Hot Water Bottle Sustainability

Posted on July 4, 2022 by admin

At lovehotwaterbottles.com we care deeply about planet Earth and make real choices to protect our environment. There are many options to choose, the quick easy road is always tempting but here we believe in making a decision based on how it impacts on those around us. We already know a hot water bottle has always veered on the green side with many using them to save switching the central heating on during chilly nights. But is that all or is there more that can be done?

In this new socially aware climate we care about the footprint, manufacture and impact on planet Earth. Using natural rubber since the very early days that is recyclable has been a blessing for many.

Rubber is a natural product, although the early part of the 1900’s a rubber hot water bottle was manufactured in UK it might appear this saves on footprint but the source of rubber is not local and used to be imported to UK manufacturing plants and then forward shipped across the world.

Now most latex products are manufactured at source in Asia, it makes sense as although invented and originally made in Europe its uses are worldwide so rather than ship rubber in and then ship again there is only one way travel. Asia accounts for 90% of world production providing plenty of raw material to supply worldwide.

What about plasticisers, I heard these can be found in rubber hot water bottles?

Rubber hot water bottle made in Sri Lanka from locally harvested rubber is also free of plasticisers, the whole ethos is one of nature, maintaining the best without harming the planet.

Sri Lanka has one of the largest rubber plantations, ideal conditions to grow and cultivate. With a FSC Team certified green manufacturing for a sustainable world. Reassuringly the rubber plantations provide work for local women with no child labour and support families across the land. Many plantations are micro farmers, most are small plantation families giving a sustainable income for their family and stable financial support. They tend and care for their farm and crop, replanting, harvesting and living on the land, without their commitment rubber would be a scare commodity

What about a thermoplastic hot water bottle?

Surely this uses plastic which is not good for the environment. Sounds right however it’s not single use, the bottle can be used again and again for years. When finished with it is fully recyclable and shredded down and remanufactured into insulation, electric cable ties, mats, the list is endless. Similar to baked bean cans, the material goes on to another life.

The factory in Germany is fully kitted out with solar panels saving 290 tonnes of CO2 each year. They also bring in plastic from recycle centres to reuse as fleece covers, fleece has excellent thermal properties, ideal when combined with a hot water bottle. To ensure the covers pass the mustard they are also Oeko-Tex 100 tested, certified to be clear of any harmful substances to ensure a pure and eco-friendly product.

As these are made in Germany air miles are minimal, the bottles are made locally and shipped across the EU. With the last UK production closing 40 years ago Germany is now the closest and with the most efficient manufacturing producing the highest quality hot water bottle built to last and exceed British Standards.

Happy Campervan

Posted on April 19, 2021 by admin

There is good news for the camping market with record number of happy campers chasing their dream of owning a campervan since the start of lockdown. Enquiries at record high with over 500 a week, this shows no sign of letting up. With staycations now the most popular form of getting away the immediate future is bright for the campervan.

So how can we help, what has a humble hot water bottle got to do this? Simply put the great British weather is highly unpredictable, go north and you can get spring, summer, autumn and winter weather all in a single day. Go south and sudden sharp downpours are not uncommon. Best get prepared for whatever the great British weather can throw at you and just enjoy it all but in comfort. So this is our top 3 camping sellers:

This campervan hot water bottle cover in luxury anti-pill cream fleece has an iconic embroidered campervan logo in classic Neptune blue with a splitty window. I’m reliably informed the splitty window is the Holy Grail in campervans. If you have your own hot water bottle that’s great but if not you’ll need one to go with it. There are 2 options, either go for latex allergy free or old school traditional:

This hot water bottle is bottle made from latex allergy free PVC, odourless and rubber-free, ideal for anyone with a latex allergy or if you are not keen on the smell of rubber. Ribbed on one side with a cross hatch pattern on the reverse giving the best of both worlds. Ribbed side gently releases diffused natural heat and when needed turn over to the plain side for increased warmth that will last for hours. This Fashy bottle also has a jointless neck for added strength and a much wider neck opening making it easier to pour and help to prevent spills.

Or take the traditional route and go for tried and tested latex bottle:

Natural rubber with ribbing on both front and back, this traditional rubber bottle is part of our classic old school ranges, even the stopper has a rubber seal. Using traditional rubber with ribbing on both sides gives diffused natural warmth that lasts for hours, heats up quickly for instant warmth.

