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Why you need an extra long hot water bottle this winter

The weather is starting to get colder and it’s time to dig out those winter warmers!

Do you experience aches and pains at the end of a long day? Do you loathe it when you have to take painkillers to counter the pain? Do you sometimes feel excessively cold despite covering yourself fully with chunky blankets and clothes?

As fans of the trusty hot water bottle we love nothing more than a swift warm-up. These comfy companions will let you sleep faster. They are great for tying around the waist to stay snuggly warm before the heasting comes on.

And, overall, extra long hot water bottles are the best way to keep warm in the cold months. Winter is around the corner…so let’s prepare!

One out of every three homes has a hot water bottle

A hot water bottle is a staple in most homes. Additionally, it is a tried and tested first line of treatment for pain relief.

Hot water bottles come in lots of shapes and sizes. They are available in pharmacy stores, bargain shops and home décor establishments. They are also very affordable and can be bought without a prescription. Of course you could always pick up a hot water bottle from Cuddly Comforts!

A hot water bottle offers pain relief benefits

Whether it is joint pain, pesky neck pain, or stomach cramps due to periods, you can easily depend on a hot water bottle to give you instant relief. Stomach pain can be caused by Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which causes contraction of the intestine and stomach muscles.

This can be a painful experience. Use a heating pad or hot water bottle directly on the abdomen, while lying flat on the bed, can add immediate relief.

Heat therapy is a credible line of treatment for all muscle sores. It is even good for cramps during menstruation. Many women take medicines to deal with the excruciating period pain. Using a hot water bottle can effectively stop the pain naturally.

Pregnancy aches can also be handled better if you use a hot water bottle to soothe pain near the stomach and the pelvis.

Doctors recommend that pregnant mums take hot water baths. But if that seems like a chore, then hot water bottles will do the job perfectly. A hot water bottle is good even for relieving pain after a particularly tough workout.

Are you struggling with back and neck pain?

When back or neck pain strikes, we suggest you reach for the hot water bottle. Sitting too long in front of the computer or reading with your head down can result in excruciating pain in the neck and upper back. Try this the next time to have discomfort in your neck:

1. Stretch your neck and try to massage the area that is hurting

2. Use a cold press and apply to the area. This will help by reducing the lactic acid build-up in the pain site. Please do not place the cold pack directly on your skin, as it can cause burns.

3. Once your muscles relax, soothe the area with a hot water bottle to improve blood circulation in the area.

Other uses for your extra long hot water bottle

Make babies fall asleep quickly…

Do you have difficulty putting your young baby to sleep? Babies are acutely sensitive to changes in temperature. That being said, they love to fall asleep in a warm room. This is precisely why they are quiet till you are holding them.

Any parent will know the moment you put your special bundle to bed, they start crying. There are two hot water bottle hacks that you can try. You can fill warm water in the bottle and place it one or two inches away from the baby’s legs.

Alternatively, if you feel it is a hazard, you could use the hot water bottle to warm up the bed just before you put the baby on it. Adults love warm beds too.

Reduce anxiety…

Stress is an everyday reality for most of us. The next time you feel tense, turn to an extra long hot water bottle to improve your blood circulation. Add a few drops of essential oils to de-stress and get into your yoga pants or pyjama bottoms for added relaxation!

Stay warm on an adventure trail…

When you are out camping at night, the temperature can become really cold really quickly. Carry your hot water bottle whenever you go camping.

You can heat the water on the open campfire and fill your bottle to make your sleeping bag warm. This will ensure you catch quality sleep so that you can take part in all the activities planned for the next day.

Try it when you spend your evenings out for a BBQ or when you are out socializing with your friends late in to the night. You can be sure they will elevate the evening and make it more pleasant and ‘warm.’

Many bars and restaurants have been welcoming visitors to their outdoor areas. Since Covid-19 struck, indoor dining or socialising has been restricted. Therefore, the trusty hot water bottle has sprung into action to provide outdoor heating to weekend revellers and diners.

What to do with hot water bottle water?

When you have got relief from all the annoying pain, remember not to flush down the water when it comes back to room temperature.

