Lifestyle

5 Tips for Keeping Your Ride Cool in the Texas Heat

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We’ve all been there at some point. We get to our truck, van, or car that’s been sitting in the hot Texas sun, and open the door only to sit in what seems like an oven. If you have leather seats, you just might have to turn on the air and let your ride sit for a while before you can do the same. And, if you’re lucky, you won’t get a minor burn from a seatbelt buckle that could fry an egg. With summer temperatures creeping in on us, here are five tips for keeping your ride cool in the Texas heat.

1. Park in the Shade Whenever Possible

5 Tips for Keeping Your Ride Cool in the Texas Heat

Photo: Pixabay

This is actually a no-brainer, and sometimes can cause a lot of angst in the summer heat. Park in the shade whenever possible means don’t go postal on the person that happened to get their first. Do so with the most possible respect for fellow drivers. Sometimes it means you’ll have to walk a considerable distance, but it’s still worth it!

2. Purchase a Dashboard Shade

5 Tips for Keeping Your Ride Cool in the Texas Heat

Photo: Facebook/Metinka Slater KCCI

Dashboard shades are surprisingly affordable, or if you’re extremely frugal, you can make one of your own from leftover cardboard you have at home. However, the small price you pay at a store could mean less frustration for you, and definitely means a cool ride when you come out of wherever you’ve been for some time.

3. Buy Cloth Seat Covers

5 Tips for Keeping Your Ride Cool in the Texas Heat

Photo: Wikimedia

For those of you that do have leather seats, this may be something that you already do, but if you haven’t yet considered it, you should invest in cloth seat covers to save your skin from those hot leather seats in the summer. Also, if you’re shopping for something to do the trick, remember that lighter colors deflect the sun a little more than perhaps the color black would. Just a thought.

4. Keep Your Windows Slightly Cracked

5 Tips for Keeping Your Ride Cool in the Texas Heat

Photo: Facebook/MAGIC 106.7

While it may not be such a good idea to leave your car or truck windows all the way down, it’s a great idea to leave them slightly cracked. If you’re worried, check to make sure that you’re unable to fit your arm through the space in your window. Leaving them open just a little will allow ventilation and help keep your ride cool.

5. Cover Your Steering Wheel With a Hand Towel

5 Tips for Keeping Your Ride Cool in the Texas Heat

Photo: Pixabay

Like every other surface in your car, truck, or van, the steering wheel can go up in temperature, causing a sticky situation when it comes to driving away. To avoid doing the one-finger steering wheel turn, place a hand towel over the top of the wheel. That way, when you return, you can simply slip the towel off and touch the wheel without a problem.