5 days ago
‘Cleaning My Car Out Today:' Texas Man Leaves Water Bottle in Jeep. Then it Causes Irreversible Damage
A man is going viral on TikTok after showing the damage caused to his car when he left his water bottle in it in the Texas heat.
TikTok user Guero Navarrete (@gueronavarrete1) didn't share many specifics—like whether the bottle was plastic or glass, how long it sat in the sun, or exactly how hot it was outside—but the results were dramatic. In his video, he shows the inside of his Jeep, where the passenger side appears scorched, almost as if a small fire had broken out.
'That's what happens when you leave a water bottle in the front seat and the sun hits it just right and it acts like a magnifying glass,' Navarrete wrote in an on-screen caption. As of this writing, the clip has garnered over 433,900 views.
Can This Really Happen?
Yes, a water bottle—especially a plastic one—can explode or even spark a fire in a hot car. If the sun hits it just right, it can
act like a magnifying glass
, focusing heat onto something flammable, such as a seat or a piece of paper.
Heat can also cause the liquid inside to expand, building pressure. If that pressure gets too high, the
bottle can burst
.
There's also the issue of chemicals. When plastic bottles heat up, they can start to break down and leach substances into the water—something you probably don't want to drink.
To avoid all that, don't leave plastic bottles sitting in the sun. Toss them in the trunk, cover them up, or use an insulated container instead. Stainless steel and glass bottles are also
better options
since they withstand heat better.
What Else Should I Avoid?
Water bottles
aren't the only things
that can turn dangerous in a hot car. During summer, it's crucial to avoid leaving certain items behind due to the extreme heat.
According to
Capital Insurance Group
, aerosol cans, electronics, food and drinks, disposable lighters, medications, and anything containing batteries can all become serious hazards.
Experts say aerosol cans can explode if left in direct sunlight or inside a sweltering car, since heat builds pressure inside the can. The same goes for lighters, which can leak or combust when exposed to extreme temperatures. Phones, laptops, and battery-powered electronics can overheat, get damaged, or, in some cases, catch fire.
Sunscreen and other pressurized personal care products can also degrade or explode. Food and medicine spoil fast in high heat, and certain medications can become less effective or even dangerous.
The short answer is that it's best to treat your car like an oven in the summer. If you wouldn't leave it in an oven, don't leave it on your seat.
Commenters Make Note to Check on Their Cars
Viewers who saw Navarrete's video took it as a cue to clean out their vehicles—especially in the middle of a
brutal heatwave
.
'Thank you for letting me know cleaning my car out today,' one said.
'To-do list: Clean out the car #1 water bottle,' another quipped.
'Running to my car now to get the millions of water bottles from my daughter,' added a third woman.
Some suggested another way to avoid the problem altogether: Just shell out for tinted windows.
'My windows are too dark for that to happen,' shared one TikTok user.
'Get tint,' advised another.
'Why [does] nobody like tinting their windows anymore?' a third asked.
Motor1
has reached out to Navarrete via TikTok direct message.
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