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Original poster

To remind people NOT to use hot water bottles?

488 replies

Laptopsas · 21/09/2025 22:40

There is another thread running about cold weather and hit water bottles are being recommended as safe. They are not.

Get a heated throw or the microwaveable bags.

If you must use one, don’t use boiling water.

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

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5176765-water-bottle-exploded

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2kd7k2e48jo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdxnez4zxkno

Picture of Sharon Portingale smiling

Hot water bottle warning after woman suffers severe burns

Sharon Portingale woke up with an oozing blister and still has mobility problems, two years on.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2kd7k2e48jo

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
EmpressOfTheThread · 22/09/2025 07:30

M0ntezuma · 22/09/2025 07:23

I’m 56 years old and have never had a problem with hot water bottles. Have no intention of not using them, v capable of following guidance- as is everybody.

This ⬆️.
I read about how many admissions there are to A&E from putting trousers on. Whatever you do, I suppose, just be careful.

Iheartmysmart · 22/09/2025 07:30

Heated throws are not without their own risks. I nodded off under mine last winter and when I woke up, the half eaten bag of Maltesers I’d got on my lap had melted. And I had to go back several chapters in my audiobook.

BadActingParsley · 22/09/2025 07:28

I didn’t know that hot water bottles have an expiry date….oops.

applegingermint · 22/09/2025 07:24

Hundslappadrifa · 22/09/2025 06:31

Get a grip! Use bloody tap water, it’s not that hot and works just as well. JFC!

The advice is to avoid using hot tap water as minerals in the water can prematurely degrade the rubber. You’re meant to use boiled water that’s been allowed to cool.

M0ntezuma · 22/09/2025 07:23

I’m 56 years old and have never had a problem with hot water bottles. Have no intention of not using them, v capable of following guidance- as is everybody.

Fluffytoebeanz · 22/09/2025 07:21

My mum had to have a skin graft after using a hot water bottle. We bought them and electric blanket that has duel controls after that. We have one two and they are brilliant.

We just use to warm up the bed and can time to go off. I can't sleep if I'm cold in bed.

Undermyheatedblanket · 22/09/2025 07:21

I will never stop using hot water bottles they are the only thing which really helps ease my endometriosis, adenomyosis and IBS pain, I've tried all other alternatives and nothing else helps. Wheat bags are useless.

At 52 I'm old enough and sensible enough to regularly check my bottles.

Antimimisti · 22/09/2025 07:19

Tastaturen · 22/09/2025 07:15

You can get stick on heat up 'pads', that go on your clothes or even skin - not that cheap or reusable, but handy for out and about and are quite slim.

Show quote history

Great tip - I wish they'd been around/I'd known about them at the time! Thankfully periods are now a thing of the past for me, if I use a hottie these days it's for warmth in bed. I use a heated throw downstairs but I don't like heated blankets in bed as I very easily get too warm. A hottie is ideal because I can move it to a different part of the bed if I'm getting too warm.

WeeGeeBored · 22/09/2025 07:19

Laptopsas · 21/09/2025 22:43

Then you’ve been very lucky. It will only take one bursting for you to not find it silly.

Show quote history

I think your warning is important - especially as it pertains to children.

Kpo58 · 22/09/2025 07:18

Hot water bottles are fine to use as long as the bottle is in good condition, it's not over filled and you get rid of much of the extra air in it as possible as the heat will make it expand.

On the other hand I've had wheat bags melt, not get warm enough, be too hot and created insect infestations.

SoggyArse · 22/09/2025 07:18

Laptopsas · 21/09/2025 22:40

There is another thread running about cold weather and hit water bottles are being recommended as safe. They are not.

Get a heated throw or the microwaveable bags.

If you must use one, don’t use boiling water.

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

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5176765-water-bottle-exploded

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2kd7k2e48jo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdxnez4zxkno

Hot water bottles are perfectly safe. Many humans are not safe to use them it seems. FFS. Are people so stupid these days?

