To remind people NOT to use hot water bottles?

[Laptopsas]

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

I love hot water bottles!!!!!

I did have one explode on me once though (my own fault, it was hot water and I'd put too much water in it) and I had burn blisters on my lower back and on the top of my buttocks for ages and it was incredibly painful.

I haven't made that mistake again!!

I would never be without my hot water bottle though!!!

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.

Wheat bags also serve as a delightful mouse feeder.

I can't say that's a problem I've ever had with any of my wheat bags. Admittedly they don't stay hot all night, but long enough to warm you/the bed for sleep or soothe a stomach ache/aching muscles or warm up cold feet.

Somewhat amused by "don't use hot water bottles because some people get injured by them... use electric blankets instead"
Because no one has ever been injured or accidentally set the bed on fire with those

Oh Jesus, yes 🤮

Used hot water bottles my entire life, with boiling water. Never had an issue, it's user error surely.
Health and safety gone mad!

And go mouldy inside. Not a smell that's quickly forgotten!

Don't use if old or rubber is perished, don't use boiling water, don't over fill on it and don't lay on it.
Common sense to me now, but until I was advised this I didn't know.
Been using for many years and no problems.

Thanks for the advice OP. I think I will stop using everything. It's the only way to be safe.

For every time someone’s hot water bottle has “exploded” there’s probably tens of thousands of times they haven’t exploded.

You could say this about so many things. You could do a thread titled “to remind people NOT to go on an aeroplane” or “to remind people NOT to light a candle” or “to remind people NOT to cross the road.” I couldn’t live my life this way.

I don’t need to be told to stop using mine, I will happily continue!!!

Nah. We like a cold house and DH wouldn’t be able to sleep. My HWB is for my feet (Reynauds).

Well exactly it's ridiculous, hot water bottles have used safely for decades until some fuckwit fills it with boiling water, 99.9% of the time it's the user who's unsafe for not reading fucking instructions...it's really not difficult

haven't used a hot water bottle in a long time, i use electric pads/blankets.

my small one is a lifesaver for back problems.

It's the way you keep repeating the same one-liners which is irritating.

Why start an AIBU when you have no interest in discussing anything?

What a condescending post. Most things in life come with risk.

I don't think I have a hot water bottle less that 15 years old! 🤪

Living on the edge I am!

I am very afraid now. I use a hot water bottle very frequently for period pain, wind pain, cold feet, to warm up my bed.... It seems I have been courting disaster the whole time, and so far I have just been LUCKY.

It is pretty relevant, as you’re not meant to put tap water in them as the minerals will potentially degrade the rubber. Only boiled air cooled water.

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

😂😂😂

I have a hot water bottle every night for about 6 months of the year and always use boiling water - well slightly off the boil so it doesn't splutter as I fill it. Maybe I need to change my ways!

Hot water bottles were the best thing ever to be invented IMO. You’ll have to prise mine from my cold warm dead hands

Also never wear shoe laces in case you accidentally tie them together.

Don't try and make toast while you are in the bath.

Maybe there are a few people that hadn't considered some of the risks or didn't know about some of the safety precautions who are now educated.

In fact you can see in the thread that some people didn't know about expiry dates.

If it stops just one person getting badly burnt by scalding water, then probably more worthwhile than a lot of threads.