Buying a hot water bottle is the easy part, buying a campervan not so easy, still some newspapers are now giving them away as prizes in competitions and somebody has to win, it could be you!!

My Favourite Hot Water Bottle

Posted on February 24, 2021 by admin

There is a sadness to having to say goodbye to your trusted old hot water bottle especially if it’s been with you for years. Here at Love Hot Water Bottles we get emails all the time asking us to help find the identical bottle or replacement stopper and we even had a request for a puncture repair kit.

It’s not that we don’t want to keep that identical replacement in stock all the time, we would if rubber was not a perishable item. That favourite bottle may be quite a few years old, we’ve had requests for bottles from 1996 manufacture, I know time flies but over 20 years between bottles is pushing your luck.

The safety British Standard is regularly updated from BS1970:2006 to latest BS1970:2012, the 1970 is not the year, it’s the British Standard allocated number, the 2012 reference is the last year it was updated. Your favourite old bottle may be made on or before the older 2006 standard and may already be years out of date. Reputable manufactures will apply the latest British Standard which makes it even harder to find your old favourite bottle as nobody wants to be selling old British Standard bottles.

It has always been a good gift to give and receive, so we know that a hot water bottle gifted from a loved one can be hard to bin but they wear out, often from the inside out, so may look OK but inside are shedding layers.

There is no nice way to put this but that old favourite bottle is probably years out of production, going soft inside and potentially dangerous. Be brave, see the positive and look forward to a newer, brighter and more secure bottle. Production techniques improve all the time, colours are more vibrant, fabrics wash and wear better and many stoppers are now patented for added protection.

Treat yourself, there is so much more choice today.

Back to Basics

Posted on November 13, 2020 by admin

The current trend to grow your own veg, knit, sew, bake is taking us all to days before convenience foods and fast fashion clothes that had been worn once and binned.

Cooking from scratch, or for those who are been around long enough will remember it used to be called cooking. There was no scratch to it, even some ready mix recipes could be called plain old cooking.

Growing vegetables was dependant on having access to a patch of land, allotment, back garden or raised beds. Even if it was only some herbs or single crop many had something they could readily grow, even in a clay pot on the windowsill, it was always and still is possible.

Clothes had been expensive, fast fashion with cheap nylon fabrics and sweat shop imports have artificially changed the landscape. A decent pair of trousers that would last for years and cost a few days wages now cost a couple hours of wages and last a few months before fading, snagging or losing its shape before ending up in landfill.

On the plus side there is a growing trend for things that served us well for many years and now finding new younger users. Thankfully the good old fashion hot water bottle is one of the survivors in this modern digital age. We all know just how comforting they are to use but it’s often forgotten just how economical and green they are. Rather than switching the central heating boiler on a day when there is just a chill in the air it makes more sense to have a hot water bottle on your lap or take one to bed and keep the boiler off saving energy.

Back to basics is a good way to reconnect with the things that actually work and work well, it’s why the humble hot water bottle is still here today. Those that tried electric blankets in the 70’s and 80’s will know just how stifling they can be, the heat is from top to toe, many swelter in an artificial tropical climate under the sheets, what we really need is just our feet kept warm or a warm bottle to snuggle up to. It’s why the market today is growing in choice, there are the new long ones, latex allergy free types, foot warmers (yes it actually has a bottle inside), neck warmers and of course we all love our rubber hot water bottle.

This latest COVID-19 epidemic has amplified and accelerated the back to basics journey, with shopping trips off the cards and less places to visit we are turning our homes into a sanctuary. Home comforts, cooking (forget the scratch) it’s still just plain old cooking, sewing, gardening if you are able, we’re making our home right for us to live well and for many that home now includes the humble hot water bottle.

