How many kettles to fill a bath

[Poplolly]

I’ve got no hot water for 2 weeks as boiler has broken. Those of you who have had a bath in this situation, can you remember how many kettles worth it took?

Loads! The most efficient thing to do is boil one kettle, pour it in a big bowl or pan in the bottle of the bath, fill with cold to make it a useable temperature, then use a jug or cup to wash yourself standing in the bath. Not luxurious but you still get a good wash with the least faff.

Far more than you'd think. I wouldn't bother - as pp said, wash in an inch of water in the bath or basin.

I would ask a friend if I could have a shower at their place in your situation. When is the boiler getting fixed?

Ok thanks, I thought as much. I’m on economy 7 so would likely cost a fortune. I will try standing in the bath suggestion.

Oh god op it's bloody loads 🙈 sorry

Or pay for a swim at the nearest and nicest swimming pool that has decent, private showers and get clean there.

it’s been dead 3 days and getting fixed on the 18th

Our swimming pool is shut due to water being too cold, I doubt the showers are much better. Typical

An average bath holds 200ltr, I know you wouldn't be filling it but by the time you'd have enough boiled the water in the bath would be cold (not to mention the cost).

Approx 20 for anything decent. If you don't have kids in the equation, a 2nd hand Baby Burco used carefully, is your friend and will resell.

Ok definitely scrap the kettle idea, might ask a friend, not long moved so don’t know neighbours well enough

Many years ago I used to have a satisfactory bath (nice little narrow tub) using water boiled in one stove top kettle, one galvanized bucket, and one electric kettle, all poured in over some inches of cold water. I think I kept one jug of clean lukewarm water on the side to rinse myself and my hair at the end.

I have done it many years ago, and IIRC something like a dozen kettles full was sufficient to take the chill off and make it bearable, though you probably wouldn't want to stay in for long.

PS, Obviously I had a gas cooker - I suspect trying to boil a galvanised bucket on an electric hob might be difficult and wasteful.

PPS, you need an oven glove on the hand that will go near the bottom of the bucket when you tip the water into the bath. Very ouchy mistake to make!

Just try using a 2 buckets instead!

@DeanElderberry I don’t even have a bucket 😂 I think I’ll stick to having a wash and try to find somewhere else to have a shower for all the effort it’ll take

Good way to get to know your neighbours! As you have just moved in you could try to make the opportunity to bump into one of them and say a cheery hello and tell them about your boiler, ask if they know anyone who could come earlier/if they have any spare buckets you could borrow and hope they offer to let you in for a quick shower.

That’s not a bad shout @Blanketpolicy

Oh god please knock and ask your new neighbours! Worst they can say is no but I’d let me neighbours use mine.
You’d be there all day with a kettle.
Guessing you don’t have any family/friends nearby?
Book into the nearest open swimming pool; don’t even need to swim!

Our boiler was broken all summer so I can answer this with some degree of authority!

Use the taps to get a bit of water in the tub esp if it's not a ceramic one! Maybe 1/5 full

Get all your saucepans boiling and use them for this effort too.

3-5 full kettles

And ask someone at home for a top up of two once you've been in for a bit

5 kettles. It’ll only be a shallow bath but it’ll be fine. Put some cold in the bath first.
if the water is tepid 3 kettles will do.
if you have someone bring you an extra kettle or two when you’re in the bath that’s almost luxury

Any private gyms / leisure centres doing a free day pass? Don’t have to actually use the gym etc…

Five! That seems like it would be about a centimetre. I was going to say 50.

Shame it’s not warmer…. I could embrace the opportunity and go wild camping and take a skinny dip in the river 😂 nothing but muddy ditches round here