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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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
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 🤔

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

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

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.

sueelleker · 23/09/2025 18:51

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

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

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:
NotToday1l · 23/09/2025 23:43

Laptopsas · 23/09/2025 23:20

Where on Earth did I advocate banning? 😂

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

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.

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.

scalt · 24/09/2025 06:58

Laptopsas · 23/09/2025 23:20

Where on Earth did I advocate banning? 😂

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.

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.

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

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

YelloDaisy · 25/09/2025 05:39

Perhaps the quality of manufacture is poorer than years ago and that is why there is now a problem.

CaptainMyCaptain · 25/09/2025 07:38

YelloDaisy · 25/09/2025 05:39

Perhaps the quality of manufacture is poorer than years ago and that is why there is now a problem.

We are living in a time when people apparently need warning that coffee is hot and a packet of nuts may 'contain nuts' so I wouldn't necessarily blame the hot water bottles.

applegingermint · 25/09/2025 14:50

CaptainMyCaptain · 25/09/2025 07:38

We are living in a time when people apparently need warning that coffee is hot and a packet of nuts may 'contain nuts' so I wouldn't necessarily blame the hot water bottles.

What? Nut allergy anaphylaxis can cause death so of course biscuits are labelled for those who are so sensitive that cross contamination could kill them. That’s really not the flex that you think it is.

CaptainMyCaptain · 25/09/2025 15:36

applegingermint · 25/09/2025 14:50

What? Nut allergy anaphylaxis can cause death so of course biscuits are labelled for those who are so sensitive that cross contamination could kill them. That’s really not the flex that you think it is.

I didn't say biscuits, I said packets of nuts. A packet of nuts labelled 'may contain nuts'.

RustyBear · 26/09/2025 08:45

I was in Boots the other day and remembered this thread, so I looked at the hot water bottles on sale. Every one was dated 2022. So is the advice 2 years after manufacture (in which case all those bottles should be thrown out) or 2 years after you start using it?

Mjin · 27/09/2025 19:08

And not remotely hot!

CommentHere · 27/09/2025 19:48

We use the electric hot water bottles as the are so safe and gorgeous and warm.

We have traditional HWB too and leave a little cold water in the end before filling with water from the kettle. I believe there is more danger in the filling of HWB than of them exploding. I know 2 people who scalded themselves filling the one inch wide neck of the HWB, it's not like filling a flask as the HWB won't stand on its own.

Angelil · 27/09/2025 20:04

You’d have a fit in the Netherlands then. They put (metal) hot water bottles in babies’ cribs for the first week of life/until the baby has learnt to regulate their own body temperature.

I love a good hot water bottle but even we didn’t follow that advice.

Lobberto · 27/09/2025 20:30

Laptopsas · 21/09/2025 22:43

Then you’ve been very lucky. It will only take one bursting for you to not find it silly.

It makes me sad that mumsnet got rid of the laughing reaction - the only suitable response for posts like this 😂

Pixilicious1 · 27/09/2025 21:15

SpiceGhoul · 21/09/2025 23:28

I have one of those rechargeable ones that are filled with some kind of gel. I'm sure someone will be along to tell me how dangerous they are but I love mine, it eases my aches and pains and stays warm for hours.

Can you recommend which one please.

Cherrysoup · 27/09/2025 21:30

Found out that the hot water from the tap in the bathroom is hot enough. I unfortunately didn’t put in the stopper properly the other night and it leaked (warm) badly. User error.

OhNoNotSusan · 28/09/2025 09:35

RustyBear · 26/09/2025 08:45

I was in Boots the other day and remembered this thread, so I looked at the hot water bottles on sale. Every one was dated 2022. So is the advice 2 years after manufacture (in which case all those bottles should be thrown out) or 2 years after you start using it?

i saw the same
confused