7 common items you should not leave in your car on hot days

As temperatures soar, leaving certain items in your car can become extremely dangerous. A car safety expert has warned drivers that leaving items in their cars in the heat could have serious consequences.

Expert Graham Conway, CEO of Select Car Leasing, says many people don't realise that seemingly harmless items can turn your car into a "heat bomb".

“Hot weather makes us pay more attention to what we leave in our cars,” he said. “The temperature inside a car can rise much faster than outside and reach dangerous levels in a short period of time. There are very common items, from plastic bottles to soda cans, lighters or electronics that can become real hazards.”

Here are seven items Graham warns people should never leave in their cars during hot weather:

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are one of the items that should not be left in the car when it is hot. Automotive experts also warn that sunglasses left in a hot car for a long time can cause the frame to deform, the reflective coating to peel off, and even when left on the dashboard, the curved lenses can act as a converging lens, reflecting light, causing hot spots enough to burn the seat fabric or surrounding papers.

Cellular phone

Mobile phones are very sensitive to heat, so they can quickly overheat if left in a parked car in hot weather. This can cause the phone's battery to degrade quickly. The device is then very susceptible to heat, which can cause it to shut down automatically or even damage its internal components. In severe cases, an overheating mobile phone can pose a fire or explosion risk.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is also an item that is often forgotten in the car, and many safety experts recommend not leaving it in the car during hot weather. Because high temperatures change the chemical composition of the cream, losing its protective effect on the skin or causing skin irritation when used again.

Pressurized sunscreen tubes or sprays can also blister, leak or slightly explode if the temperature in the cabin gets too high (can exceed 50-60°C when parked outdoors).

Water bottle

While you need to keep water with you to stay hydrated, keep it with you. “Keeping a plastic water bottle in your car can be extremely dangerous,” says Graham. “The heat can cause the bottle to warp, releasing harmful chemicals into the water. Not to mention, the water bottle can act as a magnifying lens, focusing sunlight and causing a fire.”

Room spray

Pressurized spray cans can be extremely dangerous when left in a car on a hot day. If you have deodorant, air freshener, hair spray, or cleaning spray in the can, the pressure inside the can will increase as the temperature rises, causing the can to explode.

This can be extremely dangerous and can result in fire or serious injury. Even if there is no explosion, the heat can still damage the contents, reduce performance, or cause a leak.

Electronics and spare batteries

Devices such as laptops, tablets, and portable chargers are also at risk of damage when left in high temperatures.

Because most electronic devices contain lithium-ion batteries, they are sensitive to extreme temperatures and can swell, leak, or catch fire.