No air con in your car? No problem

If you haven’t noticed it’s hot. Very hot. Ideally I’d be lying by a pool somewhere soaking up the rays and drinking a nice cool beer. Instead I find myself in the middle of a very busy week driving around to meet clients in my non-air conditioned car.

So over the last couple of days I’ve done some extensive practical research into the best ways to keep cool in transit when you’ve no air con… Here’s my best and most practical findings so far:

• Get in the car as soon as you’ve had a cold shower in the morning. Wet hair really helps keep you cool.


• Figure out how your fans work properly! They are the best way to keep the temperature down. But remember that they are most effective when combined with a source of fresh air; it’s best not to open your window all the way though as warm air may flood in - just open it a crack.


• Ice, ice baby. Back in the 40s and 50s before air con was ever an option, the residents of steamy Arizona invented their own air conditioning – ice. You need to store the ice next to the ventilation system to get the best effect. And I’d advise putting it in an old take up away tub or something because it does err, melt eventually.


• Keep the sun out with a window visor. Or if you haven’t got one, grab a few towels and put them over the wheel and gear stick when you get out your car. It should save you an ‘ouch’ moment when you get back in.


• Hopefully I don’t need to advise you of the obvious tip which is to park in the shade… But next time you go to park, have a think about whether it’s worth turning your car round – it might be that the sunlight will go into the back of your car and not on your steering wheel or seat.

Enjoy the sun while it lasts!