HOUSTON \u2013 With bitterly cold temperatures expected across much of Texas, hopefully, you are taking steps to make sure your family, your pets, and your home are ready for the frigid weather.<\/p>\n
Before the winter weather threat and potential hard freeze, you should check the inside of your car to make sure you didn\u2019t accidentally leave something outside that could cause an expensive mess.<\/p>\n
Here are some of the things you should NOT leave in your car when it\u2019s freezing outside:<\/p>\n
Drink Bottles & Cans<\/p>\n
Ever stick a drink in your freezer to chill it quickly but then forget it\u2019s in there? If so, you\u2019ve seen that the contents inside will expand and can cause the container to burst. If you leave a forgotten drink in your car this week, you may discover a sticky mess the next time you go for a drive.<\/p>\n
In 2016, the sheriff\u2019s office in Lincoln County, Montana posted a warning on Facebook about this along with a picture<\/a> of a CASE of soda no longer suitable for drinking.<\/p>\n Then in 2017, a television station in Spokane, Washington experimented to see what happened when several cans of soda were left in a car in freezing weather. A GoPro captured one can after another bursting and thanks to KREM 2<\/a> we can share that with you without having to damage one of our own cars.<\/p>\n Canned Food<\/p>\n The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service<\/a> warns canned food can also swell in freezing temperatures. However, if you leave a canned item in your car, you don\u2019t have to automatically toss it into the trash. If the can has not rusted or come apart at the seams, the USDA recommends letting the canned item thaw in the refrigerator before opening. If the product\u2019s appearance or smell isn\u2019t quite right once open, then toss it. They add wrapping the item in plastic can prevent animals from later getting into the spoiled food.<\/p>\n Handheld Electronics<\/p>\n Chances are your phone or tablet will be close at hand over the next few days, but you will want to make sure no other electronics are in your car. In Texas, we know a summer day in August can cause devices to overheat, but the freeze can also impact your battery life and your device\u2019s response time. Several sources online indicate you\u2019ll want to let your device warm up slowly to room temperature because a rapid rise could cause condensation that has the potential to be damaging.<\/p>\n