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Hot water bottle exploded ***title edited by Mumsnet HQ to clear up any confusion***

63 replies

Idid20yrsinthecan · 30/09/2024 00:07

AIBU for not knowing they had an expiration date: 2yrs after date of production. Mine was produced July 2006. Everything OK, aside from wet bed.

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Freezingfeetwarmheart · 30/09/2024 16:07

Wow it must be the week for it, the same happened to me on Friday night, luckily I was still awake an caught it before too much water went everywhere and just got a slight red mark where some of it landed on me and a wet bed.

I have now chucked out all others and my new one has arrived today!

Grmumpy · 30/09/2024 15:52

They last 2-3 years

Grmumpy · 30/09/2024 15:50

I can’t remember how long a rubber hot water bottle lasts but most have a number on them which shows the year of manufacture. Rubber perishes and a hit water bottle can scald badly.

harrumphh · 30/09/2024 15:47

Seems like a lot of people are filling with boiling water, which you're not supposed to do as per the instructions. They will last a lot longer if the water isn't boiling temp and it's safer too.

Also, a nice fluffy cover provides another barrier.

Ziplob · 30/09/2024 15:34

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Oblomov24 · 30/09/2024 15:29

I remember that thread. We still use a very old one. The new ones are poor quality.

Getonwitit · 30/09/2024 14:53

The ones bought in the last few years are rubbish imported from China. The nice thick rubber ones we bought decades ago are far superior. The oldest one i have is 39 years old. I was given 2 from Primark as presents a couple of years ago, they both split.

ClivetheDestroyer · 30/09/2024 14:39

I found this out the bad way - was filling mine (a hand-me down from my mum) and sort of squeezed it against myself to get the water up to the top. It had split at the top and boiling water went all over my tummy and scalded me. It was about 6/7 years ago and I still have some scars.

BunnyLake · 30/09/2024 14:39

CostcoHotDog · 30/09/2024 14:19

I know someone whose child was scalded by a hot water bottle bursting. Not only was the child badly injured, it also triggered a cascade of social service interventions. Haven't used one since.

I wonder if they didn’t air it. You should always get any air out before putting the top on. Poor kid though.

BunnyLake · 30/09/2024 14:38

I’d been using mine for god knows how many years. I’m only replacing it because it just doesn’t stay hot very long anymore.

CostcoHotDog · 30/09/2024 14:19

I know someone whose child was scalded by a hot water bottle bursting. Not only was the child badly injured, it also triggered a cascade of social service interventions. Haven't used one since.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 30/09/2024 14:19

I'm thinking about replacing mine with electric hot water bottles (can't use wheat ones as don't have a microwave) but someone on another thread warned that the lithium batteries could still explode. Is this a serious concern?

Hunglikeapolevaulter · 30/09/2024 14:15

I won't use hot water bottles because of this, I'm too freaked out to enjoy them. I also hate the new rubber smell so I don't really want that to content with every two years.

SocksShmocks · 30/09/2024 14:13

I knew a woman who was seriously scalded when a hot water bottle burst. I wouldn’t use them ever again for that reason. I’d rather use the wheat bags you can heat in the microwave - you could still burn yourself with them but the sudden failure is much less likely.

CupOfSoup · 30/09/2024 14:12

I had no idea they had an expiration date!

Flossflower · 30/09/2024 14:10

Hot water bottles are not supposed to have boiling water poured into them. I think most people who get burnt when they pop have done this.

Pumpkinsoup24 · 30/09/2024 14:04

I didn't know this either....but do know alot of people don't leave enough room at the top to push the air out before putting the lid on. You need to make sure there's no air in the bottle and it's not inflated if that makes sense.

Also says don't use boiling water....I always do. I boil a kettle which is a big no.no but never had a hot water bottle explode.

AgileGreenSeal · 30/09/2024 14:03

eddiemairswife · 30/09/2024 09:33

My grandma had stone hot water bottles.

Mine too. Called them “jars” so we still refer to the rubber/ plastic hot water bottles as “jars” 🙂

AgileGreenSeal · 30/09/2024 14:00

I prefer a bean bag thing you microwave.
But I have a few “jars” as we call them and they are probably past their best.
Will retire them.

Drivingoverlemons · 30/09/2024 13:57

This happened to my mum, luckily she wasn’t burned. She is 76 and this has never happened before even though she is one of the few people in the world who does actually replace them regularly. My Boots one from 1988 lasted decades!

Chillisintheair · 30/09/2024 13:55

I know some one who was badly injured by one. I will onky buy the cushions things which you microwave now.

Portakalkedi · 30/09/2024 13:54

I also think though that rubber/plastic products seem much crappier than they used to be, almost as if they are made to break down/leak etc sooner. The other day I put on a pair of hardly used walking boots - been in the cupboard for a couple of years. I hadn't walked 20 metres when the (perfect looking, barely used) chunky moulded rubbery soles proceeded to disintegrate into chunks and powder all over the pavement. Had to send DH back to get me another pair of shoes or I'd have been through to my socks. Also have an e-reader where the black rubbery casing is permanently sticky, a sign that it's degrading.

Portakalkedi · 30/09/2024 13:47

I've had one leak but was able to get it out of the bed pronto. They really should have the expiration info clearly displayed on the packet though.

thistlepiedpiper · 30/09/2024 13:46

MeAgainAndAgain · 30/09/2024 08:39

Here is the other thread, it was May this year.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5068468-to-remind-you-all-to-throw-out-old-hot-water-bottles?reply=135266291

Ah bugger I should have checked before I posted - yes the same one I remember. Poor woman x

thistlepiedpiper · 30/09/2024 13:46

To remind you all to throw out old hot water bottles www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amibeing_unreasonable/5068468-to-remind-you-all-to-throw-out-old-hot-water-bottles

This is the thread I won't forget @Maray1967 @MeAgainAndAgain

I was so grateful to that poster for raising awareness. I think everyone on the thread threw away their old hot water bottles away and replaced them

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