Instead, use it to water your plants. Are there any more hot water bottle hacks you know that will help others? Let us know in the comments below.

This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a qualified practitioner if you are unsure.

Regular hot water bottles are great but extra long hot water bottles are better

OK so no white Christmas then? That’s a shame. But as we return to work and the chilly weather refuses to budge, the yearning for warmth and comfort grows ever deeper. The slippy roads are often the worst. Along with ice rink pavements and outside shed doors that stick together with a frosty sheen.

If you’re anything like many of the Cuddly Comforts team, come November you’ll be wishing you had stocked up on those go-to necessities in preparation for the cold.

The usual items: sweaters, jackets, scarves, mittens, and of course hot water bottles. Out of the cupboards and in to circulation. Toasty perfection. Early in the New Year it’s still just as cold. You may need that heated blanket, extra sweater or thick woolly socks.

Top Tip (that you probably know already)

Are your favourite cozy socks in the wash? Wearing two or three pairs together isn’t cutting it? Try a pair of football (or soccer if you prefer) socks. We have loads lying around the house and they do a great job keeping our feet warm.
Football Socks are great feet warmers

warm socks — Nothing better than nice warm feet

While socks and woolly jumpers are often a regular feature in the Cuddly Comforts household, a trusty hot water bottle is never far away. For the past few years extra long hot water bottles have been part of our day-to-day lives. They’re handy for pain relief or just a touch of instant cuddly heat.

Some use it as a massage aid, or to help give its user immediate comfort and warmth. The traditionally-sized bottles (small, heart shaped, you know the drill) have been tested and proven for decades. But when you need an extra bit of length an extra-long hot water bottle is performing better.

After speaking to some of our loyal customers, here are some of the reasons why…

Extra long hot water bottles are remarkably flexible

The extra-long hot water bottle is flexible for its size. While some find it heavy when filled with water, it is fairly lightweight compared to some of the earlier models and can be easily carried around your neck or shoulder. Use the tie string that comes with all of our second covers. This way it should still reach your neck and down to your arms for extended warmth.

The flexibility of the extra-long hot water bottle will also come in handy for those unexpected cramps. When stretching out a cramp, a hot compress often helps to ease the pain. A hot water bottle with a safe cover can also aid this process. Furthermore, since your extra-long hot water bottle is flexible, it can occupy more areas on your belly area if you are experiencing stomach cramps.

A longer version of a regular hot water bottle?

With an elongated version of a regular hot water bottle, the heat that can be felt from top to bottom. It can target a wider area or longer part of the body, like your legs or even on your back and down your spine.

Its length is super handy, especially when targeting areas that are difficult to reach with a normal-sized hot water bottle.

Conventional and useful

The extra-long hot water bottle is very easy to use. You just have to twist and remove its stopper, safely fill it with hot water, and then you are good to go. The optimal word here is SAFELY! We emphasise a safety-first approach throughout the filling process to avoid injuries or accidents.

Any size of hot water bottle is useful whenever you feel those aching muscles after a run or cold weather exercise. We get messages from runners who use the bottles for thermotherapy or cold lake swimming teams who grab a warm bottle after coming out of the water.

They can be used as massaging aids or just to thaw out with. Feeling less energetic? It is always rewarding to use a hot water bottler after a long and stressful day at work or school.

Versatility at its best

Unlike the regular hot water bottle, you can use the extra-long hot water bottle in more versatile ways. How about tying it up around your body or have it act like a scarf for comfort in the neck and shoulder area?

Having the extra-long hot water bottle wrapped around your body gives so much relief as you are not holding anything. Plus, your hands are not occupied and have the freedom to move.

We got word back that a knitter we work with often uses one of our extra long hot water bottles, wrapped around her body, while creating cozy covers! She also has a nice home-knitted blanket too. She says she feels like a cuddly sheep.

Extra long = extra warmth

All things considered, we are not going to trash the humble hot water bottle. It has served the hands and feet of millions so well, for so long. However, while smaller hot water bottles are great, an extra long hot water bottle is better.

