When a winter blast is in the forecast, what you take out of your car can matter as much as what you pack in. I focus on the items experts say are most likely to crack, leak, fail or even become dangerous in Extreme cold. Clearing these 10 things before temperatures plunge can save money, protect your health and prevent a messy cleanup once the storm passes.
Medication
Medication is one of the first things I would remove before a hard freeze. Pharmacists warn that Extreme temperatures, whether hot or freezing cold, can damage some medications by breaking down active ingredients or changing how they are absorbed. One advisory notes that certain prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs can lose effectiveness or become unsafe if they are left in a car where temperatures swing far outside the storage range printed on the label, especially during a Jan cold snap.
Liquid medications are particularly vulnerable because freezing can cause them to swell and burst their containers, creating both a spill and a dosing mystery. Guidance on Medication storage stresses that anything that has frozen, leaked or been exposed to Extreme cold should be replaced rather than guessed about. For people who rely on insulin, inhalers or heart drugs, that is not just a financial loss, it is a serious health risk.
Electronics
Electronics, including Cellphones and tablets, are another category that should not ride out a freeze in the back seat. Apple has warned that leaving electronics in cold temperatures can cause them to “change behavior,” with batteries draining quickly, screens becoming sluggish and some features temporarily shutting down. Devices left in “very cold” conditions may even stop charging until they warm back to a safe operating range, according to guidance on electronics in cold.
Other reporting on winter hazards notes that Electronics, canned liquids and Musical gear are especially vulnerable when a parked car turns into a freezer. Beyond the risk of a dead phone when you need roadside help, condensation that forms as a frozen device warms up can corrode internal components. I would bring laptops, cameras, gaming consoles and backup battery packs indoors whenever a deep freeze is expected, both to preserve expensive hardware and to ensure emergency communication stays reliable.
Glasses
Glasses might not seem fragile, but experts say prescription lenses and frames can suffer in Extreme cold. According to Webeyecare.com, exposing prescription glasses to very low temperatures can cause the lenses to expand and contract at a different rate than the frames. That repeated stress can warp the fit or subtly distort the optics, leaving you with glasses that never quite sit or focus the way they did before. Guidance on Glasses care highlights that misaligned frames can also change how lenses sit in front of your eyes.
For people who depend on corrective lenses to drive safely, that subtle distortion can translate into eye strain, headaches or slower reaction times on icy roads. Sunglasses with specialty coatings are at risk too, since some anti-reflective and polarized layers can craze or crack when shocked by sudden temperature swings. I would store both everyday eyewear and spare pairs in a case inside the house, not in a freezing center console or glove box.
Household liquids
Household liquids in the cold are a hidden hazard when a winter blast hits. Reporting on Household liquids notes that many products, from makeup to cleaning sprays, use water-based formulas that expand when they freeze. That expansion can crack plastic bottles, pop caps or even shatter glass containers, leaving shards and sticky residue across seats and carpets once temperatures rise again.
Beyond the mess, some of these liquids contain alcohols, solvents or fragrances that can irritate skin and lungs in a confined cabin. A spilled cleaner or cosmetic can also permanently stain upholstery or damage interior plastics. I would clear out makeup bags, spray cleaners, glass-bottle fragrances and any other Household liquids before a deep freeze, especially if the car will sit outside overnight.
Bottled liquids
Bottled liquids, from sports drinks to soda and water, are a classic winter mistake. Advisories for drivers in Tennessee warn that if you want to avoid cleaning up a big mess, you should remove any bottled liquids from your vehicle before extremely cold temperatures arrive. As water and other beverages freeze, they expand, which can split plastic seams or blow off caps. Guidance for motorists in that Jan cold snap stressed that anything in a sealed bottle can be at risk when left in a parked car.
One national forecast briefing on bottled drinks emphasized that even reusable metal bottles can deform or leak if the contents freeze solid. For drivers, the stakes are more than sticky cupholders, since a ruptured bottle can soak seatbelt latches, wiring under seats or paper documents. I would keep only a small, insulated bottle in the cabin during a cold snap and bring the rest indoors.
