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Remove These Items From Your Car In Hot Weather

Girl Drinking water in a hot car
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

The blog this week is about the items you should not keep in your car during a heatwave or during very hot weather and why. Everyone is trying to save money at the moment, interest rates are rising, fuel bills are rising, food costs are soaring etc so when it comes to owning a car, we need all the help we can get to keep costs down. Read on to find out more:

The soaring summer temperatures we are currently experiencing at the moment can unexpectedly compromise your safety whilst driving.

Drivers are being advised to remove three specific items from their Volvo or Toyota before the heat escalates. This is also applicable if you are driving abroad and using a hire car or your own vehicle.

Firstly - bottled water. It's not uncommon to leave a water bottle in the car, however as the mercury rises in these extreme temperatures, chemicals from the plastic can seep into the water, rendering it unsafe for consumption. In very extreme cases, they can even act as a magnifying glass for sunlight and potentially start a fire inside the vehicle. The safest option is to remove the bottle from your Volvo or Toyota to ensure both your vehicle's safety and the water's freshness. If not – the water is only good for topping up your windscreen washer bottle – please do not drink it – not even from a glass bottle!

Secondly, medication. Many people may not be aware that common over-the-counter drugs like paracetamol, calpol, and other pain relievers have a maximum temperature at which they remain effective. The majority of commercially available painkillers are only designed to withstand temperatures below 26 degrees. Leaving a packet of painkillers in a hot car could cause them to lose their efficacy or become entirely ineffective.

Thirdly - Sun cream. Sunscreen can go off inside the bottle and could even explode due to the pressure in the heat. If you have left a bottle in your car during this heatwave we advise you throw it away and buy a new one – as its effectiveness will have been compromised. Happy Safe Motoring Folks!

Here at ACC UK Ltd, Winners of The Motor Trader Independent Garage of The Year 2015, 2019 & 2020, The IGA Big Awards 2022, The Inspire Customer Service Excellence 2016 Award, The Eagle Radio Customer Focus 2017 Business Award, The Workshop Magazine Workshop Manager of the Year 2017 Award, The LiveWire Excellence In Vehicle Servicing 2019 Award and The Aftermarket Excellence Award for Best Website 2019, The Eagle Radio Biz Award – Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 & the SME News Magazine Most Trusted Car Servicing Provider 2020, we pride ourselves on offering an outstanding customer experience for a fraction of the cost of a dealership. Give us a call and let us quote you for your next service or repair on your Volvo or Toyota. We service all areas around Farnborough, Fleet, Aldershot, Farnham, Guildford, Frimley, Camberley, Hook, Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Yateley, Hampshire and Surrey. We offer free collection and drop off services. We also have a fleet of courtesy cars to allow you to get on with your schedule whilst your Volvo or Toyota is with us. Happy Motoring from all at ACC UK Ltd – Independent Volvo & Toyota servicing, repair and MOT specialists based in the heart of Farnborough, Hampshire