Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Use water or ice
• Method 2 of 4: Put on the right clothes
• Method 3 of 4: Keep the car cool
• Method 4 of 4: Travel in a different way
• Warnings

When it is warm outside, it gets much warmer in your car, especially if you don't have air conditioning. Bah! However, there are ways to stay cool, such as using ice packs, wearing lighter clothes, and improving ventilation in your car. You can even take a different route or hit the road at a time when it's cooler.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Use water or ice

1. Drink a cold drink to stay hydrated. When your body is properly hydrated, you will be able to regulate your body temperature better. Drink cool water or another cold drink such as iced coffee or iced tea.
   • Drink regularly during the day and try to drink at least 8 glasses of water with a capacity of 250 ml daily. If you wait to get really thirsty, your body is already dehydrated.
   • Put cold drinks in an insulated thermos or travel mug to keep them cold longer.
2. Put an ice pack or ice on your wrists and neck or wet those areas. These are pulsation points, which are closely linked to the part of your brain that regulates your body temperature. By placing something cold in these places you will be able to cool down faster.
   • Other pulsation points include your temples and the spots at the back of your knees.
   • Spraying cold water on your pulsation points using an atomizer has the same effect.
   • If you don't have an ice pack or ice, put a cold cloth over your pulsation points.

   Making your own ice pack

   
   

   Place a plastic water bottle in the freezer for at least 3 hours or until completely frozen.Take it out of the freezer to use as an ice pack in the car. When the ice has melted, drink the water to stay hydrated and cool. This way you kill two birds with one stone!

3. Hang a wet cloth in front of the center vent in the car if air is blown out. If air is coming out of your car's ventilation grille, cool the air with a damp cloth or washcloth, even when the air is warm. Use pegs or small clips to secure the cloth to the top of the grille.
   • Bring some wet cloths to change the first cloth as it will dry out quite quickly.
   • Freeze the cloths ahead of time to let it cool down even more. Make sure to freeze them flat so that they cover the grids when you hang them.
   • Do not leave the cloths in the car when you get out, or mold can grow in them.
4. Place a block of ice in a container near the floor grills to cool the air. When the air coming from the bottom grids blows over the ice, the ice will cool the warm air. To prevent the melted ice from leaking into your car, place the block of ice in a plastic container or baking pan.
   • You can also put ice cubes in a polystyrene or styrofoam container. Keep the lid off and place the container on the floor.
   • In the case of longer car journeys, take extra ice with you in an insulated cooler.

Method 2 of 4: Put on the right clothes

1. Choose baggy clothing made from light fabrics such as linen and cotton. Tight garments trap the heat against your body while wider garments let the warm air out and cool air in. Look for garments made of breathable fabrics that allow more air through.
   • Other breathable fabrics besides linen and cotton include silk, chambray and viscose.
   • As a woman, wear a wide viscose dress or, as a man, opt for a wide cotton T-shirt.
2. Wear light-colored clothing that reflects the sun. Light-colored fabrics keep you cooler because they absorb less heat from the sun. White is the coolest color you can wear because white reflects all wavelengths of light. However, light reds and yellows are also suitable.
   • Avoid dark colors such as black and navy blue. These colors absorb sunlight and heat, making you feel warmer.
   • Bring extra clothes in your car in case you sweat profusely in the clothes you wear.
3. Ride barefoot. Your feet play a huge role in regulating your body temperature. Don't overheat them by wearing socks and closed shoes. Instead, expose them to the air so your body can get rid of the heat.
   • It is not illegal in our country to drive a car with bare feet or with flip-flops. However, if you cause an accident, you can be held liable for it. It is also possible that your insurance company does not compensate all damage, even if you are fully insured.
   • Driving in sandals and open shoes also helps you stay cool.
   • Make sure there are no sharp objects on the floor, such as a screw or a piece of glass.
4. Get your hair off your neck if you have long hair. Because your neck is a pulsation point, your body will warm up faster if you cover your neck. If your hair is longer than your neck, make a ponytail or bun in your hair before driving.
   • Two other hairstyles that can keep the hair off your neck are French braids and a Grace Kelly roll.
   • Consider getting your hair wet before removing it from your neck. Driving a car with damp hair cools your scalp while the air dries your hair.

