Is It Safe to Keep Cooling Spray in the Car?
3 Answers
It is best not to keep it in the car, but it can be placed in a storage box in the trunk if available. Here are the relevant details: 1. Automotive cooling spray may cause glass to crack. Traffic police departments have issued safety warnings: this type of rapid cooling spray must never be sprayed directly at close range onto glass or genuine leather, as the sudden temperature drop can cause these items to absorb moisture or crack. Even if not sprayed on glass, dry ice evaporates easily and will vaporize when exposed to direct sunlight and high temperatures, releasing gas volumes several times larger than the original solid dry ice. If the canister cannot withstand this pressure, it may explode. 2. When using this type of automotive cooling spray, avoid placing it in direct sunlight or areas above 50°C to prevent explosions, as it can easily lead to car fires or explosions. Traffic police recommend using it with caution. Most importantly, never spray it within 30cm of a person, as it can easily cause frostbite to the skin.
I saw a scary news report the other day about a car owner who left a cooling spray under the windshield, and the can exploded on a hot day, shattering the entire windshield. The main ingredient of these sprays is LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). During summer, car interiors can reach 60-70°C, causing the can to expand beyond its limit and explode. I’ve seen several cases of spontaneous combustion caused by such sprays while working as a mechanic. If you must use them in an emergency, check the can for a 'non-flammable' label before buying, and store it in the insulated trunk compartment immediately after use. For safety, physical cooling methods like sunshades combined with opening doors for ventilation work just as well as sprays.
As a mom who often takes my kids out, I've researched the safety of these spray cans. Most aerosol cans are like miniature gas cylinders—internal pressure can double when exposed to direct sunlight. Last year, my neighbor's car window shattered because she casually left a spray can on the passenger seat. I later learned from a chemistry teacher that these products could even cause flash explosions if sprayed near an open flame (like a cigarette lighter). Now I only keep cooling wipes and a USB mini fan in my car. Though they cool more slowly, I feel at ease using them when my child naps in the back seat. By the way, always check ingredient lists—those containing dimethyl ether or ethanol are particularly hazardous.