This is because it is flexible, versatile, very convenient to use and, most importantly, longer. You can easily reach multiple body parts, that need heating and warmth, with an extra long hot water bottle.

Any type of hot water bottle will provide the warmth and comfort that you seek. But when it comes to pain relief and hands free assistance, an extra long hot water bottle is our preferred choice.

How to pick from a mini or extra long hot water bottle

Do mini hot water bottles work better than extra long ones?

Good question! The truth is that both can be useful. When body pain strikes or when the temperature starts to get chilly, we love nothing more than grabbing a hot water bottle of some description. These valuable instruments come in various sizes ranging from small ones to bigger ones to extra long ones.

When you say small or “mini”, does it also translate to its performance? Let’s go through the different functions of mini hot water bottles and how well they compare with extra long hot water bottles.

Mini hot water bottles

As the word itself suggests, these are the smallest hot water bottles you can purchase, with a height of about eight inches. Don’t worry though, its body is still generally made of high-quality rubber or PVC that effectively insulates the heat so you can enjoy its warmth comfortably.

The mini hot water bottle: A nice option but pricey in some quarters

The seal above it is leak-proof to avoid any spillages. This is a perfect buddy during travelling, especially if you experience sudden tummy aches or back pains. Due to its small size, carrying it everywhere will not be a problem at all! It wil seamlessly slide into a backpack or handbag.

One drawback we have found when researching some of these hot water bottles is the price. Coming in at anything from £12-£20 it can be a little on the expensive side. The 0.5 litre capacity is minuscule although some of the covers do seem nice and pretty.

Extra long hot water bottles

The modern design of extra long hot water bottles is tubular, unlike the conventional square design. A tight screw covers the top of the elongated rubber container to securely protect it from any leakage. Our designs often garner extramely positive feedback, with buyers remarking on the softness of the covers.

The whole bottle is protected with a knitted cloth, acrylllic of faux fur covering that is a perfectly comfortable to touch and cuddle. Whether you are lying down to rest, reading a book or watching a movie, you can just snuggle in to it as much as you please. You may apply it to virtually every part of your body from head to toe.

Woman with extra long water bottle and laptop

Is a bigger hot water bottle really better?

Portability

As described, the smaller mini hot water bottles are easier to carry around compared to the extra long hot water bottles. You can just place it inside a small bag and bring it with you in the office or any destination. We own a mini hot water bottle and for these purposes it does the job really well.

The extra long ones may be a bit bulkier compared to the mini hot water bottles but nevertheless, it is still lightweight. Its weight will just increase when you add water on to it. But in terms of transportability, it wouldn’t cause much problem.

A simple yet effective technique for transporting the extra long hot water bottle (when not filled with water) is to fold it in half and tuck it away neatly. It can slide effortlessly down the side of a bag or backpack.

Heat retention

While both products boast good insulation, higher volume will always mean higher heat retention. If you are a soup lover, you would definitely notice that it will take a longer time for the heat in large bowls to subside compared to those in smaller bowls!

With this same principle, you can expect the heat in mini hot water bottles to dissipate quicker compared to that of extra long bottles. For the latter, you can put in a lot more volume, thereby increasing heat retention and providing greater satisfaction.

Heating efficiency

Mini hot water bottles can effectively target different parts of the body but it will only cover small portions proportional to its size. This means you can use it for your tummy, but your will neck will have to wait for its turn.

For extra long hot water bottles, its length is flexible and the coverage is certainly larger. You can use it for both neck and shoulders at the same time or you can wrap it around your waist for a 360-degree heating comfort.

The winter winner

The mini hot water bottles are extremely useful due to their handy size and portability; however, the advantages of the extra long hot water bottles are also very clear. Because of the latter’s extended heat retention, you can enjoy a whole night of warmth.

You can even place it on your bed before you going to sleep to ensure that the bed is fully warm. Finally, the greater coverage for application is really beneficial especially if you have multiple body parts experiencing aches and pains.

It is lightweight, sturdy and portable. At Cuddly Comforts we never compromise on standards and pride ourselves on producing a high quality hot water bottle.

Should I choose an electric hot water bottle?

