Warning issued to anyone using a hot water bottle

They are one of the go-to winter comforts for the cold and dark nights – but bed and mattress experts are warning people who use a hot water bottle.

During winter a lot of people dust off their hot water bottles and use them as an inexpensive way to keep warm throughout the colder months. 

The classic hot water bottle has been around for decades but unfortunately for some that is all too literally true, and in many cases your hot water bottle is actually unsafe to use in 2024.

Sleep and mattress experts at WinstonsBeds.com have shared that difficulty retaining heat and softened material could indicate that the bottle is no longer safe to use.

The experts are urging people to check their bottles for signs of discolouration and a softened material which could indicate the bottle needs changing.

Hot water bottles should ideally be replaced every two to three years, after this period of time their material has deteriorated and continuing to use them could lead to burns and leakages. 

 Rebecca Swain, mattress expert at WinstonsBeds.com said: “Many of us will have dug out our hot water bottles by now to help fight the cold weather. While they can be a great way to stay warm it’s important to remember that they need to be replaced every couple of years to use them safely.  

“Over time these bottles deteriorate from constantly being filled with warm water. It compromises their structure and as the material gets thinner, it increases the risk of splitting or bursting and causing burns. 

 “Water bottles should have the year they were manufactured on them so you know when they need replacing but if yours doesn’t then there are some other tell tale signs that it could be too old to use.”

All water bottles should have a wheel on the neck with a number in the middle to show you what year it was made. For example, if the circle says 22, the hot water bottle was made in 2022.

The outer part of the wheel has 12 segments representing each of the months and these will be filled with dots to indicate which month the bottle was made in. For example, if six of the segments are filled with dots, it was manufactured in June, the sixth month. 

If the hot water bottle doesn’t even have this system printed on it, then it is very old indeed and should be replaced immediately.