One of the items we find ourselves needing the most on sits is a kettle — and oddly, it’s often missing, even when one is listed. We’ve actually gone so far as to purchase electric kettles for a few homeowners over time (though to be honest… a couple didn’t really deserve the favour ). Whether it’s for tea, coffee, hot water bottles, or just a bit of comfort when settling in, a kettle is one of those basic things that makes a place feel like home.
Sometimes we wonder: when listings say “kettle,” do they mean an actual electric kettle, or some sort of Victorian-era stovetop artifact that takes 15 minutes to make a sad boil?When listings say a kettle is available, it’d be great if it truly were!
Maybe THS could add a little reminder to homeowners to double-check listed amenities? Or perhaps it’s just one of those sitter quirks we learn to adapt to. Curious if others have had the same experience – or ended up gifting kettles too!
I joined in November 2023 and I know the amenities checklist happened after that. I think frankly, a lot of Americans who aren’t big tea drinkers would think of kettles as those ancient things on the stove. As a homeowner I was slow to get one, but have found it very useful….. for making pour over coffee.
I’ve never noticed whether a listing had a kettle or not, but the ones I’ve encountered most frequently have been electric kettles. If having a kettle were important to me, I’d just get a collapsible silicone one and pack it with me. They’re available for upward of $20 bucks, depending on the model. But I don’t need a kettle, because I can just make do with a pot, if needed.
When you say “kettle,” do you mean an electric kettle?
In the US, a kettle can mean an electric kettle or a stovetop kettle.
Having grown up in California, we always had a stovetop kettle. Never an electric kettle.
I really think it is a household to household decision in the USA. Any kettle is not standard at all. People vary so much in their habits. No right or wrong.
A kettle is the same in the UK, it’s either, but there aren’t many that have stovetop kettles anymore, we’ve never come across any stovetop kettles whilst pet sitting, apart from the ones that have an aga.
We’ve encountered some grotty kettles (electric), so now carry a small one to sits (we travel by car, so it’s not a problem). Before that, if the kettle looked a bit dodgy, we’d just boil water in a pan.
In some countries kettles are just not a common item, especially electric kettles. In Spain, for instance, where drinking tea is a rarity.
Electric kettles require a lot of power so in places with a low power input using a, electric kettle means everything else needs to be turned off or the trip switch trips.
The only time I’ve not had a kettle was when the HOs had one of them fancy combined hot/boiling water taps. I was pleased that they relished - with amusement - my confusion, when I messaged them to ask where the kettle was..
As for stove-top kettles being “grotty”, far from it. They’re pretty efficient - and space-saving. When my electric kettle finally packs up past repair, I’ll be getting a stove-top model. I only have a small kitchen and really can’t spare kettle space.
We sat for a family in U.K. that didn’t have a kettle - they had just moved to U.K. from overseas . They had a good coffee machine , which was obviously their beverage of choice . We are big tea drinkers so we bought our own kettle for convenience (it was three week sit so for us it was worth it ) We have subsequently done repeat sits for them and they now have purchased a kettle , but I think it’s only used when we stay there .
We have also done sits in the U.K. that did not have an electric kettle but did have an Aga kettle . We enjoyed using that .
We’ve also have done 3 other sits in modern homes in U.K. without a kettle because they have a Boiling Water Tap .
If there is no kettle- electric or stove top- and no Boiler tap, I would just use a Pan to boil water. Not so convenient but no big deal. I would not buy a kettle for personal use unless I was travelling by car and could take it away with me. Sometimes you just have to get creative and compromise!
E.g Many households (outside if UK) don’t have a Toaster!! (Incomprehensible to a Brit!) So then I just make toast in a frying Pan!
It sounds quite funny coming from Australia. Not having an electric kettle/jug or even a toaster in your home would be the equivalent of not having a bed - absolute necessities and home staples
I bought one for our RV, because space is limited. At home in the U.S., we have a stovetop kettle, a couple of electric kettles (one which we offer in our guest quarters) and a tap for hot water on demand. With the latter, you need to watch out for random sputtering or spattering. I’ve had the same experience at sit homes with such taps.
Our last three sits were in California and all listed a kettle as an amenity. Guess how many actually had one? That’s right zero. I even politely asked the homeowners if I was just not finding it. One confirmed there was no kettle, the second ignored the question. The third one… well, let’s just say she found the question deeply upsetting and replied in full-blown caps lock: NO, I DON’T HAVE A KETTLE.
I’m definitely hoping for an electric one, but honestly, I’ll take any kind of kettle if there is one! I’m not entirely sure what THS means by “kettle” in the amenity list. It seems like some homeowners are checking the box even if they don’t actually have one at all.
We travel with a small electric kettle where the top is made of silicone and folds flat. We also have a solar generator in the car that can power 1000 watts or lower so at rest areas, I can heat up water and make instant coffee.
). Whether it’s for tea, coffee, hot water bottles, or just a bit of comfort when settling in, a kettle is one of those basic things that makes a place feel like home.
) So then I just make toast in a frying Pan!
