5 Things You Should Never Leave In Your Car During A Shreveport Freeze

t’s hard to believe we’ve made it this far into January 2026 without a major freeze here in Shreveport, but our luck is about to change. With temperatures set to plummet this weekend, it’s time to break out the heavy coats and, more importantly, clean out your car.

When we’re rushing into work or hurrying home to get out of the wind, it’s easy to leave bags in the backseat. However, leaving the wrong items in your vehicle during a North Louisiana freeze can lead to a giant mess, ruined tech, or even a health hazard.

Before you lock up for the night, make sure these five things are inside with you:

1. Aerosol Cans

We’ve all experienced the "soda explosion" in the freezer, right? Aerosol cans (like hairspray, spray paint, or de-icer) are even more temperamental. When the pressure inside the can changes due to extreme cold, the container can fail or even explode. It’s not a mess you want to scrape off your upholstery.

2. Canned Foods

I used to think canned goods were indestructible, but I was wrong. When the liquid inside a can freezes, it expands. This can cause tiny, invisible cracks in the seal or cause the lid to swell. Once that seal is broken, bacteria can get in. The USDA warns that if a can has swelled from freezing, you need to toss it out.

3. Eggs

This one surprised me! If you leave a carton of eggs in the car overnight, the liquid inside will expand and crack the shells. Once the shell is compromised, the eggs are no longer safe to eat. Keep the breakfast supplies in the kitchen, not the trunk.

4. Your Expensive Electronics

I learned this the hard way after ruining an iPad in my truck. I thought I could just "warm it up" the next morning, but the damage was done. Freezing temps can permanently damage lithium-ion batteries and even cause screens to crack. Worse yet, as the device warms back up, condensation can form inside the hardware, causing a short circuit the moment you turn it on.

5. Medication

With the cost of prescriptions these days, we can't afford to be careless. Many medications, especially insulin, become unstable and lose their effectiveness if they get too cold. If you accidentally left your meds in the car during a freeze, don't guess—call your pharmacist and ask if they are still safe to use.