Eggs
Eggs are another grocery item that should never be left in a freezing car. Advisories aimed at shoppers warn that Making a last minute trip to load up on milk, bread and Eggs can backfire if the carton sits in subfreezing temperatures. When Eggs freeze, the liquid inside expands against the shell, which can crack or even split it open. Food safety experts caution that once a shell cracks, bacteria can enter, and the egg should be thrown away rather than refrozen or cooked later.
Guidance on Eggs in cold notes that cartons exposed to Extreme temperatures can also stick to surfaces as they thaw, tearing and spilling. For families trying to stretch grocery budgets during a harsh winter, losing a dozen Eggs to a forgotten trunk is an avoidable hit. I would always bring perishable groceries straight indoors, even if it means an extra trip through the snow.
Musical instruments
Musical instruments, especially wooden ones, are highly sensitive to cold and should not be stored in a parked car during a winter blast. Take heed, musicians: According to Yamaha Music USA, wooden instruments can crack and even change in weight after sitting in a cold vehicle for too long. Reporting on Musical gear notes that rapid temperature and humidity swings can open seams, warp necks and throw off tuning stability.
For students and working players alike, that damage can be financially devastating, since repairs to violins, guitars or clarinets often cost more than the instrument is worth. Brass and woodwind pads can also stiffen or crack after freezing, leading to air leaks and poor tone. I would carry instruments inside between rehearsals, even if it means a short walk in the cold, and let them warm up gradually before playing to avoid sudden stress on delicate joints and finishes.
Pets
Pets should never be left in a car during a winter blast, even for what seems like a quick errand. Pet owners are warned not to assume that fur will be enough to protect four-legged friends from Extreme cold. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, hypothermia can set in quickly when animals are confined in an unheated vehicle that acts like a refrigerator. Guidance on Pets in cars warns that prolonged exposure can lead to frostbite, brain damage and even death.
Smaller breeds, older animals and those with medical conditions are at particular risk, but even large dogs can suffer when wind chills plunge. I would treat a parked car in winter the same way I treat it in summer: not a safe place for unattended animals. If a destination is not pet friendly, the safest choice during a Jan cold wave is to leave the Pet at home with adequate warmth, water and supervision rather than in a freezing back seat.
Household aerosols
Household aerosols, from glass cleaner to de-icing sprays, are another category that should come out of the car before a freeze. Many of these cans contain water-based solutions under pressure, and as the liquid inside freezes and expands, it can distort the metal or compromise the seal. Reporting on Never Leave These in Your Car in Freezing Idaho Temps notes that pressurized containers can leak or even rupture when exposed to prolonged subfreezing conditions.
Beyond the risk of a burst can, leaked propellants and solvents can damage upholstery and create lingering chemical odors in a closed cabin. Some aerosols are also flammable, which raises concerns if they are stored near wiring or aftermarket electronics. I would move cleaning sprays, air fresheners and de-icing aerosols indoors when a winter blast is forecast, keeping only what is needed for immediate use and checking labels for any cold-weather storage warnings.
Loose canned drinks
Loose canned drinks, including soda and energy drinks, behave badly in a deep freeze. As the liquid inside turns to ice, it expands against the rigid aluminum walls, which can cause the can to bulge, split or explode. Winter safety guidance that urges drivers to See which items they should avoid leaving in the car notes that Certain items such as canned liquids can create a sticky, corrosive mess when they burst in a closed vehicle. One advisory on canned liquids highlights that even a single ruptured can can soak carpets and wiring.
For drivers, the stakes include more than a ruined 12-pack. Sugary drinks can attract pests, stain fabrics and corrode metal seat frames or seatbelt hardware over time. Cleaning up after a can explodes in a trunk or footwell is time consuming and often incomplete, especially in cold weather when drying is slow. I would bring any loose canned drinks indoors before a cold front hits and avoid storing bulk cases in the car for convenience during the winter months.
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