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Original poster

Hot water bottle appreciation thread

85 replies

WildRosie · 13/12/2022 19:38

Also electric blankets, heated throws and any other portable personal warming device. I have just one humble HWB but I was so glad of it this afternoon during my post-luncheon forty winks. It didn't stay hot for very long but that's likely my fault for not using hot enough water. Such a comfort during this Baltic spell 🙂.

OP posts:
HappyHolidai · 13/12/2022 19:39

Mine has a fluffy pussycat case and the water stays surprisingly warm all night under the duvet; can be quite hot still when being emptied.

rosegoldwatcher · 13/12/2022 19:39

Does yours have a cover OP? helps to keep the heat in.

I love mine - we have several!

loveyouradvice · 13/12/2022 19:41

I am cuddling three as I type!❤

Lapland123 · 13/12/2022 19:42

We all have them for the first time this winter. They are fab, though I heard of some hot water bottle accidents, burns needing admission to hospital etc much more prevalent this year. I hadn’t really thought of the downsides until I heard this 😬

greenacrylicpaint · 13/12/2022 19:42

I sleep with 2 hwb

one at my feet and one in my arms.

love them. the radiating heat is just so nice.

Teacoaster · 13/12/2022 19:45

I love my hot water bottle. When I work from home it's a constant. I was given a small pink fluffy one a few years ago but never really used it as it's too small for me. I gave it to my 3 year old recently and he loves it and always asks for it to be filled up before bed.

My routine is filling mine up before bed, placing it under the duvet and then going off to the bathroom to do my cleansing routine/brush my teeth. By the time I've finished my side of the bed is toasty.

Another favourite thing is thick knitted socks. I sleep in them and no longer have cold toes. Not sexy but 🙃

Justmuddlingalong · 13/12/2022 19:47

I'm going away over Christmas and my hwb will be coming with me.

LydiaGwilt · 13/12/2022 19:52

We use 2 to defrost the car - put one on the dashboard and one on the back shelf i about half an hour before driving (and they kept it frost free for at least 2 hours after I'd parked outside a friend's at 7.30 yesterday evening when it was -1).

tanstaafl · 13/12/2022 19:55

LydiaGwilt · 13/12/2022 19:52

We use 2 to defrost the car - put one on the dashboard and one on the back shelf i about half an hour before driving (and they kept it frost free for at least 2 hours after I'd parked outside a friend's at 7.30 yesterday evening when it was -1).

This is brilliant!

BiliousOhGod · 13/12/2022 20:02

I have a long, thin one which can take 2ltr of hot water. It's fab - fluffy cover and heat reflecting mattress topper means the water is still hot in the morning, and it's long enough that I can have it along my back and I'm Mrs Mosty Toasty. Also have an electric throw for the day. It's great for sitting still whilst WFH. My house is often around 12⁰c during the day. I love my personal heating devices!

CharlotteStreetW1 · 13/12/2022 20:08

We have two. Mine has a cover which my mum knitted. She died in 1999 ❤

DH cuddles his and I have mine by my feet.

popperoo · 13/12/2022 20:10

Teacoaster · 13/12/2022 19:45

I love my hot water bottle. When I work from home it's a constant. I was given a small pink fluffy one a few years ago but never really used it as it's too small for me. I gave it to my 3 year old recently and he loves it and always asks for it to be filled up before bed.

My routine is filling mine up before bed, placing it under the duvet and then going off to the bathroom to do my cleansing routine/brush my teeth. By the time I've finished my side of the bed is toasty.

Another favourite thing is thick knitted socks. I sleep in them and no longer have cold toes. Not sexy but 🙃

Just to say, I saw something on tv recently about hwb's having a shelf life and that they're more likely to leak when passed it. Apparently they have a raised circle on the inside of the top bit that tells you the shelf life of it, you'd have to google it as I can't remember how it works but I think they shouldn't be used passed 2.5-3 years ish.
Thought I'd mention it as you said you'd given it to your 3yr old and that you'd had it a few years.

Teacoaster · 13/12/2022 20:13

Hey, thank you. I'll see if my little bit water bottle has an expiry date (a sentence I'd never thought I'd say).

I know rubber/thermoplastics degrades over time but probably less so when it hasn't been used during that time.

Original poster
WildRosie · 13/12/2022 20:13

Mine doesn't have a cover. It's normally very effective but today I just put too cool water in it. Silly me. My HWB is like an old friend. I bought it nearly twenty years ago from the pharmacist when I had a stomach bug. Best five quid I've ever spent.

OP posts:
Original poster
WildRosie · 13/12/2022 20:15

Having read the other replies, it might be well beyond its 'use by' date but it hasn't leaked yet. I'm quite careful to see that I don't use overly-hot water.

OP posts:
MyCatsSlave · 13/12/2022 20:16

I had a very large second degree burn on my leg from a hot water bottle, while I was being treated at the hospital, they said they should be replaced every year.
I’m very careful with them now and put them in my bed at least an hour before I go to bed.

Norfolkungood · 13/12/2022 20:20

I've bought DSs and DM hot water bottles for Christmas. I hope they love them as much as I love mine. They all have Fluffy covers.

popperoo · 13/12/2022 20:21

I know it sounds ridiculous but over time the rubber can perish and also the lid can become lose. It was on tv because of a teenager who got badly burnt as her hot water had gotten a hole in it.

LikeTearsInRain · 13/12/2022 20:21

I love my leccy blankie I’m sat with it right now watching Love Hard on Netflix 🤗it cost about £40 and isn’t quite the size I would like to cover my full body (unless I curl up) it to be but it’s a lovely soft throw and really does keep my lower half warm whilst I’m sat with an old hoody on the top. Cheap to run too!

carbon60 · 13/12/2022 20:22

They say 3 years shelf life. The circle in the top has a number in the middle that is the year it was made, the circle has 12 segments and the month is marked in the segment. Handy to know.
I love mine 😊

wadiwalker · 13/12/2022 20:22

Also love them and I do still use mine occasionally but for the kids and most of the time we now only use those microwaveable bags. Don't stay hot as long as a water bottle but enough to warm up a cold bed until you get to sleep.

Fireleap · 13/12/2022 20:25

I am sat with my HWB on my lap. When I WFH, I have one either on my lap or strapped to me at the moment. We love the electric blanket and my husband jokes would would have died without them. Our house is old and cold, but the HWB and the electric blanket are helping.

viques · 13/12/2022 20:27

carbon60 · 13/12/2022 20:22

They say 3 years shelf life. The circle in the top has a number in the middle that is the year it was made, the circle has 12 segments and the month is marked in the segment. Handy to know.
I love mine 😊

I have three hwb ( it was an alarming five this morning but two were really not looking good so have been binned. ) and none of them have age identifying marks. 🙁One does have a cashmere cover however, it was a present.

Sunshineandrainbow · 13/12/2022 20:28

I can't find my HWB
Dunelm shuts at 9pm and is 5 mins away. Do I head there now?

Thighdentitycrisis · 13/12/2022 20:29

Love my hottie, it’s very old though!
I always put it in the bed about an hour before myself so it’s probably safe enough