Six Things Coloradans Shouldn’t Leave in Cars When It’s Freezing

Colorado has already seen a couple of rounds of winter weather blow through in 2024. Storms packing snow, winds, and some cold temperatures affected both sides of the state in January, with more on the way.

Here comes a friendly reminder about six items you will want to remember not to leave in your car overnight when the temperatures drop below freezing in Grand Junction.

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Item #1: Cell Phone & Electronic Devices

USA Today's list of items you should not leave in your car overnight when it's below freezing starts with cell phones and electronic devices. Extreme cold can drain the battery in your device and cause it to lose efficiency. Temps below freezing can also cause the screen of your device to crack.

Item #2: Carbonated Beverages

Just cleaning up spilled soda in your car is a total pain. Imagine if the entire container exploded in the middle of the night. Freezing temps can cause a can or bottle to explode, so remember to take these out of the cupholders.

Item #3: Musical Instruments

If you are a musician, you love your instruments. These expensive items need to come inside at night. The cold can crack the instrument and cause it to drift out of tune. Bring these valuables inside at night to avoid costly repairs.

Item #4: Canned Foods

What's worse than having a bottle of soda explode in your car overnight? How about a couple of cans of creamed corn that rolled under the seat? No, thank you! Be sure to bring all the canned goods inside after a run to the grocery store, especially if it's freezing outside.

Item #5: Medications

Some expensive medications lose their effectiveness if stored in cold places. Make sure prescriptions and medications come inside with you overnight.

Item #6: An Empty Gas Tank

If the temps drop below freezing overnight, it's a good idea to have some gas in your car to avoid gas line freeze. This is more common with older vehicles. If you know the temps will drop below freezing overnight, put some gas in your tank to avoid problems.

Keep going to see 14 items you should keep in your car during the winter months.