We want you to enjoy this beautiful, natural product for many years to come, so here are a few tips to help you care for and use it safely:

HOT WATER BOTTLE SAFETY…

Your new natural rubber hot water bottle is safety kitemarked and conforms to British Safety Standard BS1970:2012.  Before first use, please check your bottle for water-fastness/leaks by filling with water and leaving it upside down over a basin or jug for 30 mins with the stopper tightened. (Please note: not all rubber hot water bottles are manufactured with a rubber washer on the stopper).

Do not remove the rubber bottle from the cover before filling with hot water; the cover is designed so that you can easily access the neck of the bottle for filling. If you try to put a filled rubber bottle back in the cover, this may stretch the sheepskin, weaken the seams of the cover, and cause rubber fatigue/splitting of your bottle.

After filling, ensure the top is screwed on securely and not leaking, and fully dry any residual water around the neck of the bottle.

Please avoid any water coming into contact with the interior of the cover during filling/emptying;  if this happens and is left to dry from the direct heat of a filled bottle, the sheepskin suede may dehydrate, shrink and split or crack.

For your safety, please:

• When filling your rubber bottle, do not use boiling water and fill to a maximum of two-thirds capacity.
• Do not overfill; this may cause the bottle to burst.
• Hold the bottle upright by the neck and fill slowly to avoid hot water splashes, spills and burns.  Gently expel air from the bottle.
• Screw the stopper tightly to ensure that there is no leakage.
• Under no circumstance should the hot water bottle be used as a cushion or be sat on.
• Do not fill using water from the domestic hot water system; this may shorten the life of the rubber bottle.
• Prevent contact with hot surfaces, oil or grease.
• When not in use drain completely and store with the stopper removed, in a cool, dry place; ensure your cover is fully dry inside and out before storing; prevent exposure to sunlight.
• Do not place anything on top of the bottle during storage.
• Check the bottle and stopper for wear and damage regularly.
• Rubber degrades with use;  we advise you replace your bottle annually.

WARNING – RUBBER HOT WATER BOTTLES CAN CAUSE BURNS. AVOID PROLONGED DIRECT CONTACT WITH SKIN

CARING FOR YOUR SHEEPSKIN COVER...

The wonderful properties of our eco-tanned sheepskin mean it won't develop odours, so a shake and brush with a wire slicker pet brush or comb after every use is all you should need to do to keep your cover looking and feeling beautiful..

If need be though, light marks on the external fleece can be spot-cleaned using a clean damp cloth (cold water only); then brush the fleece once dry.

We do not advise full washing of your cover and cannot guarantee results if you do fully wash it. However, if you do choose to wash it by hand or machine, please:

• Never hand or machine wash your cover in hot water – it should be cold, 30°C max, on a delicate setting, with only a teaspoon of specialist sheepskin wash, or – at a pinch – very mild baby shampoo.
• Never use conventional laundry powders/detergents or bleach. Any cleanser used must be a non-ionic, liquid detergent containing no enzymes, peroxides, phosphates, bleach or alkalis. Beware specialist woollen detergents too – if they don’t say they can be used on sheepskins, avoid them!
• Never spin your cover. It should be gently squeezed, then rolled up in a clean towel to get rid of excess water after washing.
• Never dry your cover on radiators, or with other direct sources of heat, or in direct sunlight;  this will dehydrate, shrink and harden the suede, which may then lead to cracks or splits.  Allow your cover to dry slowly and naturally (on a towel or drying rack), and frequently brush the wool fleece with a wire slicker brush or comb as it dries. This will take a few days. Flex the cover during and after the drying process to soften and loosen the suede again, and with use it will become softer again.