Long, hot summer days are great. But, as we live in the UK, we’re not exactly prepared for temperatures over 30°! But, with summer set to be a real scorcher, we’re going to have to get used to much higher temperatures. So, we’ve pulled together a list of handy tips for how to keep a car cool this summer.
So, if the forecast starts to climb, take a look at our guide on how to keep car cool and enjoy your trips this summer.
How to keep a car cool in summer
Sunshades
Using sunshades in your car windows helps stop the blaring heat getting into the vehicle while you’re not using it. If you’re going to be out of the vehicle for more than a few minutes, pop your sunshade or visor up to help keep the interior cool.
Cover up
Have you ever got back into your vehicle and found your steering wheel or gear stick is actually too hot to use comfortably? That’s a real risk this summer, so when you’re not using the vehicle, cover up the dash, wheel, gear stick and hand break. You don’t need anything fancy either, a spare towel will do the trick. Same for your seats – stick a blanket on the seats you regularly use to protect them from the sun. You can chuck these in the boot when you’re travelling.
There’s no doubt the climate is changing. Check out our advice for making travel more sustainable.
Want to treat your special someone this summer? Check out our ideas for a romantic road trip.
Park smart
Whenever possible, park your car in the shade in the summer. It’s just common sense! Even if it means you have to walk a little bit further, the cool interior when you return will be more than worth it.
We’ve got lots more parking tips you can read here.
Open the doors
Before you get into the car, open the doors for a few minutes before you want to travel. This will let out the hot air that’s built up inside the vehicle so it won’t feel like you’re driving in an oven.
Invest in solar fans
Solar fans are great for cooling down cars. You attach them to your closed windows and the solar panel uses the sun’s energy to ventilate the car for you. Having two on opposite windows helps give a great cross breeze too. Just make sure you check out the reviews before you commit to a purchase, as cheap models aren’t terribly reliable.
Use your air con
We’re not being condescending here, we know you’ll think to use your air con when it’s hot. But, if you point the vents to the floor, you’ll notice a much more satisfying cooling effect than having it blasting right at you. Hot air rises, so by cooling low, you’ll force the hot air up and out of the open windows.
We hope these tips have given you some new ideas on how to keep a car cool in summer so you can enjoy the season. Make sure you protect your skin while you travel too, as car windows don’t block the sun’s harmful rays.