When temperatures soar and heatwaves strike, people will go to any lengths to stay comfortable. The record for the hottest May temperature in the UK was broken for the second day in a row on Tuesday, with 35C being recorded at two locations – Heathrow and Kew Gardens in London.
Large swathes of the UK remain under the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) amber health warning, covering the south-west, south-east, London, East and West Midlands and the west of England. Meanwhile, the north-west, and the north-east have been issued a yellow warning.
All alerts remain in place until 5pm and caution the public about the effects of scorching weather, such as increased demand on health care services by vulnerable groups and a heightened health risk for those aged over 65 or with pre-existing medical conditions.
Britons are struggling to keep both their homes and vehicles cool – with cars essentially turning into greenhouses on wheels due to their abundance of windows.
Every car presents its own unique challenges, as a wide variety of materials can be used on upholstered seats, including fabric and leather.
In sweltering conditions, the latter becomes unbearably hot owing to leather’s natural heat-absorbing qualities.
As leather lacks the breathability of cloth, it traps heat directly and transfers it rapidly to the skin, resulting in a burning or uncomfortable sticky sensation. This is precisely why many drivers resort to draping jackets, blankets or cloths over their car seats whenever the vehicle is left unattended.
The technique is actually endorsed by the RAC, the Royal Automobile Club, who confirm it will prevent seats from ‘becoming a hotplate’.
An expert advised: “Cover the seats with a blanket or jacket. If your vehicle has leather seats then the summer sun will transform the surface of the seat into a hotplate.
“Keep them cool by covering them up, especially if you have to park in direct sunlight.”
A woman who was raised in Arizona, USA, a state renowned for its year-round sunshine and fierce, arid summer heat, vouched for the method’s effectiveness on her TikTok channel.
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She remarked: “There is nothing worse than burning the back of your legs on the car seat. This is exactly why I keep a seat hoodie in my car. “