MissFitss · 22/09/2025 07:18

I like HWB that have a nice fluffy or quilted cover. That means you can use hot water 😃 but it cools gradually and stays hot longer overnight.

Nothing worse than waking up in the night with a freezing cold lump of rubber next to your bum.

JustMyView13 · 22/09/2025 07:16

Tastaturen · 22/09/2025 07:15

My post is perfectly clear (even with the typo), perhaps read the words again slowly.

Show quote history

Ok, thank you.

Theroadt · 22/09/2025 07:16

MolkosTeenageAngst · 22/09/2025 07:11

I had a heated throw and it caught fire, the controller just went up in flames. Very scary, it was an expensive one from Lakeland too. Luckily I was able to extinguish it before it spread to the sofa or me but I’ll be sticking to my hot water bottle - even if it bursts the hot water leaking into the bed is going to cause less damage than a house fire!

And I check the HWB regularly to ensure no corroded rubber etc

Tastaturen · 22/09/2025 07:15

JustMyView13 · 22/09/2025 07:14

Ok, I’m sorry that’s the case for you.

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My post is perfectly clear (even with the typo), perhaps read the words again slowly.

MissFitss · 22/09/2025 07:15

I don’t need to. Because I never said that life is risk free.
Again, this thread is discussing the risk associated with hot water bottles specifically. And that risk is that they can burst or leak and burn you.

Would you suggest people stop making tea or coffee?
You see, it's terribly easy to spill to boiling water on your hands. So many people end up with scalds.

In fact it's so dangerous we should all stop doing it.

Elbowpatch · 22/09/2025 07:15

Laptopsas · 21/09/2025 22:43

Then you’ve been very lucky. It will only take one bursting for you to not find it silly.

Show quote history

I had one burst on me. Frightened the life out of me.

I thought I’d wet the bed.

Tastaturen · 22/09/2025 07:15

Antimimisti · 22/09/2025 07:13

I still have a scar from a hot water bottle that leaked in early 2003, I was using it to soothe period pains.

I still use them, but I make sure the water isn't boiling, the bottle is in good condition and is properly sealed.

You can get stick on heat up 'pads', that go on your clothes or even skin - not that cheap or reusable, but handy for out and about and are quite slim.

JustMyView13 · 22/09/2025 07:14

Tastaturen · 22/09/2025 07:13

My sentence doesn't state that, and I'm struggling to see how you read it that way (even with the on/an typo).

Show quote history

Ok, I’m sorry that’s the case for you.

Theroadt · 22/09/2025 07:14

Laptopsas · 21/09/2025 22:43

Then you’ve been very lucky. It will only take one bursting for you to not find it silly.

Show quote history

Then I’ve been super lucky too, as has my sister, mother, both sons…

JustMyView13 · 22/09/2025 07:13

LillyPJ · 22/09/2025 07:12

What assumptions are they?

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Specifically what other cases they’ve seen lots of, and that they work in A&E.

Notmyreality · 22/09/2025 07:13

Laptopsas · 21/09/2025 22:43

Then you’ve been very lucky. It will only take one bursting for you to not find it silly.

Show quote history

What an inaccurate statement. No one has been ‘very lucky’ at all, as the statistical chance of issue resulting in injury is minute. You don’t understand the concept of risk at all.

Tastaturen · 22/09/2025 07:13

JustMyView13 · 22/09/2025 07:12

No, I replied sure to your sentence which appeared to state that hot water bottles presented no risk. You have since confirmed that to be typo and clarified that was not what you were saying. The conversation has therefore moved on.
I also never said we need to stop using anything which has some risks.

Show quote history

My sentence doesn't state that, and I'm struggling to see how you read it that way (even with the on/an typo).

Antimimisti · 22/09/2025 07:13

I still have a scar from a hot water bottle that leaked in early 2003, I was using it to soothe period pains.

I still use them, but I make sure the water isn't boiling, the bottle is in good condition and is properly sealed.

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 22/09/2025 07:13

I’m super careful about not using boiling water in water bottles. Which means that the bottle never gets hot enough!!

so I just stick to cherry pit pillows, those are great!

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