July was the hottest recorded month in U.S. history, and with climate change seemingly past the point of no return, it will likely only get hotter.

For knife enthusiasts out there, excessive heat has always been an enemy of temperamental steels. So, to help you take care of your knife in the heat, here are some great ways to protect your knife from warping.

Avoid direct sunlight

This one is definitely common sense, but it’s absolutely vital to never leave your knife in direct sunlight. While most steels will not be damaged due to exposure from the sun, many handle materials will lose their shape and strength.

Keep knives out of cars

Temperatures inside sealed vehicles in direct sunlight can soar upwards of 135 degrees, so always take your knives out of your car. A great way to remember to do this is to put your knives inside a toolbox and simply take it out and put it in your garage when you’re parked for the day.

Keep special handle materials indoors on hot days

Whether you have a custom knife with an ivory handle or a standard factory knife with a wood handle, it’s important to keep your knives with sensitive handle materials indoors. Even exposure to the sun for a few hours while you’re using it could dry out some handle material.

Carry knives inside your pocket

While sheaths that attach to your belt are great because they provide you a secure place to carry your knife—not to mention show it off—they don’t offer enough protection from the harmful sting of the sun and high temperatures. Pockets will offer the shade and cooler temperatures needed for certain handle materials to maintain quality and shape.