Just last weekend this happened to me. I had a really busy day – we took the kids out to eat and then spent time at the beach.
It was an enjoyable but hectic day! The sun was blazing, and with all the fun, I completely forgot to drink water. Instead, I ended up sipping sodas, eating ice cream, or taking drinks from my kids.
My tumbler stayed in the car the entire day. Leaving it wasn’t intentional, it simply slipped my mind. Around 7 o’clock that evening, I suddenly remembered and ran out to grab it.
Luckily, since it was the first time, there wasn’t any lasting damage.
But regularly leaving your Stanley in a hot car can warp or damage the plastic lid, and the color could fade, among other things.
What Can Happen After One Day- The Ice Will Melt Faster
When I took my tumbler inside, the ice was completely melted- My Stanley usually keeps ice in my cup for up to 12 hours.
But why did that happen?
Inside a hot car, the air temperature rises significantly. Heat energy transfers from the warmer air to the colder ice inside your Stanley Cup.
This increased heat energy makes the ice molecules vibrate faster, breaking their bonds and causing the ice to change its state from solid to liquid (water).
The hotter the car, the faster this energy transfer happens, and the quicker the ice melts.
Continue Leaving Your Stanley In A Hot Car
It can wrap the Plastic
Plastic consists of long chains of molecules called polymers. Heat energy can disrupt these molecules, weakening their bonds and making the plastic softer. The softening can lead to warping or permanent deformation of the lid or straw.
Next, the Metal Body:
Metals expand slightly when heated. In extreme cases, this expansion combined with uneven heating could cause the metal of the Stanley Cup to deform slightly, damaging the plastic components.
It is rare but still possible.
The Finish:
The pigments in the Stanley Cup’s finish can be broken down by intense UV radiation from the sun. This leads to fading or discoloration over a prolonged period.
Tips
- Don’t leave your Stanley Cup in hot cars.
- Park in shaded areas.
That’s it. Leaving your Stanley cup for a few hours in a hot car once would not destroy your cup. But consistently doing this can cause problems, including warping of the lid, cup deformity, and discoloration.