during even the hottest summer days. These simple fans work to expel hot air from your car. By creating constant air circulation, they lower your car’s overall temperature.
9. Throw blankets over your seats. If your car features vinyl or leather seats, you know just how hot these materials can become when exposed to sunlight and high temperatures. To keep car seats cool, throw blankets over them. When you return to the car, you can place the blankets on the floorboards or toss them in the trunk. Keeping your seats cool will make your car more pleasant on hot summer days.
10. Leave your doors open before getting in. Before jumping into your hot car, leave the doors open for a few minutes. This will help the hot air exit and the cool air enter. _______________________________
God bless
Thanks
I use the silver window shade, but this is the first time I’ve heard of the solar fan.
Great idea!
I am going to look for some.
I have a trick for summer months at the bus stop.
There is a huge tree that shades a lot of the parking lot in the afternoon. It provides no shade in the morning when you park the car.
But, park there in the morning and the car is very comfortable when you get into it in the afternoon.
Amazingly, most folks haven’t figured that out—and I don’t say a word. :-)
Yeah, see my tag line.
This summer has been like living in a toaster;) Don’t remember ever burning my hands on the steering wheel previously and decided to cover it with a large towel when parked.
My elderly neighbor now does the same thing.
Thought I was a genius;)
I have a black pickup, but I park it in our garage.
There are 2 guys who play tennis here in North Texas and they keep their car running the entire time they are playing. Temps in the 100s!
I know that can’t be good for the engines. They look like snowflakes so the odds are, they don’t even know how to put air in the tires much less what a car left idling for hours in 100 plus heat does to the engine.....
Well Duhhhhh......you forgot....... people to stupid to figure it out on their own
you missed your calling as a world renowned shadow watcher
The trouble with the solar fan idea is that it is defeated by another good idea which is good window tinting.
Don’t buy a black car if you live in Texas. I don’t care how cool you think you look.
I use a sun shade and crack the windows a couple of inches.
The driving public could probably give auto mfctrs plenty of good ideas for convenient/safety options. The heat-related child deaths will surely result in life-saving technology.
You often see senior drivers leaving their senior passengers waiting in cars while they ‘run in’ to a convenience store. Gets very hot very quickly and often the disabled passengers are unable to exit the car on their own. Worth some warning technology too.
I found that a cloth car cover (that covers the whole car) works wonders. It is extremely effective, but takes a few minutes to put in place. Works great for long term parking.
Too bad that there are a lot of window tinting laws that vary by State, which is discouraging.
agree - I also use a car cover. It is also very helpful in preventing door dings. I park in the far back of all parking lots where I am mostly the only car, put my cover on, and roll it back up, put in the trunk when I return. Really helps in north Texas.
If I lived in a southern state I would never buy any color other than white.
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