This week, the UK is experiencing the highest temperatures it’s ever had, with parts of the south reaching a staggering 39°C.
While sunscreen is an absolute must for most people in this weather, these lotions may be having a detrimental effect – on your car.
Ford has revealed that chemicals found in both sunscreen and hand sanitisers can react with the surfaces of your car, and permanently damage them.
Mark Montgomery, senior materials engineer at Ford’s Materials Technology Centre, said: “From hand sanitisers to sun lotions to insect repellent, consumer trends are constantly changing, and new products are coming on to the market all the time.
“Even the most innocuous seeming product can cause problems when they come into contact with surfaces hundreds and even thousands of times a year.”
Ford tested the effects of various sun lotions and hand sanitisers on its cars in temperatures ranging from 74°C to -30°C.
The analysis revealed that sun lotions with higher quantities of titanium oxide reacted with plastics and natural oils that are found in leather – particularly in warm conditions.
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