How to Cool Yourself in a Car Without Air Conditioning

When the heat is on, there are not many things more miserable than sitting in a hot car waiting for the traffic to start moving. Although there is no quick fix to dealing with the heat, some strategies may get you to your destination a little bit cooler and dryer.

 Steps

1. 1
   Plan your travel times. Early morning is often the coolest time of the day, and if you are not on a fixed schedule, to work, for instance, you can plan on doing as much driving as possible before the heat is unbearable.
   
   
2. 2
   Work with the traffic flow. This is another step in planning your travel time. Most medium to large sized communities have "rush hours", when people are on their way to work, or home afterward. This event may cause you to be stuck in bumper to bumper traffic hardly moving along at all.
3. 3
   Look for shady routes to your frequent destinations. If you drive a north or south direction, tree lined streets and roadways are often shady for much of the day.
4. 4
   Roll down the windows. This sounds obvious, and it should be, but sometimes the noise and odors of city driving may tempt you to shut them out. If you have a fan operated fresh air vent, open it, turn on the fan, and open a rear window enough to draw a draft through your automobile. A sun roof or sliding back window will draw a lot of fresh air, even when you are traveling in traffic that just seems to be creeping along at a snail's pace.
5. 5
   Install reflective window tinting on the windshield and windows. This can offer a substantial reduction in direct sunlight coming into your car, and also provides some protection for the vinyl interior from UV radiation which can damage your car's upholstery and dashboards. (Note: check with your state to ensure this is legal. Some states do not allow this practice.)
6. 6
   Put a fan on the dashboard or hang it from the visor. There are a number of inexpensive 12 volt fans available at auto parts stores and retailers. They clip on the sun visor or rear view mirror, or stand on the dash board, and plug into a cigarette lighter plug to move air, which in turn makes you feel cooler.
7. 7
   Dress down. If you have a long commute to work or school, you may be able to drive in short pants and a tee shirt, then change in a restroom or locker room at work, leaving you cleaner and cooler for the day ahead.
8. 8
   A 10lb block of ice on the floorboards under a vent will help cool things down. The ice block can rest in a plastic pan or baking tin. Opening a window a little will help with air flow. This was Arizona AC in the 40's and 50's.
9. 9
   Take a cooler. Pack a cooler with enough ice to keep your drinks cold. For the extreme, drink the melted ice water!
10. 10
    Bring a cold pack. On the night before a trip or long car drive, buy some cold pack and put them in the freezer. Before you leave the next morning, take it out and wrap it in a towel. It will last a while.
    
    

Tips

• Keep clean, fresh clothes in the car for times when the heat and traffic are too much for you, if there is a chance you will need to be more presentable during the day.
• Use the vent blower on the car heater on the coolest setting to help move some air. The least bit of air movement will help keep you cooler.
• Sipping ice water does wonders for keeping you cool. Freeze half a bottle of water the night before (not all the way full, the bottle will burst!), then fill the rest with water and shake to chill the water. Also, most gas stations/restaurants/etc. will have free ice water.
• There are many low-cost 12v fans designed for computer cases than can be readily adapted for in-car. May take a little more work, but more choice is better.

Warnings

• Car interiors can become dangerously hot in the sunshine, so never leave anyone or pets in the car when you have business to do.
• It is illegal in some states to have tinted front windows and windshields. These states are Alaska, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.
• While it might seem tempting, do not use dry ice in a vehicle. It displaces oxygen as it sublimates, and could cause suffocation in enclosed spaces (like a car).

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