Whether you’re warming up your bed or soothing away aches and pains, hot water bottles are an easy, comforting way to stay warm. Hot water bottles don't stay warm forever though, so you may be wondering how to keep your bottle hot for longer. Don't worry—we'll walk you through the dos and don'ts of using a hot water bottle so you can keep it warm for as long as possible while staying safe.

Here are 7 tricks for keeping your hot water bottle hotter for longer.

1

Fill your bottle with very hot, but not boiling, water.

  1. Boil a kettle of water and let it cool until it’s no longer scalding. Then, fill your hot water bottle up 75% of the way and squeeze out the excess air before screwing the cap on. Using very hot water is the best way to ensure your bottle stays hot for as long as possible. However, never fill a hot water bottle with boiling water. Boiling water can damage your bottle and cause serious burns if it comes into contact with your skin.[1]
    • As a good rule of thumb, wait 15-20 minutes after boiling the water to let it cool down.
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2

Wrap the bottle with a towel or cover before using it.

  1. A towel or cover will help trap in heat. It's also necessary to protect you from burns. Make sure the bottle is completely covered.[2]
    • You can buy special covers designed specifically for hot water bottles, or you can just use a towel. Either one works!
3

Refill your hot water bottle if it cools off.

  1. Avoid reheating a hot water bottle. If your bottle feels like it’s getting cold, dump out the leftover water and refill it with a new batch of hot water. Never reheat your hot water bottle in the microwave or oven unless the instructions that came with it specifically say that it's safe to reheat.[3]
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4

Upgrade to a bigger hot water bottle for longer-lasting heat.

  1. Small hot water bottles lose heat more quickly than large ones. If you find that your hot water bottle isn't staying warm as long as you'd like it to, consider buying a bigger one. A bigger hot water bottle will stay warm for longer.[4]
7

Don't place a hot water bottle on your body for more than 15 minutes.

  1. Hot water bottles can cause serious burns if they're used for too long. Experts don't recommend using hot water bottles directly on your body. Instead, they suggest placing your hot water bottle under the covers in your bed to warm it and then removing it before you get in. If you do place a hot water bottle directly on your body, make sure it's not for longer than 15 minutes.[7]
    • You can start to develop serious burns after 15 minutes of direct contact with a hot water bottle. You might not be able to feel yourself getting burned until it's too late.
    • Avoid sitting or rolling on your hot water bottle—this can cause your bottle to burst, which can lead to burns.
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Warnings

  • Never pour boiling water into your hot water bottle. If water ends up leaking out, you could end up with serious burns.[10]
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About This Article

Janice Tieperman
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Janice is a professional and creative writer who has worked at wikiHow since 2019. With both a B.A. and M.A. in English from East Stroudsburg University, she has a passion for writing a wide variety of content for anyone and everyone. In her free time, you can find her working on a new crochet pattern, listening to true crime podcasts, or tackling a new creative writing project. This article has been viewed 28,813 times.
25 votes - 80%
Co-authors: 9
Updated: January 11, 2023
Views: 28,813
Categories: Keeping Warm
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