I was going to say what @AuntyRach has just mentioned, that if you get bits of rubber when you empty the bottle it's time for a new one. The smell changes, too, once the rubber starts to perish. And boiling water definitely speeds the deterioration, as well as being dangerous if you do get one bursting.
We had a bottle made of thermoplastic once. It didn't burst, but eventually went hard...
Re "pot" bottles: the hardware shop in the covered market in Todmorden still sold them when we moved there in the late 1970s. I suspect they are no longer made, though.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
I had a hot water bottle burst once. Now I throw them out when the ridges on the surface start to wear/flake off - I reckon that's a sign that the rubber is degrading.
A word of warning about wheat bags - the instructions for my new-ish microwave specifically say do not use it to heat wheat bags because of fire risk, so check yours before you fork out for a wheat bag. I don't know whether it's relevant but the microwave is a flatbed model, no turntable.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I don’t think I could live without my wheat pillows … perfect for using in bed but also I use mine during the day when there is no heating on, they’re just the right size to heat up and stuff down my padded gilet 👍
They all go at the neck.. we just buy new ones every year or so - wasteful, but we've also been scalded. I don't like microwaveable ones as they go cold too quick.
I can't abide being hot in bed. Window open for fresh air. Thermostatic foot poking out of low tog duvet. Hate sitting on a seat that's still warm from previous occupant's bottoom. Don't like hot drinks . Love my north facing patio. I think I might be weird.
I'm not quite as extreme as you @B3 . I like a high tog duvet in winter, but no heating in the bedroom and the window open just a bit. I particularly dislike when the toilet seat is still warm from the previous occupant (even if it's my OH) - yeukk!
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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We had a bottle made of thermoplastic once. It didn't burst, but eventually went hard...
Re "pot" bottles: the hardware shop in the covered market in Todmorden still sold them when we moved there in the late 1970s. I suspect they are no longer made, though.
I don't like microwaveable ones as they go cold too quick.
I use a Hotties Microwave Hot Water Bottle (got mine from Amazon).
They stay warm for ages!
I think I might be weird.