Page 4 | To remind people NOT to use hot water bottles?

Laptopsas · 2025-09-21T21:40:03+00:00

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/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.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/c2kd7k2e48jo]] [[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdxnez4zxkno https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdxnez4zxkno]]

LynetteScavo · 22/09/2025 19:11

I was shown how to correctly fill a hot water bottle as a child. There is a time and a place for hot water bottles. I would urge everyone not to use an old one and to check the expiry date on the flower on the neck, though.

SummerFrog25 · 22/09/2025 19:08

dizzydizzydizzy · 22/09/2025 02:54

Yes

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No, you're not.

tap water (un boiled) makes them perish more quickly due to the minerals. You're supposed to boil the water & let it cool

SummerFrog25 · 22/09/2025 19:04

dizzydizzydizzy · 22/09/2025 02:53

Don't know why the OP is getting such a hard time here.

I've got a plastic disk which I can heat up in the microwave. It stays warm all night. I would say it's much safer than a hot water bottle and more effective because it stays warm for much longer.

I also have an electoric blanket that goes under my sheet. Both the blanket and the disk are amazing for back pain.

Just because somebody has used hot water bottles without incident for many years, it doesn't prove that they are the safest option. Technology changes.

I wonder how bad for you heating up a plastic disc is?

SummerFrog25 · 22/09/2025 19:02

LoandBeahold · 22/09/2025 02:43

Are you supposed to fill them from the hot water tab?

No. A boiled kettle left to cool. Tap water (uncoiled) has minerals in it that speeds up the perishing.

asleepymum · 22/09/2025 18:37

They are perfectly safe if used the right way. If you have a temperature control on your kettle heat water to 70 degrees or 80 if your cover is very thick and insulated. If you don’t have a fancy kettle fill half way then add cold water until it’s 2 thirds full. Lie on its side on a flat surface with the opening pointed up to squish the water right up to the screwing in part. You have created a little vacuum, now screw it tight while holding the water to the top. Lift up job done. In the old days we used to use boiling water and leave it for and hour in the bed to warm it up but I wouldn’t do that now as it degrades the rubber. I also put a cover over for extra safety. Never apply heavy weight or pressure to it and you should be fine.

Sharptonguedwoman · 22/09/2025 18:15

Just checked our hot water bottles which are of indeterminate age, certainly years. They seem to have been made in Germany and I couldn’t find a flower with a date anywhere.

in the bin they went but I can’t think why one would burst unless over filled with very hot water and still had air in. They might have split, I guess. Gone now.

Sharptonguedwoman · 22/09/2025 18:09

sueelleker · 22/09/2025 09:39

Anyone else remember this character? https://ukcomics.fandom.com/wiki/Walter_Hottle_Bottle

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Yes!

Aerom · 22/09/2025 14:53

I do not like the feel of HWBs. Wheat bags are better

gingangirly · 22/09/2025 14:24

itsAforapple · 21/09/2025 22:42

Generations used them without much issue, but yes let’s try to get rid of those too… along with everything else!

This.

And they never had a ‘use by’ date either! But in those days they were properly made no flimsy foreign crap like they are now!

i think I’ll go back to a copper warming pan!

GasPanic · 22/09/2025 14:06

Jade3450 · 22/09/2025 13:28

Got any links?

I had one split once - it just made the bed a bit wet, that’s all. No big deal.

If your hot water bottle is ‘exploding’ then I would guess you’re either using far too much water or not filling it at an angle to dispel the air.

It’s not rocket science.

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Just google "woman scalded by hot water bottle".

https://www.itv.com/news/2025-03-14/number-of-serious-burns-from-hot-water-bottles-doubles-in-last-five-years

Apparently approx 1000 people were admitted to burns units in 2024.

Jade3450 · 22/09/2025 13:33

HelloRobinRedBreastAreYouHereWithAMessage · 22/09/2025 10:32

All this talk of hot water bottles is making me nostalgic for the seventies when they were an essential if you didn't want to freeze to death.

No central heating, ice and water inside windows, constant chest infections, a ton of blankets on the bed and the smell of rubber coming from the hot water bottle which you clutched like a lifesaver.

Hard to believe it now really when we nearly all have central heating, double glazing, several bathrooms, dishwashers, tumble dryers, books on demand (kindle) and entertainment on demand (streaming) and food on demand (just eat or tesco delivery etc)

It really is like another world. I'm kind of glad I got to see the old world too. It still amazes me that world war 2 had only been over for less than 20 years when my sister was born and my parents were alive during it (they are dead now) but how different were their lives to mine even. When clearing out my dads stuff I found ration books etc - it was just surreal.

Anyway sorry to hijack the threat but all this talk of hot water bottles just took me right back.

Erm, they’re still very much a necessity in this house!

Jade3450 · 22/09/2025 13:28

Laptopsas · 21/09/2025 22:46

Rubber hot water bottles have only been around for 100 years or so and every year there are well publicised stories of them exploded and causing severe burns.

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Got any links?

I had one split once - it just made the bed a bit wet, that’s all. No big deal.

If your hot water bottle is ‘exploding’ then I would guess you’re either using far too much water or not filling it at an angle to dispel the air.

It’s not rocket science.

Poirot1983 · 22/09/2025 13:23

Used one for years. I do use boiling water, do not fill to the top and puff out air before screwing the top on.

Zimunya · 22/09/2025 13:17

Aerom · 22/09/2025 13:11

Hot water bottles have a date on them. There is a flower on the side or on neck. The number in the middle is the year of manufacture- 23 means 2023. Then around the edge are petals with dots. Dots represent the week of manufacture. So if 4 dots in two petals and two dots in a 3rd, mid March.

You should only use HWBs for two years as the rubber around the stopper rots/shrinks/cracks

@Aerom - this is really useful information - thank you so much!

Aerom · 22/09/2025 13:11

Hot water bottles have a date on them. There is a flower on the side or on neck. The number in the middle is the year of manufacture- 23 means 2023. Then around the edge are petals with dots. Dots represent the week of manufacture. So if 4 dots in two petals and two dots in a 3rd, mid March.

You should only use HWBs for two years as the rubber around the stopper rots/shrinks/cracks

mzpq · 22/09/2025 13:05

Foundress · 22/09/2025 13:00

I love this thread. It’s really only threads like this that keep me on MN. I am also reminded of my sister’s DMIL who took poorly alone during the night. She was so ill she felt unable to get up to fetch a drink of water for herself. She resorted to opening her hot water bottle and drinking some of the water in it. Presumably it wasn’t still boiling hot water.

She was very lucky she didn't explode after drinking it! 😱

Foundress · 22/09/2025 13:00

I love this thread. It’s really only threads like this that keep me on MN. I am also reminded of my sister’s DMIL who took poorly alone during the night. She was so ill she felt unable to get up to fetch a drink of water for herself. She resorted to opening her hot water bottle and drinking some of the water in it. Presumably it wasn’t still boiling hot water.

mzpq · 22/09/2025 12:52

LittleLogOut · 22/09/2025 11:28

Survivor bias. Things aren’t 100% like saying no one needs to wear a seat belt as you’ve never been in a crash…..

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Well no not really because I've never used boiling water and never will 😳

RaininSummer · 22/09/2025 12:51

Unfortunately wheat bags don't get hot enough or stay hot enough to help my arthritis pains in the middle of the night but bottles can be dangerous it's true.

askmenow · 22/09/2025 12:45

YouMightThinkThat · 21/09/2025 22:50

I think now a perfect moment to remind people to not put their trousers on back to front and to ensure they never put on a roll neck jumper whilst holding a lit cigarette in their mouths.

👆😂😂😂

incognitomouse · 22/09/2025 12:43

You'll have to prize my hot water bottle from my burned blistered hands. I love them. Never had an exploding one yet but I replace them regularly (check the date on them) and never use boiling water. So the fact, I never use boiling water (as it clearly states not to) should mean I won't get burnt. Our tap water is not that hot.

Idontknowhatnametochoose · 22/09/2025 12:43

I love my hot water bottles.

Microwave ones are crap.

CaptainMyCaptain · 22/09/2025 12:42

I haven't had a HWB for many years but always had one as a child and cuddled it until I fell asleep. It was a bit grim finding it in the bed later when it had gone cold but we never had an exploding one.

Buxusmortus · 22/09/2025 12:35

smithsgj · 22/09/2025 12:01

I have only got to page 3 so apologies if this crops up later.

This is how a hit water bottle works: you put it in the bed, to warm the bed up. Before you get into bed, once the bed is warm, you take it out.

You don't get into bed with a hot water bottle any more than you would get in with an electric blanket switched on. Surely?!

Also consider leaving the heating on till later and using a thicker duvet?

What?! I've never ever heard of anyone taking the hot water bottle out before they get in the bed and I'm in my sixties. That's what people used to do a hundred years ago with stone ones but not rubber ones with a cover.
When I used them for period pains I'd lie it on my stomach, when it's cold I hug them. Mine came with a fake fur cover, no way is that designed to be taken out of the bed before getting in, it's designed exactly so it's nice to be held.

MissFitss · 22/09/2025 12:33

Faceonthewrongfoot · 22/09/2025 12:01

I actually burnt my tongue and hand the other day on a jam tart! (I didn't know they were fresh out of the oven in my defence. Molten jam is very painful!)

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Ban homemade jam tarts!