How many of you know what a hot water bottle is / use it?

Question

I have a friend at work that didn't know what a hot water bottle was until I told him yesterday. He claims that makes me a citified softie. My argument is that a hot water bottle is a country device since country people work harder that city people, and thereby need the bottle to ease aching muscles. So please, this is an uncontrolled study. Knowledge of hot water bottles? Use of hot water bottles? Do you consider yourself a city-slicker or a country-bumpkin?

Answer 1

I was raised in the country and loved it. Now due to disability I live in an apartment in a small town. I grew up with a hot water bottle at my feet in the winter time. The trick was to kick it away from me when it cooled off so I wouldn't put my feet against it when it was cold. Country people, including myself, can be educated, dedicated professionals, but they don't have to listen to the noise of the city and they have room to breathe.

Answer 2

I have had a hot water bottle in the house since I was little.
It was just something our parents (their parents) had as back in the days there were not all the "options" of different pain pills -
Also heat is a true effective measure in injury. Or when you are sick.
I am not a city girl but have always lived around a "major" city -
As a mother, nurse and patient I can assure you a hot water bottle is a wonderful device to have on days of illness or injury or as mentioned very cold days or nights.

Answer 3

Hot water bottles have many uses. They are used to apply heat to a sore muscle. But they can also be used for a douche bag. Or for taking an enema. And some people use them for warmth at night. And some have a very large opening so they can also be used for a ice pack. I'm a country bumpkin that has move to the city . I'm both.

Answer 4

Living in a town or living in the country? What's that got to do with using hot water bottles?
I was brought up in a town but have lived in the country now for twenty years.
I can remember having a hot water bottle as a very young child, and I have used them ever since. I do believe, however that use of hot water bottles is much more widespread here in the UK that in some other countries. Whether it's for aches & pains, to keep you cosy and warm in bed, or simply for comfort, I couldn't be without my "hottie". I love it!
Helen.

Answer 5

I grew up with hot water bottles in Idaho. They have many uses.

Mainly I think they were used to keep the bed warm all night since the fireplace would often die as we drift off to sleep and don't want to tend the fireplace all night.

They are great on sore muscles after I would work in the corn field weeding all day. Thankfully I did not have more than an acre of corn to weed.

The hot water bottle now is used more by my wife as she has cold feet in the bed in winter, so we play a little footsie and I almost burn my feet so eventually I keep my feet about 4 inches from the bottle.

I guess I consider myself a suburban garden techno hippy. Hot water bottles transcend all people's and cultures I am sure.

Our hot water bottle has a light tan rubber outer casing with lots of little flaps of rubber around it so you don't put your feet or hands right on the hottest part of the skin of it. It has a hard plastic and metal twist cap and metal cylinder that you screw the cap into. There is a black rubber ring on the cap to seal it up so no water leaks out at night when it is on its side. All summer it sits in the closet mostly since we bought a hot tub.

Jonathan

Answer 6

I always used hot water bottles growing up and I am from and live in the city. I don't even own a heating pad. I still use hot water bottles for sore muscles and cramps and stuff.