Keep your car cool while it’s parked outside

Picture this. It’s a scorching hot day, and your car has been parked outside with little or no shade. You cringe when you open the door and a blast of heat emanates from inside. This is definitely one of the negatives of driving in the summer! Here are three tips to help make those first few moments back in your vehicle more bearable:

Cover your seats with blankets

Any car owner with leather seats knows how miserable it can be to sit down in the driver’s seat after running errands for a few hours. To counteract the heat absorption that goes on, try covering your seats with blankets. Blankets trap the sun’s energy and prevent the seat temperature from going through the roof. You can also cover kids’ car seats with blankets to make sure the buckles aren’t searingly hot. Once you’re ready to get back in the car, just pick up the blankets and throw them in the trunk. Another alternative is using a sunshade for the front windshield to help reduce the temperature a bit and prevent the driver and passenger seats from becoming completely unbearable.

Park facing away from the sun

Depending on where you live, trees may not be very abundant. Fewer trees means less shade, which can make parking in the summer a nightmare. In a situation like this, try to park your car facing away from the sun.

Wipe the interior down with water

Another great option for cooling the interior of your car is to wipe important components down with water. The steering wheel, gear shift and seat belt buckles often absorb the most heat. If you soak a washcloth in water, wring out the excess liquid, then run it over the surface, it will drop the temperature by a few degrees. If it’s already blazing hot outside, the water will absorb quickly, so you don’t have to worry about drying everything off with a towel.

These tips might seem overly simple, but you’ll be surprised how big of a difference they make. Remember to carry an emergency pack, including water, in your car with you at all times, just to be safe. Happy traveling!