Joy of Made in Britain

Posted on May 17, 2019 by admin

Made in Britain, surely all hot water bottle covers are from China these days? Well no, here at LoveHotWaterBottles we support British manufacturing not just because it is a good thing to do but also because we get fast quality production on fashion materials. We all understand that not everything can be manufactured in the UK and some goods are better made where the raw material is harvested saving on air miles. In today’s socially aware society there can be some hidden benefits from bringing manufacturing back to UK. Not counting the benefit of speed of light production lead times and shorter production runs which offer a huge advantage there is the benefit of support to local community. Our manufacturing partners not only employ local skilled workers but buy materials locally, they support other local trades with maintenance, machinery, office support and of course pay rates and taxes that directly support national and local projects.

donated-off-cuts-for-prem-babies — Donated Off Cuts Make Great Quilts for Children Hospitals

One area often not seen is how local charities gain from UK manufacturing, it’s not just about money but raw materials that provide a great deal of pleasure and reward for charity groups. One such group scoops up left over material from hot water bottle covers and turns them into beautifully made quilts. The quilts are donated to children’s hospitals, each quilt is individual so mums can easily identify their baby. The material used are remnants, odds and ends and end of line, all good quality that would otherwise end up in landfill, but here locally we have the support group to make good use of this regular free material. The range of fabric changes each hot water bottle season to bring ranges up to date with latest fashion trends, this means a constant flow of new fabric making these quilts unique each and every year. It brings joy to everyone in the chain, Made in Britain is not just about bringing skills back to UK it’s also about sharing with local community.

Has the world gone mad, my hot water bottle has changed shape?

Image

Yep, it’s happened, we can no longer expect the good old fashioned hot water bottle shape, they now make them in all shapes and sizes, what’s going on?

We all knew where we stood with a good reliable rubber hot water bottle in blue, green or if you dared to dream even red. Then along came pink, turquoise, cream and even mustard. Just get used to those then some very clever people in Germany develop a thermoplastic hot water bottle. OK, so these are nicer colours and even transparent but they then make some in heart shape – cute.

heart-hot-water-bottle — Heart Hot Water Bottle

To add to the confusion somebody decided it would interesting to have a hot water bottle in miniature, yes a mini hot water bottle. Then along came square shape as apparently they are easier to use with soft toys. In this case you get a soft toy like a teddy bear and place a hot water bottle in its belly. What happens when that bottle wears out, and it will as it’s made of rubber (perishable) so you’re left with your child’s favourite soft toy and no bottle in it. So we have to have a square hot water bottle to replace it now or the little angels will never forgive you.

square 750ml purple hot water bottle — Purple square 750ml hot water bottle

Suddenly out of nowhere everyone has gone long, why do we need another shape? Not only is there a long hot water bottle but some are longer than others, that’s confusing. The cut down versions in discount stores are short long (I know it doesn’t make sense) to get discounters to their low price point. The full length ones hold the same amount of water as a standard bottle. The cut down long bottle has less than half. Forget the cut down long bottle as these are only for the discount guys and don’t really add anything except a budget price tag on a long bottle that is not long and kinda misses the point. The real reason for a long hot water bottle is to wrap it around your waist or spread it out inside the bed, diagonally. That gives the full benefit, anything else is just a cheat and really a waste of money as it falls short of what you can do with a proper long hot water bottle.

Ecru long hot water bottle — Ecru Long Hot Water Bottle

So has it now settled down, well no? Eco warriors want an eco bottle. The same guys that brought us all a thermoplastic bottle have now developed an eco hot water bottle made from cane sugar crop. Sort of the same shape as a traditional bottle but rigid and slightly smaller, has a different feel to it. No plasticisers or PVC used and made with the Finneck Foundation providing a safe work place for people with disabilities.

Green Eco bio based hot water bottle — Green Eco Bio Based Hot Water Bottle

With all the changes what hasn’t change is people, the best selling type of bottle is still the good old traditional shape and the question is why? The classic hot water bottle shape is universally known around the world, it packs a mighty 2 litre of hot water which is enough to last inside a bed all night without going stone cold. Easy to carry, fill and cuddle up to when you need instant heat, what’s not to like, young and old alike.

We’re running out room with all the different sizes, types and colours, everyone wants choice these days and who are we to argue, if you want it we’ll just have to find room for a bigger hot water bottle range.

Why is it now so difficult to buy a hot water bottle stopper?

