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Original poster

To use a ten year old hot water bottle?

108 replies

museumum · 12/12/2024 22:40

Are you all seriously replacing them every two years like the advice says? I honestly couldn’t send one to landfill that often.
I might be pushing it with the one I used tonight that’s marked 2014 - but I don’t use it that often.

OP posts:
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Flossflower · 14/12/2024 08:59

SurelySmartie · 13/12/2024 01:46

This never used to happen 30 or 40 years ago they must be using poorer quality rubber these days.

This is absolutely not true!
When I was a child, many years ago, we had no heating upstairs and ice used to form on the inside of the windows in winter, I had a hot water bottle. My 50 year old came to stay and decided he needed MY hot water bottle. He was a pig and his needs always trumped everyone else’s. He filled it up with very hot water and it burst on him. 😂

Mali133 · 14/12/2024 06:59

You are being unreasonable. I had one for years just like you. But the worst thing happened. My hot water bottle exploded and burnt all my breasts and stomach. It was horrendous, and I ended up in A&E. Please don't ignore the advice. It's there for a reason. I'm still scarred to this day.

brightpompoms · 14/12/2024 06:46

This is putting me off hot water bottles altogether

WillowTit · 14/12/2024 06:10

i think the 2012 mentioned on the bottle is probably saying it conforms to British Standards BS1970 : 2012

WillowTit · 14/12/2024 04:50

the hot water bottle i have given dd says 2012 on it
mine doesnt say anything that i can read although there is a 9
so perhaps that is 2009

Calliopespa · 13/12/2024 22:41

Yes, yabu.

fivebyfivebuffy · 13/12/2024 22:35

bellocchild · 13/12/2024 18:38

If it's too old to use safely with hot water, you could always empty and dry it, then stuff it rags made from chopped up old clothes and tights, and use it as a kneeler: good for your knees.

I keep a couple of old ones for summer - fill, freezer, wrap in tea towel and put in bed. Bliss!

cornflower123 · 13/12/2024 19:14

This is interesting. I regularly use one that's at least 35 years old as it says on the neck 'made in West Germany'. It appears indestructible, but probably sadly time to replace!

ihatecoffee · 13/12/2024 19:05

LovelyDaaling · 12/12/2024 22:48

I thought the 'daisy' on the neck indicated when the water bottle was made. The number is the year and the pimple on the petal is the month.

You are absolutely spot on!

bellocchild · 13/12/2024 18:38

If it's too old to use safely with hot water, you could always empty and dry it, then stuff it rags made from chopped up old clothes and tights, and use it as a kneeler: good for your knees.

bernadetteo · 13/12/2024 18:11

LovelyDaaling · 12/12/2024 22:48

I thought the 'daisy' on the neck indicated when the water bottle was made. The number is the year and the pimple on the petal is the month.

It does, that's how you know when to replace it.

Manara · 13/12/2024 17:59

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 13/12/2024 17:47

I'd bin it and get a microwaveable one to replace it.

They never get hot enough

Manara · 13/12/2024 17:58

PickAChew · 13/12/2024 17:46

Thick rubber perishes just the same as thin rubber. It becomes brittle.

Show quote history

I know, and I will throw it out. But the old one still retains heat much better than the new flimsy one.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 13/12/2024 17:47

I'd bin it and get a microwaveable one to replace it.

PickAChew · 13/12/2024 17:46

Manara · 13/12/2024 15:22

I have one from Boots from 20 years ago. It's so strong and sturdy and retains heat for so long so I can't bear to send it to landfill either.

I did buy a new one from Boots recently but it's so thin and flimsy. Quality has gone down massively.

Thick rubber perishes just the same as thin rubber. It becomes brittle.

crouchendtigerr · 13/12/2024 16:25

This is new to me. I'm just about to replace one that I've had since the 90s. Only because the lid broke

fivebyfivebuffy · 13/12/2024 15:59

CatsndtheBear · 13/12/2024 15:35

My little cousin has ended up with lifelong scars accross her chest. A hot water bottle burst on her when she was 9. She was in so much pain.
Since then I've taken the guidelines pretty seriously.

I also never put fully boiling water in like a lot of people do.

I worked as a carer and a guy used to fill his with boiling water and then microwave it as "it wasn't hot enough"
I said what are you wanting, molten lava?!

KimWexlerGoodman · 13/12/2024 15:52

This is why I use MN so I hear random facts like this. I had no clue hot water bottles could burst/split, I’ve only been using them the last few years since moving into current house. Off to check the date stamp…

scalt · 13/12/2024 15:45

Remember also the correct way to fill them, by expelling the air: fill about two thirds full, then lower the bottle on to a flat surface to expel the air, until water appears at the top; then put the stopper in. This makes them less likely to burst or leak.

It is a shame that they are so disposable, though, in an era where the holier-than-thou brigade are always lecturing about saving the planet by not sending stuff to landfill.

As an aside, does anyone remember the lovely book Phoebe and the Hot Water Bottles, from 1977? Seven-year-old Phoebe has one hundred and fifty-seven hot water bottles, as her very busy single father gives her one every time she is good, and she plays with them like toys. The book is now sadly out of print, and somewhat discredited, because it's from an era of giving children puppies as presents, and Phoebe puts out a fire by herself (using her hot water bottles).

CatsndtheBear · 13/12/2024 15:35

My little cousin has ended up with lifelong scars accross her chest. A hot water bottle burst on her when she was 9. She was in so much pain.
Since then I've taken the guidelines pretty seriously.

I also never put fully boiling water in like a lot of people do.

Manara · 13/12/2024 15:22

I have one from Boots from 20 years ago. It's so strong and sturdy and retains heat for so long so I can't bear to send it to landfill either.

I did buy a new one from Boots recently but it's so thin and flimsy. Quality has gone down massively.

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · 13/12/2024 15:19

This is a case where prevention is better than cure, you change it as the risk of scald increases hugely with age of the item. The dates are there to protect you and the cost of a new bottle is a great deal less than the taxi cost to A&E!

Windingshrubberies · 13/12/2024 14:53

My daughter had the rubber burst on a hot water bottle she was holding. The burns were horrific. Without the cover it would have been even worse and that bottle was about 4 years old. I have vivid memories of having to hold her down in hospital and the screams so they could treat it. I feel awful for not binning after 2 years. Please don't make my mistake.

Bbq1 · 13/12/2024 14:52

Blackcat50 · 12/12/2024 22:44

are you saying that there is a best before end date in a hot water bottle????!

Yes, they weaken with use. I've heard of really horrible accidents where the bottle has suddenly burst etc and scalded people badly.

Normallynumb · 13/12/2024 14:49

@museumum
I recommend this Vivo one
As you can see I've bought it twice

To use a ten year old hot water bottle?