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AIBU?

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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
Thinandbare · 21/09/2025 23:13

Your water bottle actually exploded? Was there something ignited within it? Did the water not dampen it?

I mean, come on. Use anything dangerously and it will be dangerous, use anything safely and it will be….safe

minerva7 · 21/09/2025 23:08

When I was growing up we had glass irn bru bottles filled with roasting water wrapped in a towel 😂

Theunamedcat · 21/09/2025 23:08

MustTryHarderAndHarder · 21/09/2025 23:02

Why don't you use electric blankets? They are life changing.

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They can also burn your house down

So far you can get severely burned or die any tips on how to actually stay warm and not be injured?

mzpq · 21/09/2025 23:07

Laptopsas · 21/09/2025 23:06

I wouldn’t use an electric blanket. Just a throw whilst downstairs.

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Yes because no-one has ever fallen asleep under a throw.

mzpq · 21/09/2025 23:06

To think I've been moaning about all the random fireworks going off in my area at odd times of the year.

It all makes sense now.

They were exploding hot water bottles 💣🔥

Original poster
Laptopsas · 21/09/2025 23:06

mzpq · 21/09/2025 23:03

If you're fast asleep?

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I wouldn’t use an electric blanket. Just a throw whilst downstairs.

OP posts:
FancyCatSlave · 21/09/2025 23:05

I’ll take my chances, because as a fully grown adult I don’t need to be patronised. I’m well aware that very hot water can cause burns. I don’t need the reminder.

mzpq · 21/09/2025 23:03

Laptopsas · 21/09/2025 23:01

You’re going to see and catch a fire.

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If you're fast asleep?

MustTryHarderAndHarder · 21/09/2025 23:02

PaddingtonBlah · 21/09/2025 22:46

I don't find wheat bags hold the heat anything like as well as a hot water bottle.

We live in an old cold house and I use a hot water bottle for every bed in the house - it's part of my winter evening routine to put them in about an hour before bed.

It's important to check the dates, replace them regularly, not overfill or use boiling water and expel air. But that doesn't mean you can't use them at all.

Why don't you use electric blankets? They are life changing.

BruFord · 21/09/2025 23:02

Reading the article, this was an extreme case as the poor lady had pre-existing nerve damage, which meant she couldn’t feel the dangerous heat until it was too late.

"Because I have nerve damage, I couldn't feel the hot water bottle against my leg so a huge blister developed."

I do use bottles, but I replace them regularly as I was once burnt by an old one that leaked. I could feel it right away though so it wasn’t as severe.

Original poster
Laptopsas · 21/09/2025 23:01

mzpq · 21/09/2025 22:55

Exactly.

Let's not use hot water bottles at all because a few silly people ignore the warnings and fill them with boiling water.

Let's use heated throws instead because none of them have ever caught fire...

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You’re going to see and catch a fire.

OP posts:
DBSFstupid · 21/09/2025 23:01

itsAforapple · 21/09/2025 22:45

Could we just remind people to use half of their brain and not be fuck wits? Would that cover it??

😂😂😂

Funnywonder · 21/09/2025 23:01

A friend of mine was pressing the hot water bottle against her chest to get the air out, with the lid partially screwed on. She squeezed too hard and the water squirted out and scalded her chest. She ended up at A&E and had weeks of getting her dressings changed at the burns clinic. I used to do exactly the same thing with my own hot water bottle from I was 11 or 12. Sheer luck I wasn’t scalded. It’s a bloody stupid thing to do to be fair.

I can’t stand the sickly smell of those wheat bags though.

SpackelFrog · 21/09/2025 23:01

The wheat things are rubbish, used sensibly a hot heater bottle is fine!

ChaToilLeam · 21/09/2025 23:01

Shall we include here a dire warning about the dangers of eating jam tarts straight from the oven? ⚠️

LinedOverLatte · 21/09/2025 23:00

At least most mumsnetters won’t be risk from a burn while ironing…..

YouMightThinkThat · 21/09/2025 23:00

mzpq · 21/09/2025 22:59

Never try to tumble dry your own head either. No good will come of it.

How am I supposed to dry my hair?! 😱

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Oven. Highest setting. Trust me. I’m a doctor. 😂😂😂

Lifeinthepit · 21/09/2025 22:59

Handsomesoapdish · 21/09/2025 22:57

Beware of making cups of tea or boiling pots of water on a stove they too can cause and more so have many times caused scalding accidents. In fact it is true to say that any boiling water anywhere can potentially scald a person, be aware.

You don't generally sit on your cup of tea by mistake (which is why my HWB exploded. Not a dainty sitter)

Original poster
Laptopsas · 21/09/2025 22:59

YelloDaisy · 21/09/2025 22:53

Exploding hot water bottles? Never heard of that and I’m over 70

Type it into Google and there will be numerous stories over many years. It’s in the news every winter. Surprised you’ve never heard of it.

OP posts:
mzpq · 21/09/2025 22:59

YouMightThinkThat · 21/09/2025 22:56

Never try to tumble dry your own head either. No good will come of it.

Also - Snickers Bars may contain nuts.

Never try to tumble dry your own head either. No good will come of it.

How am I supposed to dry my hair?! 😱

maudelovesharold · 21/09/2025 22:58

I’m afraid that no amount of warnings against potential dangers will ever eliminate all risk. It’s part of life, and we all have to do our own risk assessments and use common sense. I’m sure that you could find examples of death and injury caused by the (mis)use of electric blankets, for example.

Handsomesoapdish · 21/09/2025 22:57

Beware of making cups of tea or boiling pots of water on a stove they too can cause and more so have many times caused scalding accidents. In fact it is true to say that any boiling water anywhere can potentially scald a person, be aware.

YouMightThinkThat · 21/09/2025 22:56

Never try to tumble dry your own head either. No good will come of it.

Also - Snickers Bars may contain nuts.

Original poster
Laptopsas · 21/09/2025 22:55

ThreePears · 21/09/2025 22:51

Now if you'd said:

'AIBU to remind people NOT to use boiling water in hot water bottles'

I would have agreed with you. But to not use them at all? You might just as well tell people not to make gravy because a few people have spilt a jug of boiling hot gravy over themselves. Hot water bottles are totally safe if used properly.

Yeah they’re totally safe if you use water cool enough so as to render the bottle pointless.

OP posts:
mzpq · 21/09/2025 22:55

ThreePears · 21/09/2025 22:51

Now if you'd said:

'AIBU to remind people NOT to use boiling water in hot water bottles'

I would have agreed with you. But to not use them at all? You might just as well tell people not to make gravy because a few people have spilt a jug of boiling hot gravy over themselves. Hot water bottles are totally safe if used properly.

Exactly.

Let's not use hot water bottles at all because a few silly people ignore the warnings and fill them with boiling water.

Let's use heated throws instead because none of them have ever caught fire...

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