Method 3 of 4: Keep the car cool

1. Open at least two windows to let air blow through your car. If you only open a single window, the air will circulate less well and you probably also hear a kind of heavy bass sound that is caused by resonance at different speeds. How far you open the windows depends on how much air you want.
   • If you have an air grille with a fan, open the grille and turn on the fan. Then open a window at the back wide enough to let the air blow through your car.
   • By opening the sunroof or rear window of your car, even more fresh air will flow in. When the sun is out, put on a hat when you open the sunroof so you don't get even warmer.
2. Connect a fan to the cigarette lighter if you want to improve the ventilation in your car. Purchase an inexpensive 12 volt fan on the Internet or at an auto parts retailer. Clip it to your sunshade or rear view mirror, or place it on the dashboard. Turn on the fan while you drive to circulate the air and cool you down.
   • To make the air even colder, hang a damp cloth in front of the fan.
   • Another option is a solar-powered fan when the weather is very sunny and there is a lot of bright sunlight.
3. Blind your car windows. This way less direct sunlight enters your car. In our country it is forbidden to blind the windscreen with foil or a coating, because the windscreen must be at least 75% transparent. The front side windows must be at least 70% translucent. You can apply foil or a coating to the rear window, but your car must have a right-hand exterior mirror. If the light transmission of the windscreen and side windows next to the driver is less than 55%, you can be fined for this.
   • For foils and coatings to blind windows, percentages are used that express the light transmission. With a light transmission of 35%, the foil or coating allows 35% of the light to pass through.
   • The lower the percentage, the darker the film or coating.
   • Take your car to a garage to have the windows blinded or do this yourself.
   • By blinding your windows, you also protect the interior against UV radiation, which can damage the upholstery and dashboard of your car.
4. Open the windows 1-2 centimeters if you park in a safe place. This allows the warm air to escape, keeping it cooler throughout your car. Only leave your windows slightly open if you park your car in a place where it is unlikely to be stolen. Use common sense when deciding whether or not to leave your windows open.
   • Also look at the weather. Do not open the windows when it rains unless you park in a covered area.
   • Open the windows all the way if you park your car in your own garage.
   • Never let children and pets sit in a warm car that you park somewhere.
5. Park in the shade or in a covered area to block the sunlight. This makes a big difference in how warm your car will be when you return. Look for trees, parking garages, or even the shade of a tall building. The lowest level of a parking garage is the coolest.
   • If you park your car in a parking lot for a long time, try to figure out which direction the shadow will move based on the position of the sun.
   • If you can't find a spot with shade, create shade yourself by putting sunshades on the windows that are in the sun.

Method 4 of 4: Travel in a different way

1. Ride during the coolest hours of the day, such as early morning or evening. If your daily schedule permits, you should travel as much as possible at times when the heat is more tolerable and when there is less direct sunlight. For example, don't try to drive home in the afternoon.
   • The coolest time of day is usually just before sunrise.
   • Cloudy days also ensure that you are less warm while driving. However, it is better to avoid rain because you cannot lower the windows.
2. Avoid crowded areas with a lot of traffic that prevent air from flowing through your car. If you're in a traffic jam, your car will hardly move forward, and if your windows are open, almost no air will flow in and out. As a result, it can become oppressively hot in the car.
   • The rush hour is the worst in terms of traffic. The rush hour is usually from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM in the morning and usually from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the evening.
   • Other places and times with a lot of traffic are weekends during holidays, construction sites and days when major events are organized in your area such as concerts and sports competitions.
3. Choose shady roads to drive along every day. The more you drive in the shade and avoid direct sunlight, the cooler you and your car will be. Tree-lined streets and built-up roads often have more shade than highways. If possible, choose back roads with trees when you go to the store or work.
   • Keep in mind that you may spend longer in the car if you drive along back roads or urban streets. Adjust your travel time accordingly.

Warnings

• A car can become dangerously hot inside if it is in the sun. Never leave children and pets in the car.
• Do not use dry ice in your car. This displaces the oxygen as it sublimes and can make you suffocate if you are in an enclosed space.
• Be very careful when driving with flip flops on. They can get caught under a pedal.
• In the Netherlands it is illegal to blind the windscreen and the front side windows.
• Before opening the windows, weigh all light objects so they don't get blown in your face or out the window. Put heavy objects such as shoes on it.