Thread: Anyone use an electric kettle to heat their water to lather?

Like many here my water supply is from a well. I do not use a softener and have it passing through two filters to remove any rust and sediment. I travel a lot and notice a big difference between hotel water and mine, the hotel water lathering and shaving much better. So I have followed recommendations of buying the gallon jug of distilled water and while lathering/shaving it works great it is a little too cold in the winter months. A cold shave in the summer is nice but not in the winter. Right now I go through my typical process of using hot water to warm my bowl and soak my brush, then I dump everything and use a little distilled water to make the lather. The downside with this is I loose the heat very quickly.

I was thinking about using one of these electric kettles to heat the distilled water and was curious if anyone has used anything like this for shaving.
Amazon.com: T-fal BF6138US Balanced Living 1-Liter 1750-Watt Electric Mini Kettle with Variable Temperature, Black: Kitchen & Dining
I like the one linked because it has different settings, from what I found they are around 155deg, 190deg, 210deg. I would think something like this would be awesome with a scuttle.

I have been thinking along the same lines.

I've got an old MR coffee that would I think may be the basis for a scuttle warmer experiment. I think you would have similar temps. My thought would be thin insulating sheets added till you get your desired temp. If it works out I believe my local pottery guy could come up with a pretty nice base to transfer the innards into. Custom electric scuttle?

Originally Posted by MLambert

I have been thinking along the same lines.

I've got an old MR coffee that would I think may be the basis for a scuttle warmer experiment. I think you would have similar temps. My thought would be thin insulating sheets added till you get your desired temp. If it works out I believe my local pottery guy could come up with a pretty nice base to transfer the innards into. Custom electric scuttle?

Interesting idea. Im not a coffee drinker so I have no idea how the things work. I assume they are just on and off? I wonder if you could use some kind of voltage regulator, that way you could adjust the temperature.

If you use too hot a water it will kill your lather.

Does that mean if I use too hot water, I could be executed in Texas? For killing lather?

Tarkus speaks the truth. Hot tap water (150 degree) Is best!

Too much of a good thing may not be ideal. Shaptonn is right, boiling hot water can kill a lather. Have you considered a coffee mug warmer?

Mr. Coffee® Mug Warmer - BedBathandBeyond.com

They take a few minutes to warm up but they are very effective in maintaining a reasonably warm temperature in your bowl or scuttle.

In England all houses have an electric kettle.

Some pointers.

All kettles boil water, And all kettles use the same amount of electrical energy to boil the water regardless of the wattage. A 1Kw kettle compared to a 2Kw kettle just boils the same amount of water faster.

To adjust the temp add cold water to the scuttle in the same way you would add milk to tea.

The price you pay for a kettle over here is very variable. A £5 budget kettle and a £50 kettle do the same thing. The £5 one will just take longer to boil and not look as pretty.

The kettle you posted only has a 1L capacity. Meaning you may have to boil it twice to fill the sink. Most are 1.5-2L capacity.

Amazon.com: Hamilton Beach K6080 Large Cordless Kettle, 1.8-Liter, Black: Kitchen & Dining

Something like that will boil a full kettle in under 4 mins. It's also perfect for instant coffee/tea. Fill it up, flip the switch and go see whats on TV. Typically in the UK we can get a brew on in the adverts of a TV program and be sat back down before the program is back on


The American market is not where near as saturated as the British one. We can get a better kettle than that, for about half the price. Hence build quality and how long they live for isn't a problem.

Buy Argos Value Range Cordless Kettle - White at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Kettles.

Expect a cheap one to last about 13months (so it dies just after the warranty).

Expect it to get a good buildup of limescale after a few weeks. This is normal, and if your using it with your well water it'll probably be even faster. Don't bother to try removing the limescale. Just rinse the inside. If you try to clean it with chemicals the taste of the water will be ruined.

Never try to boil it with less water than it says as min on the side.

The kettle will turn off when the water boils, It's automatic via a bimetal switch. It won't come back on unless you flip the switch again. Generally as an appliance there very safe. And far more efficient than waiting for your water to boil in a pan. If your boiling stuff on the hobs, Use the kettle to boil the water then put that water in the pan. It'll be faster, and use less energy.


If you drink instant tea/cofee.

Fill kettle, flip switch.

1 teaspoon of cofee in a cup, and your sugar. Pour in boiled water. Add milk. Stir. Done.

1 bag of tea in a cup, Add sugar. Pour in boiling water, stir, remove tea bag and squeeze on side of cup, Add milk, stir done.

I always mean to try distilled water, my well water is brutally hard.

You can get a Sunbeam (I think) "hot pot" from Walmart, etc. for about $17. It has a thermostat that can control the water temperature from around 125°F (just not scalding hot) to vigorous boiling. I use this at my house, since my water heater is set at 120°F, and that's not enough to heat up the ceramic mug and bowl I use.

Thanks everyone some good ideas keep them coming.

I dont use any water in the sink just the bowl, and it is just a very basic glass bowl, I do see a scuttle in my future though I always shave after I shower so my thinking was heat the water pour it in the bowl, soak my brush then shower. By the time I get out of the shower the water should be cool enough to work with but still warm. I would think anything over 120 deg would start to be uncomfortable and still ok with the lather, no?

Sharptonn are you serious about the 150 deg??? That isnt too hot for the face?

I think I am going to experiment with the microwave and thermometer when I have time.

My wife if a tea snob so I do occasionally drink a cup of tea, but no sugar or milk for me.