“Olé, olé, olé, olé, feelin’ hot, hot, hot!” It’s that time again, and with the summer months comes the summer heat. Summer is the time for getting outside, taking road trips, and enjoying the longer days and subsequent heat- but feeling like you are in a toaster-oven every time you step in your car is the furthest from ideal. Besides being uncomfortable and the potential harm to the body over prolonged exposure, an overheated car can also apply unnecessary wear-and-tear to your vehicle.

We’re feeling the heat wave big time at the auto shop, and we want to help you keep your car cool and enjoy your summer to the fullest with these 5 easy tips and recommendations!

Stay in the Shade 

Use a sunshade or window visor.

The classic sunshade or window visor remains the go-to for keeping your car cool. It’s as easy as putting up the sunshade or window visor up every time you exit your car for more than a few minutes. Bonus tip: you can keep your car even cooler by putting one up in your rear window as well

Cover It Up

Cover your steering wheel with a hand towel/Use a dash cover.

Something as simple as a small hand towel covering your steering wheel while out of the car can make for a happier driving experience on those hot days – because who wants to burn their hands! Fabric or upholstered dash covers are great for keeping those interior vinyl surfaces cooler to the touch. They also assist to prevent sun damage that can cause cracking and fading!

Position, Position, Position

Park in a shaded area or with your car turned around.

Where possible, make sure you park in a garage or in a shady area when leaving your car for prolonged periods of time. If there are no shaded areas near where you are parking, you can turn your car around so that majority of the sunlight will go into the back of your car so that your seat and steering wheel stay cooler.

Up to Cool’ Ante

Invest in window tinting.

Having your windows tinted is an easy way to control the interior temperature of your car on those hot summer days. Virginia State Window Tint Law indicates different regulations for sedans or SUV’s and vans specific to darkness and reflectiveness. Make sure you do your research and follow these rules when having this service completed by a local service provider.

Cool your Cushions

Use cooling seat covers or cover your seats with blankets.

Cooling seat covers are the latest trend! You can find many varieties of gel or crystal infused options. As an alternative, covering your seats with blankets or wet towels while you are out of the car or in the car will help you avoid the burn – especially with those hot leather seats!

Give any of these tips a try? Let us know! We want to hear from you on which car-cooling tips worked best for you. Give us a shout on our Facebook Page!