We’ve all been there. You dash into the supermarket for “just 15 minutes” and by the time you’re back, your car has turned into a portable oven. Meanwhile, the bottle of perfume you forgot in the glovebox is plotting its escape via explosion. I mean, UAE summer doing it’s thing, what else? But here’s the stuff, your car’s job is to get you from A to B, not act as a storage unit for random life clutter. So, for the sake of your health, safety, and sanity, here are 11 things you should never leave behind in your car during the scorching UAE summer. I mean it. Your handbag doesn’t deserve this drama.
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Aerosol Cans, Lighters, Hand Sanitisers & Anything That’s Pressurised
This isn’t a science experiment you want to witness. Things like deodorant sprays, perfume bottles, lighters, and even your seemingly innocent hand sanitiser become ticking time bombs in a parked car under direct sunlight. The pressure inside these containers builds up rapidly with heat, and one fine day, boom. You’ll return to a car interior that looks like a scene from a pyrotechnic mishap.
Plastic Water Bottles and Other Drinks in Plastic
That trusty plastic bottle rolling around in the footwell? It’s not as harmless as it seems. When exposed to high temperatures, plastic starts leaching chemicals like BPA straight into your drink. And as a fun bonus, a clear plastic bottle can act like a magnifying glass, focusing sunlight and potentially burning your car’s upholstery. Suddenly, hydration doesn’t seem that refreshing anymore, does it?
Medications
UAE summer has officially crossed 50 degrees and most meds are temperature-sensitive little divas. Whether it’s your essential daily dose or emergency meds, the car’s sauna-like heat can reduce their effectiveness or worse, turn them into toxic pills of doom. Store meds like you’d store your favourite chocolate. Cool, dry, and absolutely nowhere in the proximity of a boiling car.
Valuables
Your car isn’t a safe, and even if you think “this is the safest country on earth, nothing can happen,” it’s always best to play it safe (pun unintended!), no matter the circumstances. Plus, leaving cash in a hot, enclosed space for extended periods encourages mildew to form, which not only ruins your money but also gifts your car a musty, old-basement vibe. Laptops and gadgets left inside can also overheat and get damaged beyond repair; so it’s really not worth the gamble this summer season.
Cosmetics
Lipsticks, foundations, sunscreens – they all melt under pressure. Literally. UAE summer heat not only turns them into goopy disasters, but also breaks down their chemical structure, making them less effective and a breeding ground for bacteria. That SPF 50? It’s probably SPF 5 now.
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Food and Drinks
It’s always tempting to make a “quick stop” after picking up groceries, but your frozen peas and yoghurt tubs don’t stand a chance in a sunbaked car. Within minutes, cold food items can reach the danger zone of bacterial growth, turning your car into a mobile petri dish. Soda cans can warp and explode from the built-up pressure, and opened drinks morph into bacterial buffets. It’s a no from the food safety gods.
Sunglasses
It’s an easy habit to toss your sunglasses onto the dashboard and dash off. We’re all guilty of doing that, aren’t we? But the UAE summer heat can warp plastic frames, crack lenses, and degrade protective coatings. Metal frames, on the other hand, transform into mini branding irons, giving your nose a sizzling reminder of why sunglasses should never be left behind. It’s a visual tragedy waiting to unfold, honestly.
Plants
That adorable potted plant you just bought deserves better than being forgotten in a sweltering car while you run errands. Even plants that thrive in heat and humidity can’t handle the direct, suffocating sun inside a locked vehicle. You’ll come back to find leaves scorched, soil bone-dry, and a sad, withered little buddy that now hates you. Plants belong in the fresh air, not a baking metal box.
Important Documents
Leaving essential papers like car registrations, insurance papers, or even that pile of receipts you’re “keeping for budgeting purposes” in your car is an open invitation for chaos. Paper tends to absorb moisture, which eventually leads to mildew, giving your car a charming mouldy library scent. Also, documents with sensitive information are a jackpot for anyone who fancies a little identity theft spree.
Wine Bottles
A bottle of wine left in a hot car is a sobby saga in the making. As temperatures rise, the air inside the bottle expands, putting pressure on the cork. This could either loosen the cork, allowing bacteria in (goodbye, wine, hello, vinegar), or worse, pop the cork out entirely, leaving a sticky, fermented mess on your car seats. Save the wine, and yourself, the heartbreak – get it home to safety.
Kids & Pets (Because Duh!)
This one needs no explanation, yet here we are. Never, ever leave children or pets in a parked car. Even if you think it’s “less than 5 minutes,” the temperature inside can rise by 20 degrees in that time, turning the car into a death trap. Cracked windows do nothing. Shaded parking is not enough. Every year, tragic stories of heatstroke deaths remind us why this is an absolute no-go. If they breathe, they leave with you. No exceptions.
How to Beat The Heat & Keep Your Car Cool This UAE Summer
Living in the UAE means you’ve signed up for sunshine, sand, and summers that can fry an egg on your bonnet. But while we humans can dash into air-conditioned malls for relief, our cars don’t always have that luxury. So here’s how to give your vehicle the TLC it needs to survive summer:
Park Smart, Not Close
Forget the urge to park nearest to the entrance. The extra 100 steps won’t kill you, but leaving your car in the shade could save its interior from turning into an oven. Even partial shade from a building or a tree can drop the cabin temperature significantly.
Angle Your Car Away From The Sun
If possible, park with the rear of your car facing the sun. This reduces the amount of direct sunlight hitting your dashboard, steering wheel, and seats. It may not seem like much, but every little degree counts when you’re fighting the furnace.
Sunshades Are Non-Negotiable For UAE Summer
Windshield sunshades are your car’s version of sunscreen. A foldable reflector placed on your windscreen can slash down the cabin temperature drastically. If you really want to go pro, get side window shades too. Your car (and your thighs) will thank you when you sit down.
Cooling Seat Cushions Are A Game-Changer
No one deserves the horror of leather seats on a 50-degree day. Cooling seat cushions made of breathable, honeycomb material allow air circulation and reduce the “frying pan” effect on your posterior. Total game-changer for daily commutes.
Vent First, Then Blast The A/C
When you get into your parked car, open all the windows and doors for a minute to let the trapped hot air escape. Once you’re inside, turn the A/C to maximum and hit the recirculation button (yes, the one you’ve been ignoring). This keeps the cooled air inside instead of pulling in more hot air from outside, allowing your car to chill faster.
Don’t Defer Maintenance
Check your coolant levels regularly to ensure the engine doesn’t overheat. And yes, monitor tire pressure. Air expands in heat, which can lead to dangerous blowouts. Also, get your battery tested frequently, as high temperatures drain battery life quicker than you can say “what’s wrong with my car?”
A little mindfulness goes a long way in protecting your car, your valuables, and most importantly, your loved ones. Stay cool and drive safe this summer!
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