Feeling the bite of winter coming around again? Through harsh seasons of coldness and stressful workdays, here at Cuddly Comforts we definitely need hot water bottles for heating and relaxation. A soothing “HWB” is part of the furniture; there are always two or three dotted across the house in various states of warmth.

With the advent of technology, companies have developed electric hot water bottles to increase convenience. But do they work better than the extra long warmers? In fact, how do they even work in the first place?!

Winter bites hard, unless you’re a sheep

We love an extra long hot water bottle, but an electric hot water bottle sounds appealing too. Perhaps not the potential for having to trail a power cord around the place.

Let’s discuss a few things here which will hopefully clear up a few questions and help us decide between the two.

Electric hot water bottles

As the name suggests, this type of hot water bottle uses electricity to generate heat for soothing body pains, menstrual cramps and sore muscles. These gadgets are already filled with water and sealed inside the container so you will not have to do any refilling.

At the back is a detachable plug you can plug in to an electrical charging socket that can take about 12 to 15 minutes depending on the brand or design. This device can heat water for up to 158 degrees Fahrenheit. Once its indicator signals as being full, you can unplug it and keep the power cord away until the next charging.

The electric hot water bottle comes in many forms and descriptions

Just with that charging, you can use it for as long as five (yes, 5!) hours. These are ideal for individuals who work long hours under cold conditions and need an immediate relief through heat. Instead of boiling water, you can just plug it, wait for the heating to finish and you’re good to go.

Extra long hot water bottles

This type of hot water bottle is an improvised version of the traditional one which is square-shaped or heart-shaped. The extra long hot water bottle design is intended to provide warmth and comfort to the whole length of your body.

Aside from relieving aches from your limbs, you have the option to apply it in areas of your body that may be difficult to reach.

Placing it in your bed before sleeping will offer valuable warmth and increased snugness during the night. You can use it as an alternative for round pillows; just be careful to let it cool a little to avoid skin burns.

Electric hot water bottles vs. Extra long hot water bottles

The electric hot water bottles are smaller in size when compared to the extra long types which makes them preferable for neck, shoulder and even stomach applications.

You can easily bring it with you when you are out and about and simply plug it in an outlet for charging. The extra long ones are highly portable, as well as very lightweight, and can fit in any regular luggage.

For the electric-type, however, you may have to be extra careful since it is an electric device. You probably already guessed that. Avoid instances where the device is being squeezed hard inside to prevent damage. You won’t have to worry about this for extra long hot water bottles as they do not contain any electrical connection.

A series of electrical wires — Wires can be limiting

In terms of application, the electrical hot water bottle has a limited coverage compared to extra long types. For the former, you can still apply it to any other body part but it might take a longer time compared to the extra long ones.

The latter’s lengthy span has the ability to simultaneously heat different parts of your body which saves time and energy. When it comes to efficiency, the extra long hot water bottles holds an edge in versatility.

On the safety side, using both products of course involves risks. The electric types have an electrical hazard associated with them, so high precaution is advised. To avoid injury, you must not try to use the device while it is charging.

Check the safety standard on your rubber hot water bottles – the current standard is British Standard BS 1970
Hants Council

Since the liquid inside is sealed permanently, there is no risk of hot water spillage. For the extra long ones, you will always need to be careful when filling up the rubber container as hot water, used incorrectly, can be dangerous. When returning the stopper, also ensure that it is well sealed to avoid leakage.

At Cuddly Comforts we always stress a stringent safety-first approach to filling your extra long hot water bottle.

The Verdict: Does electric spark your interest?

Both products have their pros and cons but overall, the extra long hot water bottle earns the higher score. This is firstly due to the fact that it has a greater heat output efficiency compared to electrical ones.

Furthermore, it does not involve any electrical connection, thereby avoiding any risk of electrocution. The aim of heat treatments is for comfort, satisfaction and alleviating conditions or aches and pains, but safety must not be compromised.

use a hot water bottle on a camping trip — No need for electric on a camping trip

The biggest benefit is that you won’t have to excuse yourself from a camping trip to rig up the generator so you can charge your electric hot water bottle. That would be pretty inconvenient.