You’ve been using your hot water bottle all wrong – six things you must avoid

HOT water bottles are a household staple for keeping warm in winter months instead of turning the heating on.

It comes as rising bills are forcing people to use different methods to stay warm without cranking up the thermostat.

Martin Lewis' famous "heat the human, not the home" initiative has sparked people to think outside of the box when keeping warm.

Electric blankets and other devices are on many of our shopping lists but one thing that is still proving to be extremely useful is the hot water bottle.

The average hot water bottle has a capacity of 1.5 litres, or six cups, and will stay warm for hours.

But you will need to use energy to heat up that water in the first place.

To fill six cups of water in the kettle will cost £5.81 - this assumes you just use the bottle at night for 91 nights.

If you filled your hot water bottle once in the morning, and again at night, this will cost you £10.92 for the same period.

We've got six tips on how to make the most of your hot water bottle below.

Don't pour boiling water directly into it

It may sound strange as the purpose of the hot water bottle is to keep you warm, but pouring boiling water directly into the bottle could be damaging.

The heat of the water can damage the inside of the bottle.

This means that eventually, the bottle may tear and could leak out onto you - this could be dangerous if it's extra hot water.

Wait a few minutes once your kettle has boiled, or pour in a tiny bit of cold water before sealing it.

Squeeze the air out first

Once you've poured in the water, squeeze the water bottle slightly so that the water comes to the top of the bottle.

Once you've done this, put the cap onto the bottle.

Bottlefirst.com says the trapped air can cause pressure to build up.

Squeezing the air out should ensure the bottle will not leak or burst.

It's particularly useful if you're taking it to bed and don't want to risk bursting it in your sleep.

Of course, be careful no water spills out and onto you even if you're doing it over a sink.

Wrap it in a towel or blanket

If your hot water bottle doesn't already have a cover over it, wrap it in a towel or blanket.

This will help keep the heat in, making it last longer before you need to boil the kettle again.

It'll also avoid the risk of burning your skin if you've placed it directly on you.

Avoid the electric blanket

It is common knowledge that water and electricity are a deadly mix.

That's why it's imperative to keep your hot water bottle as far away from your electric blanket as possible.

And if you spill a drink or any water on the gadget switch it off and unplug it from the mains immediately.

Lesley Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First, said: "If water comes into contact with any of the elements, you risk electric shock.

"At the first sign of discolouration or scorch marks, stop using your blanket immediately, it may be damaged and risk a fire."

Some electric throws are machine washable but it is vital to ensure that these devices are completely dry before they are switched back on.

Store it correctly when you're not using it

You may think that how you store a hot water bottle can't affect the quality, but you'd be wrong.

It is important to empty the hot water bottle and hang it upside down to dry, according to the HotWaterBottleShop.

Only once the inside is completely dry should it be removed and stored in a dark, dry location.

Exposure to excess sunlight can result in cracks, while storing a wet hot water bottle can result in the growth of mould inside the bottle.

Once a hot water bottle has been identified as too worn to continue to use, make sure to discard it right away.

Consumer expert Martyn James said: "As with other forms of rubber, make sure the bottle is empty and dry as possible when not in use and keep out of the sun."

Check for the 'secret code'

Each hot water bottle has a daisy wheel on it to let the user know when it was made.

People on TikTok were recently showing the "secret code" and where to find it.

Some warned that if your bottle is older than three years, you should chuck it out.

The British Standards Institution (BSI) explained what the symbol means and how to work out the year it was made.

A spokesperson said: “The date daisy is a symbol in the shape of a daisy, with 12 petals. 

“The year is shown in the middle, and the petals are filled in according to which month the bottle was manufactured. 

"So a petal with 22 in the middle and the first 8 petals filled with dots indicates a bottle that was manufactured in August 2022.” 

What help is out there if I'm struggling?

There are plenty of schemes to apply for if you're struggling.

Octopus is dishing out free electric blankets this winter to help customers keep warm while bills stay high, for example.

However, there were 10,000 up for grabs in October, when the scheme started, so double-check if they're still available.

Blankets will only be available to certain individuals.

This is likely to include elderly people, or those with specific medical conditions which make them immobile, very unwell, or feel cold.

Customers will be able to fill in an online form to apply for one.

If you've just missed out, keep in mind 5,000 extra customers will be able to get a discount for an electric blanket from Dreamland if they don't qualify for a free one.

The blankets cost roughly £60 and could save families £300 a year on heating, according to Octopus.

You could also get a brand new boiler installed free of charge from your energy company if you are on a low income, or considered a vulnerable customer.

Some suppliers are offering the freebie, and the eligibility criteria may vary.

British Gas, EDF Energy, Scottish Power, and SSE have versions of the grant for their customers, so it's worth calling up to check.

Not many providers let you apply online, so you might need to call regardless to get started.

Some councils also give low-income households money to put towards making their home greener.

If you meet the right eligibility criteria, you will be able to have your home fitted with measures that could save hundreds on your energy bills, all free of charge.

Some councils offer households grants to install solar panels, which can cost around £6,000.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk