You’re using your hot water bottle incorrectly – and that could lead to danger

Your hot water bottle could cause you harm if you don’t use it properly.

As the UK struggles with freezing temperatures and snowfall in some areas, many of us will be pulling out any warming gadgets we have at home, such as electric blankets and fluffy slippers.

One of the most common things people reach for when they have a cold or need relief from joint or period pain is the simple hot water bottle. These bottles are perfect for warming up your bed before you go to bed or for holding against your body as you curl up on the sofa in the evening.

But did you know that hot water bottles can be dangerous if not used properly? We recently reported that the rubber bottles actually have a best-before date and using them past that date can make them more susceptible to cracking – which can lead to serious burns.

But it’s not just the best-before date that makes hot water bottles dangerous. Many of us do not use them properly, even if they are current, and that could endanger our health.

A woman named Liv shared a video on TikTok in which she revealed that you shouldn’t actually fill a hot water bottle with boiling water straight from the kettle – leaving many confused.

She said: “Hot water bottles are not designed for boiling water. You can only use hot water. The water should be around 60°C. Kettles typically boil up to 100°C, so if you put the kettle on and turn it off halfway through cooking, you’ll be about right.

“If you don’t do that and still cook it completely, you can put some cold water in first and then mix it (to lower the temperature). If you are really precise, you can literally test the water” (with a thermometer).

“I’m going to test mine just to know how hot it gets after half a boil. Half a boil for me is 65°C, which is fine.”

Liv then said that if you want to be “really careful” with your hot water bottle, you definitely shouldn’t use water over 60°C.

Her next tip was to make sure you only fill your hot water bottle halfway. Once the water is filled, you should squeeze out the excess air from the rest of the bottle and close the bottle with the lid. This reduces the risk of the bottle bursting or leaking by creating room for expansion.

These tips were supported by Hot water bottle shopwhich previously teamed up with National Burn Awareness Day in October to provide nine key pieces of advice for using hot water bottles safely – including avoiding boiling water.

They said: “It might be tempting to fill the bottle with boiling water to achieve maximum heat, but this can be extremely dangerous and cause burns. Boiling water can degrade the material of the bottle over time and increase the risk of burns.”

“Instead, opt for hot water, which needs to cool to a safe temperature after boiling. Hot water bottle manufacturers usually recommend a temperature of no more than 50-60 degrees Celsius, even lower for children.”