Tips

4 Things You Should Never Keep in Your Car Trunk

It is important to be mindful of what you store in your car trunk, as certain items can be hazardous. While your car trunk may seem like a convenient storage solution, there are some things you should never keep there. Here are the top four items to avoid storing in your car trunk at all costs.

Administrator

23 August, 2024

Flammable and Explosive Substances

Drivers should be extremely cautious and refrain from storing flammable or explosive items in their car trunks. Examples of such substances include oils, paints, lighters, hairspray cans, perfumes, and carbonated drinks, as they are highly combustible. During the summer, the temperature in the trunk can exceed 60 degrees Celsius, increasing the pressure inside containers. This could lead to chemical explosions or fires within the confined space.

Avoid Placing Heavy Objects in the Trunk

It is not uncommon for people to overload their car trunks when traveling long distances, unaware of the potential harm it can cause to their vehicles.

It is not advisable to overload your car trunk with heavy items. (Illustrative image)

The excessive weight can compress the rear end of the car, directly impacting the suspension system. Prolonged exposure to heavy loads can lead to significant damage to the suspension. Additionally, the vehicle’s center of gravity shifts towards the rear, affecting braking and handling, thereby increasing the risk of road accidents. Therefore, it is advisable to refrain from storing heavy objects in the trunk. If necessary, distribute the weight evenly.

Food

Storing food in the trunk is a common practice for many people, but it can have detrimental effects on food quality, whether raw or cooked. The trunk’s temperature can be significantly higher than the cabin due to the lack of air conditioning and the confined space.

Prolonged food storage in the trunk can lead to a decrease in nutritional value and even spoilage due to the high temperatures. Additionally, food stored in plastic containers or bottles may be contaminated by harmful chemicals from the plastic, posing health risks to consumers.

Pets

Keeping pets in the trunk can result in unpleasant odors from their waste. Furthermore, transporting pets in the trunk during long journeys, especially in hot weather, can be dangerous and even fatal due to the extreme temperatures. It is recommended to transport pets in the cabin, ensuring their comfort and safety. Restraining them appropriately is also crucial to prevent them from interfering with the driver’s operation of the vehicle.

According to VTC News

Frequently asked questions

While it may seem like a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher in your car trunk, doing so can actually be dangerous. In the event of a car fire, the extinguisher could explode due to the extreme heat, causing further damage and even injuring those nearby. It’s best to keep a fire extinguisher in the cabin of your car, easily accessible in an emergency.

Storing important documents, such as birth certificates, passports, and financial information, in your car trunk is not advisable. In the event of a break-in or theft, you could lose these valuable items and compromise your personal information. It’s best to keep such documents in a secure location at home or in a safe deposit box.

Keeping a spare phone charger in your car can be convenient, but the trunk is not the ideal location. Extreme temperatures in the trunk can damage the charger over time, rendering it useless when you need it most. It’s better to store your charger in the cabin of your car, where temperatures are more regulated.

While it may be tempting to use your car trunk as extra storage for groceries, it’s important to be mindful of the potential risks. Perishable items, such as dairy and meat, can spoil quickly in the extreme temperatures of a car trunk. Additionally, the weight of groceries can add up, affecting your car’s fuel economy and handling. It’s best to plan your grocery trips accordingly and store perishable items in a cooler or refrigerated bag if they need to be transported in your trunk.