Wheat bag or hot water bottle

[FurForksSake]

I'm looking at buying either wheat bags or hot water bottles for beds come winter.

Does anyone know which is more than efficient? We have a 900w microwave and a standard kettle. We'd need four of either.

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MNHQ

I personally think hot water bottles stay hot for a lot longer. My wheat pack really doesn't last long.

I don't know the numbers you are looking for, just offering my experience with them.

I think you are right. So many things to consider!

I think hot water bottles might be the way to go, maybe with water heated in the microwave!

It's not recommended to use wheat bags in bed as they can catch fire.

Oh! I didn't know that!

Well that settles that debate.

You can get microwave hot waterbottles filled with a gel that stays hot for ages. Initial cost though is £13. From Amazon

Sorry it's not gel. Called hotties

HWB. Stay hot for ages-virtually all night. Wheat bags are nice in the moment on a sprain etc but don’t last.

I use wheat bags because I'm cautious about a hot water bottle springing a leak in the DC's beds and they being scalded. If you make sure you put a glass of water in the microwave once a month, with the wheat bag, they don't catch fire as they don't dry out. We also have a stove top kettle which takes longer to boil, so wheat bags for us all the way.

I have a extra long hot water bottle. It's brilliant.
As for leaks. Don't boil kettle. Ours has a temperature setting on kettle and I use 70 degrees. Fill it 3/4. Then lay flat to get all air out then put stopper on. Hold it upside down and give it a little squeeze to check for leaks. We've never had an issue and been using them for years now.

My mum bought me one from Dunelm that goes round your shoulders and neck.(I've got stiff joints and back pain). I haven't tried it yet because of the heat but looking forward to trying it as I do usually use a wheat bag. I think it was £6. I'm scared of leakages aswell though.

Thank you for the tip about the water in with the wheat bag pp!

I also set a fire with a wheat bag because im a fucking idiot took it On holiday and i normally wrap it in a tea towel when I put it in the mic. They didn't have one so I used a hand towel that caught fire! the hottie was unscathed. Thank God they were nice hosts, I was mortified.

I went with this, it's awesome and I love it. Thanks for the recommendation!

I think hot water bottles are dangerous! A friend of mine burnt herself extremely badly when one broke!

I had no idea wheat bags could catch fire! How?

One of my dcs has a wheat filled cuddly toy. It never stayed hot for long and after a while started to smell weird, so we stopped using it.

We have hot water bottles with lovely thick covers (they were from Boots) that stay warm for hours. They don’t ever feel really hot but that suits me. We don’t fill them with boiling water, so there’s no risk of scalding (probably about 70-80 C is a good temperature). I fill the bottle about 3/4 full, lay it down to get the air out, put the top on, and turn it upside down to check it’s not leaking before using.

Not the question you asked, but do you def need four of whichever you choose? I use the same hot water bottle to warm first DC2's bed and then once she's actually in bed I swap the hot water bottle into DC1's. It's still boiling hot at that point (I don't put a cover or anything on it) and IME a bed with a warm person inside it tends to stay warm enough for the rest of the night.

My flat runs warm though - for which I'm v thankful just now. I appreciate that some people may actually need something that stays in their bed with them!

Wheat bags are really dangerous as if the wheat dries out it can catch fire. Not just when you are heating it but hours later when it’s in bed with you. They can contain heating if well insulated.
hot water bottles are fine if you check them and get rid at first signs of wear.

www.westsussex.gov.uk/news/reminder-of-dangers-of-wheat-bags-after-fire/

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5890621/amp/Video-shows-quickly-modern-day-hot-water-bottle-catches-fire-duvet.html
Yea I know it’s the daily Mail but I couldn’t find the page I wanted.

@FurForksSake

Ooh that's fabulous glad you like it. My DM has one I don't and told me about it.

Going to get one now.