Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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
nomas · 24/09/2025 07:29

sueelleker · 23/09/2025 17:38

You can wireless electric ones now. I've never used one though. https://uk.stoov.com/collections/electric-hot-water-bottles

Show quote history

My mum has an electric one, I bought it for her at the market for a fiver, it’s brilliant because she can just plug it in herself. Her hands aren’t steady enough to fill a hot water bottle anymore with hot water.

But the one you linked looks very expensive. My mum’s is similar to this one , but not this brand.
7

Illjusthavethebreadsticks · 24/09/2025 07:07

Nothing on earth would make me give up hot water bottles !! And yes I was burnt with one years ago.

scalt · 24/09/2025 06:58

Laptopsas · 23/09/2025 23:20

Where on Earth did I advocate banning? 😂

Show quote history

You said "AIBU to remind you not to use them", which is kind of banning them. Grin But perhaps MN saw what they wanted to see, as "ban this, ban that" is the MN response to many things. Perhaps if you had said "AIBU to remind you to replace HWB regularly" or "to use them carefully", it would come across as less nanny-state like.

DoubtfulCat · 24/09/2025 06:39

We don’t have a microwave or mains electricity, so we use HWB. Useful to be reminded that they perish and become more risky, but my grandparents had an electric blanket which caught fire while they were asleep, causing burns and smoke inhalation damage, so there’s an element of risk to all these methods.

Aerom · 24/09/2025 06:33

With heating up wheat bags in the microwave. I stop it halfway, give it a shake and continue with the microwave.

NotToday1l · 23/09/2025 23:43

Laptopsas · 23/09/2025 23:20

Where on Earth did I advocate banning? 😂

Show quote history

You are getting a very hard time from some for just trying to give a bit of a warning on something, well at least you know you did your bit and the more people comment ( good or bad) the more your post trends and therefore gets to a wider audience so it’s all good

Original poster
Laptopsas · 23/09/2025 23:20

SarcasticMrsKnowItAll · 23/09/2025 19:00

If they were that dangerous, they'd be banned by trading standards or legislation. Advise people how to use them safely- yes, advocate banning - get a grip

Where on Earth did I advocate banning? 😂

OP posts:
SarcasticMrsKnowItAll · 23/09/2025 19:00

If they were that dangerous, they'd be banned by trading standards or legislation. Advise people how to use them safely- yes, advocate banning - get a grip

sueelleker · 23/09/2025 18:51

Abebooks and amazon.co.uk list it, but at £125!

TempestTost · 23/09/2025 17:50

scalt · 23/09/2025 08:35

Does anyone remember the lovely book “Phoebe and the Hot water bottles”? It was a children’s book in the 1970s, in which Phoebe has a single father who gives her a hot water bottle every time she is good, and she has one hundred and fifty-seven of them. She plays with them like dolls, and at night she is “the warmest little girl in the world”.

The book is now sadly discredited and out of print, because she uses the hot water bottles to put out a fire, and as a reward, she is given her very own puppy, which she had always wanted. Oh how times have moved on…

I loved that book, as did my sister. We tried to find a copy a few years ago, but as you say, it was put out of print due to supposed safety concerns.

Opeos · 23/09/2025 17:42

I’ve had two hot water bottles burst on me before but I keep using them, the microwave bags are totally rubbish and don’t get hot enough or maintain it long enough. It’s a risk I’m willing to take for decent pain relief which the bags just don’t provide

sueelleker · 23/09/2025 17:38

BiddyPopthe2nd · 23/09/2025 13:13

I don’t have a microwave for a wheat bag. I use hot water bottles, replace them regularly and don’t have the water too hot.

It’s like a lot of things - people need to use common sense. But that is something people are generally doing less and less.

You can wireless electric ones now. I've never used one though. https://uk.stoov.com/collections/electric-hot-water-bottles

WorriedRelative · 23/09/2025 16:59

Well I'm off to dig out my Granny's copper warming pan if we can't use hot water bottles.

Not sure where I'll source some hot coals to put in it though 🤔

BiddyPopthe2nd · 23/09/2025 13:37

If they are exploding, then you probably didn’t make sure to get the air out after pouring in the water as you were sealing it up. And using water that is too hot.

I have once had one expire and leak during the night - back when I was growing up at home, we were broke and HWBs were never replaced. But it was lukewarm water so more a cold wet patch annoyance than a scalding situation (no spare bed to go to or spare bedding to use…it was the 80s).