Posted on January 8, 2019 by admin

There is a problem identifying the right stopper as all stoppers look the same so it’s easy to assume they all fit the same. Best to think of it like car tyres, they all look the same but you couldn’t put a Focus tyre on a motorbike. Each manufacturer makes to a specific and exact size, the replacement must match to create a lasting watertight seal. It’s the lasting seal that is important as you can buy a stopper that is a near fit and it will plug the hole. But after time and use that near fit will wear and force uneven thread causing either a crack to the neck or broken seal which will inevitably lead to a leaking bottle.

different types of hot water bottle stoppers — Different types of hot water bottle stoppers

Years ago when only a few manufactures produced locally it was easier to buy the rubber seal and replace just that part. With improved production techniques and new patents these simple rubber seals have become more sophisticated. Most are now an integral part of the stopper, it’s not just a plug to stop water but a solid and sturdy custom stopper. These improvements have evolved over the years to offer the best and most secure hot water bottle ever made. Each manufacture will have their own moulds, designs and often patents that are protected. Getting a replacement part is not so easy, it must be like for like.

Fashy hot water bottle stopper — Fashy Hot Water Bottle Stopper

Things have moved on since the old stoppers, Fashy manufacture a much wider stopper and it is rubber free, no latex seal for it’s latex allergy free hot water bottle. These are amazing and work beautifully well, last for years and it’s specific to Fashy brand of hot water bottle. Other manufactures have tried to copy and there are some now without a rubber seal, these are new and time will tell if these are as good as Fashy. The traditional stopper with a rubber seal is still available on a good traditional rubber hot water bottle and will continue for those that prefer them.

To replace first look for a makers mark, these are embossed into the rubber usually around the middle. However, there are a lot of generic products in the shops and supermarkets that only put shop name on the packaging. Once out of the bag it can be difficult to tell where it was purchased from, some might say this is deliberate as should it leak there is no trace to the shop or supermarket. Also some traders import a budget hot water bottle without any certification, they really don’t want anyone to know where it came from and avoid branding at all cost. If you have a generic product there is no easy way to get a replacement stopper, these types are the most tricky and very hard to find a replacement.

When replacing a stopper it’s worth having a good look at the bottle and its age. Stoppers will last the life of the hot water bottle. If the stopper is worn or the rubber has perished there is very good chance the same has happened to the bottle. Take a few minutes to inspect, first look at the general condition, look for wear patterns, creases, cracks and feel if the bottle is thin in areas especially around the belly. A hot water bottle will wear out from the inside out, rubber is a natural ingredient and will over time perish. Average age is 3 years, if you have owned it for 3 years and over and the stopper has failed the bottle will not be long after. It’s not worth taking a risk on something that has to carry hot water and may be used in a bed, next to delicate skin and could fail at any time. Invest in a decent well-made hot water bottle that has a British Standard mark, latest is BS1970:2012 and read the safety information.

If you have just lost a stopper there is help, reputable suppliers will hold stocks of spare stoppers and be able to supply.

Easy to find one at LoveHotWaterbottles.com, it is the go to place for a good quality and genuine replacement stoppers for the major brands.

Fashy
Sänger
Hugo Frosch
Vagabond
Coronation

Best advice is to first buy a good quality branded hot water bottle and look after it, chances are you will never need to replace the stopper.

10 Green bottles standing on the wall

Posted on December 12, 2018 by admin

How green are is that hot water bottle standing on the wall?

Well let’s look firstly at rubber. Surprisingly latex is a sustainable natural renewable product, one of the first on the market is still getting it right by being not only a sustainable product but also a recyclable product. An old bottle can be taken to the recycling depot and once the brass seal (metal recycling) and stopper are discarded the rest can be put in for recycling. Old rubber is first crushed, chopped, washed and made into granules at a specialist recycling facility. All impurities and foreign bodies are removed so only latex compound remains. These granules can be used in the manufacture of tyres, floor mats, electrical and bathroom fittings. So the traditional and original rubber hot water bottle is kind to the planet.

How about thermoplastic, how green are these. PVC is also surprising as it is recyclable and can be broken down to make fleece, mats and same as rubber to make electrical and plumbing fittings. The other benefit is the factory in Germany was an early adopter of solar energy and fully kitted out with solar roof panels to reap green power to run the plant.

So what’s new to the market?

Science has developed bio based plastic made from renewable sugar cane. These are moulded to shape and although they are more rigid than a standard bottle they work in the same way. Production is in cooperation with the Finneck Foundation providing a safe work for people with disabilities and meeting the demands for greener products. To recycle they cannot be put in the plastic waste they should be classed as green waste. Not all local authorities have grasped this yet, putting a hard hot water bottle in with the green waste is a big leap but they will catch up. This new biodegradable bottle will break down naturally. These are quite new to market, there are plans to develop these further to increase uses and widen the appeal.

