Credit: benedek/Getty ImagesKey TakeawaysTo cool a car before driving, vent the hot air by cracking the windows and turning on the outside-air ventilation fan before turning on the AC. Windshield shades and window tinting can significantly reduce heat buildup while your car is parked.Small habits like parking in the shade, cracking the windows, and covering hot surfaces can make your car much more comfortable on hot days.Few things are more unbearable during a heat wave than getting into a hot car in shorts. Not only is the dashboard scorching, the seat belts untouchable, and the steering wheel too hot to grip, but now your bare, sweaty legs are sticking to the seat and getting the worst of it.While the common instinct is to blast the air conditioning while peeling yourself off the upholstery, it isn't the only way—or the most effective way—to keep your vehicle comfortable during hot weather. We asked automotive experts for the best, most proven ways to keep a car cooler during periods of extreme heat. These are the common yet often forgotten strategies that can reduce heat buildup before you even start the engine.Meet the ExpertsGlen Hayward, auto repair technician and founder of Good Works Auto RepairTyler Rhodes, auto repair specialist and education manager at Universal Technical Institute, Inc.AdvertisementAdvertisementRelated: 8 Things You Should Stop Leaving in Your Car OvernightHow to Get the Hot Air Out of Your CarOnce you get in the car, your first priority should be getting as much trapped hot air out as you can before trying to cool the rest of the cabin. Most people immediately switch their AC to recirculation mode, but this is a mistake. "If your car has been sitting in the sun, start by cracking the windows and turning the fan on a low setting using outside-air ventilation rather than recirculation mode," says Tyler Rhodes, auto repair specialist and education manager at Universal Technical Institute, Inc. "Direct the airflow toward the lower vents or footwell area and let it run for a minute or two. The goal is to push the super-heated air out of the cabin before trying to cool it."After a few minutes, Rhodes suggests rolling the windows up and switching to recirculation mode if you're using the air conditioning. "Even without AC, allowing fresh outside air to move through the cabin first helps reduce that initial blast-furnace effect and makes the vehicle more comfortable much faster," he says. No matter how you do it, the initial goal is to replace that hot, stagnant air with outside air, even if it's still scorching hot outside. Glen Hayward, an auto repair technician and founder of Good Works Auto Repair, lives in the Phoenix area, where temperatures can reach well over 100°F. But that's still cooler air than the temperature inside the car, which can spike to 150°F. If that happens, he says to try this car cooling trick to at least get the car to the same temperature as outside:AdvertisementAdvertisementRoll down one window completely.Swing the opposite door open and closed five to eight times. "No need to slam—but make sure it opens and closes swiftly."His immediate cool-down method is a little different than the one Rhodes suggests, but it's also effective. By opening just one window on the opposite side and then opening and closing the door, you're drawing superheated air out and forcing cooler outside air into the car. "Yes, 100°F is still very hot, but it is going to be much cooler than the air trapped in the car," he admits. Once you do that, try Rhodes' method above: Set the fan to low in outside-air ventilation mode, then turn on the AC.How to Keep Your Car Cooler in the First PlaceIn general, excessive heat is much easier to prevent or minimize than it is to remove. Follow these simple habits when you leave your car to make a noticeable difference by the time you need to drive again.Use a Windshield Shade"Using a quality sunshade blocks a significant amount of solar heat from entering through the windshield, which is one of the largest sources of heat gain inside a parked vehicle," says Rhodes. "It helps keep interior surfaces like the dashboard, steering wheel, and seats from becoming dangerously hot."AdvertisementAdvertisementHayward agrees, but suggests spending a little extra here. "The range of style and coverage varies," he says. "But a high-quality, reflective front sunshade makes a massive difference in two ways: It will keep surfaces and the internal air temperature cooler than without using one."Park in the ShadeYou should also park in the shade whenever possible. "Even partial shade from a tree, parking garage, or building can dramatically reduce how much heat builds up inside the vehicle throughout the day," says Rhodes. "Note that without AC, it is all about location, location, location!" says Hayward. "Park in a location that is shaded when you are planning to return to your car." For example, if you arrive in the morning but plan to leave at noon, park where it will be shaded at noon—not in the morning. (There are shade maps or sun calculators online that can help you with this.)Additionally, park with your car facing away from the sun. "Again, do this for when you are planning to return to your car," Hayward explains. "If you arrive at your destination in the morning but plan on leaving in the afternoon, park facing east so that when the sun is setting in the afternoon, the back of your car is facing west, where the sun is the strongest."Get Windows TintedWindow tinting can also help block solar heat and UV rays before they enter the cabin. "Beyond making the vehicle more comfortable, it can also help protect interior materials from sun damage over time," says Rhodes. "Just be sure to follow the regulations for tinting where you live."AdvertisementAdvertisementHayward recommends a high-quality ceramic window tint for your side and rear windows and a clear UV film for the windshield. "This will make a big difference in keeping your car cooler," he says. "Be sure to use a professional to install it."Cover the Steering Wheel and SeatsIf you have a dark-colored interior, consider lighter seat and dashboard covers. "Darker surfaces absorb and retain more heat," says Rhodes. "Lighter-colored covers can help reduce how much heat is absorbed by surfaces you frequently touch."These covers don't have to be pretty or even designed for that purpose. "If you do not have a sunshade or if you are forced to park facing north or south, put anything you have in your car over your steering wheel at a minimum (a jacket, spare fast food napkins, a folder, etc.)," says Hayward. "Keeping the steering wheel cooler to the touch will help you get moving faster!"Better yet, even if you do have a sunshade, Hayward recommends keeping a pool towel in your car to cover your seat, seat belts, gear shift, and steering wheel. "Even a little sun peeking in on the side windows makes these items too hot to handle!"AdvertisementAdvertisementTo create a makeshift sunshade or window tinting effect, Hayward says you can also carefully wedge a towel into the side window to help shade the interior. "Make sure to be careful when you get in so that you do not sit on or pull down on the towel that is wedged in your window," he says. Crack Windows When ParkedFinally, if it's safe and the weather allows, leave the windows cracked open a little. "This can help hot air escape instead of becoming trapped inside the vehicle," says Rhodes. "Even a small opening can improve ventilation and reduce peak cabin temperatures."As for how many windows to crack and by how much, Hayward suggests cracking only two windows (one on each side), no more than half an inch to an inch. "Even without any wind or air circulation, some hot air will still escape, allowing for cooler air to be drawn in," he says.Read the original article on Real Simple