PractisingMyTelekenipsis · 23/09/2025 13:32

My wheat thing was too hot to touch to start with. Then too cold to be effective about 30 secs later. And It smelled weird once the lavender smell went away. Like overcooked porridge.
Then it went mouldy.

nomas · 23/09/2025 13:19

NuffSaidSam · 23/09/2025 13:12

My big ones say two minutes and I heat them for two minutes.

The neck shape ones say 90 seconds and I do 90 seconds.

The hand ones say 45 seconds and I do 45 seconds. Although tbf these ones are never properly hot just warm.

It'll obviously be different in different wattage microwaves so maybe that explains why some people are dealing with lukewarm bags and others are catching on fire! I've never had either problem luckily.

Show quote history

Well, if they're genuinely hot and stay hot then fair play to you.

I was gifted the one I linked and it's one of the better wheat bags I've used but it still doesn't compare to a hot water bottle for me.

Nearly50omg · 23/09/2025 13:17

You realise people get burns w wheat bags too?

BiddyPopthe2nd · 23/09/2025 13:13

I don’t have a microwave for a wheat bag. I use hot water bottles, replace them regularly and don’t have the water too hot.

It’s like a lot of things - people need to use common sense. But that is something people are generally doing less and less.

NuffSaidSam · 23/09/2025 13:12

nomas · 23/09/2025 12:50

How many minutes does your wheat bag say to microwave it for and how many minutes are you actually heating it for?

E.g. this one says heat for 60 seconds

warmies.co.uk/products/warmies%C2%AE-fully-microwavable-bottle-marshmallow-grey

Edited
Show quote history

My big ones say two minutes and I heat them for two minutes.

The neck shape ones say 90 seconds and I do 90 seconds.

The hand ones say 45 seconds and I do 45 seconds. Although tbf these ones are never properly hot just warm.

It'll obviously be different in different wattage microwaves so maybe that explains why some people are dealing with lukewarm bags and others are catching on fire! I've never had either problem luckily.

lilkitten · 23/09/2025 12:51

We use hot water bottles, never had a problem but we keep an eye on their condition and are careful with them. We don't have a microwave, so I guess there's no way to heat an alternative.

nomas · 23/09/2025 12:50

NuffSaidSam · 23/09/2025 12:32

I can't say that's been my experience. Luckily I've been able to heat it for the advised amount of time which leaves it nice and hot, but not on fire. I assume that's the experience of all the people who regularly use them. I can't imagine they'd continue to be sold if ineffective or on fire were the only options!

Show quote history

How many minutes does your wheat bag say to microwave it for and how many minutes are you actually heating it for?

E.g. this one says heat for 60 seconds

warmies.co.uk/products/warmies%C2%AE-fully-microwavable-bottle-marshmallow-grey

GasPanic · 23/09/2025 12:44

Herewegoagainandagainandagain · 23/09/2025 12:11

If it is such a safety issue using beyond 2 years why not just put a clear expiry date on them instead of a secret code!

(rhetorical question, I know you are not responsible for HWB date stamping!)

Just checked one of ours in a cupboard nearby and it says 2012 🤪 (we have older ones upstairs). Reckon if they have lasted this long with no signs of wear and tear they are good for a few years yet!

Show quote history

Probably something to do with the manufacturing process and it being hard/expensive to mould variable numbered dates into the rubber surface.

NuffSaidSam · 23/09/2025 12:32

nomas · 23/09/2025 12:29

Cooking it long enough to get it hot would cause a fire.

Show quote history

I can't say that's been my experience. Luckily I've been able to heat it for the advised amount of time which leaves it nice and hot, but not on fire. I assume that's the experience of all the people who regularly use them. I can't imagine they'd continue to be sold if ineffective or on fire were the only options!

nomas · 23/09/2025 12:29

NuffSaidSam · 23/09/2025 12:27

You're perhaps not cooking it long enough then.

Show quote history

Cooking it long enough to get it hot would cause a fire.

NuffSaidSam · 23/09/2025 12:27

nomas · 23/09/2025 12:25

No, they’re not. I’ve had more heat from a red pepper than a wheat bag.

Show quote history

You're perhaps not cooking it long enough then.

Swipe left for the next trending thread