Those 10 green bottles standing on the wall are going in the right direction, just using a hot water bottle is good for the environment cutting down expensive heating costs in keeping the young and the old warm in our beds.

Can a Hot Water Bottle Ease Period Pain

Posted on November 23, 2017 by admin

Granny really did know best as scientist have proved a hot water bottle on the tummy can ease period pain. University College London scientists discovered heat treatment works by blocking pain messages to the brain.

Hot Water Bottle Used as Heat Treatment

Presenting his findings to the Physiological Society’s annual conference, Dr Brian King said: The pain of colic, cystitis and menstrual period pain is caused by a temporary reduction in blood flow to organs, causing local tissue damage and activating pain receptors. The heat doesn’t just provide comfort and have a placebo effect it actually deactivates the pain at a molecular level in much the same way as pharmaceutical painkillers work. We have discovered how this molecular process works.

Natural Painkillers Daily Mail Clipping

Menstrual pain is one of the most common gynaecological complaints in women of reproductive age. More than 80 per cent of British women are thought to suffer from period pains. Research found that 20 per cent of young women said their monthly pains cause trouble in their relationships, while one in three is left feeling depressed.

A hot water bottle has many uses, don’t put it off and road test your own bottle. There are so many to choose from, traditional rubber to the latest technology latex allergy free. There’s even a mini sizes to take with you on the move and at the other end of the scale take a look at the new giant hot water bottle.

The 2005 survey from UCL, one of the world’s top universities with an international reputation for quality of its research and teaching.

Hot water bottles adds up

Why we all need Giants

Posted on October 20, 2017 by admin

Giant Hot Water Bottle

OK, so what’s so special about a giant, is big really better?

Well that depends, if you’re on the move in the car or at work perhaps you don’t want a giant sitting on your lap (we have mini ones for that) but on the sofa or tucked up in bed that’s another thing altogether. A hot water bottle with a third more surface area you can heat up a third more of the bed or sofa or wherever you want to use it. We love these as they offer something that a normal size just can’t do and that is to up the heat output. To get the larger heating area meant increasing the liquid capacity up from 1.8 litre, this is the size of a standard 2.0 litre hot water bottle up to 2.3 litre. Now I know it sounds confusing, it says on the tin it is 2.5 litre so how do get to 2.3 litre. Well never fill to the top, always leave a space, expel the air carefully before adding the stopper. The same with a standard 2.0 litre only it’s not really 2.0 litre but nearer 1.8 litre. So with a massive 2.3 litre of hot water the bottle will stay warmer for longer and since good quality ones have higher rubber content that the budget ones in discount supermarkets they will stay hotter for longer.

Now the latest news, Jumbo bottles have arrived. We knew the 2.7 litre was big, so how about the new upgraded 3.0 litre hot water bottle, even better. These will not have a handle, just too large and too much water to carry by a handle. But, there is something extra, a hanging hook top and bottom, one to drain the bottle and the other to hang up when not in use. Two colours, red and orange, plain structured surface for maximum heat, not that you’ll feel the cold with these massive upgrades.

As a sustainable natural renewable product rubber is highly elastic and lends itself to mould with you, ideal to snuggle up to.

Here’s when a giant hot water bottle comes into its own. Forget cold chilly nights or days, this have an impressive heating area, heavy weight and ribbed both sides to gently defuse heat.

Want to carry your hot water bottle around, no problem, it’s got a very useful carrying handle on the side.
Want a choice of colour, again, no problem, red, blue or cream.
Want a cover on it, you guessed, no problem, they come with or without a cover, you choose just how you want to use your hot water bottle. Covers are super soft velour like fleece, we call it cuddlesoft. These are from our made in Britain of high quality covers at very affordable prices. Many of the budget fleece covers are imported from China and made to a strict low budget for the high street. By using British manufacturing we can improve the quality, not just a little better but at least double the quality of the cheap imports which means these wash and wear and last and last. Also the colour of fabric and style is more in keeping with UK trends. It’s a win win for everyone and our regular customers know what to expect on quality.

Jade Large Hot Water Bottle

Finally a decent sized hot water bottle for when you really need one, it’s more than capable for any occasion. Extremely safe and reliable backed with a 2 year warranty, manufactured to latest British Standard BS1970: 2012.

Stay warm as toast this winter and join the land of the giants.