MOTORISTS have been warned not leave certain household items in their cars overnight during cold, wintery months.
And that includes some everyday items that can become dangerous or cause damage to a vehicle’s interior if left in low temperatures.
AlamyDuring the winter, it’s important to remember to bring certain items indoors with you before leaving your vehicle[/caption]
AlamyCertain items, such as medication or batteries, can even become harmful if left in a cold car overnight[/caption]
Andrew Marshall, motoring expert at CarMoney, has warned road-users that ‘many unexpected belongings can be negatively affected by the cold’ including medications.
He added: “Not only can this potentially cost us money due to items breaking, but it can also impact our health.”
Medication
Many motorists leave their medication in their car as a reminder to take them on the daily commute.
But leaving prescribed medications overnight during the winter may hinder their effectiveness, and even render them dangerous to take.
Anything that uses active chemicals, including liquids and injectable medications, can be altered by the low temperature and even degrade at an accelerated rate.
While hard pills and capsules will be less affected , it’s still advisable to store medication at room temperature to maintain its potency.
Glasses or sunglasses
It’s fairly common to leave glasses or sunglasses in the glove compartment of a car – but during the winter, frames can become more vulnerable to breaking.
Extreme cold temperatures can even damage lenses by causing them to expand and contract, resulting in distorted or warped vision.
This could mean glasses used for driving can become dangerous when you need clear vision for the road.
Batteries
It’s often tempting to leave spare AA batteries in a car just incase they’re ever needed.
But experts say batteries will run out of energy sooner due to cold temperatures which affects the electrochemical reactions.
It’s even warned that alkaline batteries can burst and leak if not properly stored at regular temperatures.
Laptops & smart phones
Much like batteries, laptops and other electronic devices will fare just as badly in lower temperatures due to their internal lithium-ion batteries becoming compromised by cold weather.
And, of course, expensive electronics should also be moved out of a car overnight for security purposes.
Aerosols
Aerosols cans for deodorant, hairspray, spray paint or WD-40 can become dangerous when exposed to extreme cold.
A low temperature can cause the pressurised cans to destabilise, resulting in cracks or even the can to burst.
Canned food
Unlike the food inside your freezer, canned goods can react badly to freezing temperatures.
The cold can cause food sealed inside a can to freeze and expand, breaking the seal.
If the seal is not broken after being left overnight in freezing temperatures, it may be possible to defrost the tin of food in the fridge, but if it looks or smells bad, do not eat it.
Elsewhere, motorists recently learned of a brilliant hack that can stop condensation on a car’s windscreen using a 60p household item.
Experts from Leasing Options shared the handy hack making use of a household essential.
In sports car news, Ferrari are set to launch their very first EV, with the iconic brand already getting to work on their new electric supercar factory.
AlamyItems such as prescribed medications can become ineffective or even dangerous to take if stored in cold temperatures overnight[/caption]
AlamyLaptops, smartphones and even glasses can be damaged by the cold weather[/caption]