By Suzanne S.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I want to make my own heat packs as Christmas gifts. Some have posted that they use rice, others use flax, some use oatmeal, etc. The ingredients don't cook or go rancid, etc. after use?
Also, which ingredient can I use for scent? Some say lavender turns after being heated and there were a few scents that didn't work at all.
Help!
By BeachMouse from Canada
I use buckwheat hulls and rice. I use lavender and rosemary essential oils and find the scent lasts a long time. You can always renew the scent if you close it with a few buttons or velcro. I sell alot of the neck wraps at craft shows. You do need to use all cotton material for these to be microwave safe though.
My friend has frequent joint pain and I would like to make her a rice heating pad, but she does not have a microwave. Is there any other way to heat the rice heating pad? I think the pad would catch fire if she tried to heat it up in an oven! Any solutions out there? (She won't buy a microwave.)
By Linda W.
Much better to give her a small electric heating pad-try Amazon: one for less than $10-Sunbeam Cozy Spot. Will last many years!
Maybe putting the pad into a sealed tight zip lock bag, (make sure all the air is out of the bag) and float in a sink of very hot water? Might even weigh it down with something so the bag is submerged in the water for awhile.
Wrap the heat pad in foil and place in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. It stays warm for about 15 minutes.
Put a bowl of water in a microwave for about 1 minute and put the warm water in a plastic bottle to the top and close the cap tightly and you should have warm/hot heating pad for about 5 hours but you might want to use a towel on it because You could have a chance hurting yourself even more.
They do not have a microwave that was her whole point of posting lol not being ride just making you aware!
They were saying to microwave at OPs place and take it over to her friends place afterwards
Can I use silica gel beads as filling for a microwavable heat pack? Or, I've heard of glycerin beads, but can't locate them. Any ideas?
By vcates from South Jordan, UT
I've never heard of silica gel beads or glycerin beads being used in making a microwavable heat pack. I have a microwavable heat pack and it is filled with white rice.
I was also going to say to use rice. I would think it wouldn't be safe to microwave the silica beads and probably not the glycerin ones either.
Hi there! We use men's tube socks or women's knee high socks for heat packs (one of a pair that remains with no holes or tears) and fill with dried white or brown rice or dried barley. Works like a charm and if the sock happens to rip, we save as much rice or barley as possible, boil it up and add it to our dogs' food before starting all over with another stray sock.
ew the poor dog, that cant be healthy. just reuse the grain for next one?
I've been adding silica beads to my rice socks for years. They work awesome-ly. They heat up well in the microwave, are roughly the same size as rice, and they keep the moisture in the rice from making the socks smell (as the silica is reset when you microwave it). I worked at a place that collected several hundred packets a day and I took them all so I've come up with a few ways of using them that I've never seen written down anywhere.
I would like to make some homemade heat packs, but I would like to use felted wool. Does anyone know if this would pose a fire problem in the microwave? Also, I would like a lighter material than rice to use as a filling. Any suggestions? Perhaps millet?
Funny you should ask, as I was just realizing that I need to change the rice in my outside kitties heat pack (it's cold outside and he's a rogue kitty who adopted us) cuz' the rice is smelling burnt. But I use a cotton sock that I bought filled up with rice. I don't know about the felted wool, but if it doesn't work, then why not make an inner skin (cotton) and then make a felted wool pack, a simple crochet or knit chain stitch for a button loop on felted wool should work to close it.
Hope that helps a little!
Flax seed works very well.
Not sure about the felt though. I would use cotton or denim.
Wool is naturally a flame/fire retardent. Be sure you are using all wool. rice works, millet would work etc.. Good luck
I just made hand warmers with felted wool. I tried them in the microwave and it worked fine. My only suggestion is to wash the material before you make anything with it. My hand warmers smelled of dye after I microwaved them. You can use lentils as a filling and it works great!
you might try lentils. i suppose any grain would work.
For not so nice looking packs, I have also used a rice filled men's athletic sock. Just nuke it for about 3-4 minutes to use (make sure the animal/human won't be touching it or it is wrapped up at first because it will be hot!)
Works wonderfully when we have a cold snap and the furnace can't quite keep up. Not only do they add heat, but humidity, which makes the air seem warmer and for many pets is very important. We have used these for keeping warm finches, parakeets, hamsters, our iguana and us. They also work great in our dog's crate, though we just usually let her sleep with us on night's like that.
The rice can start to smell burnt, but we have found it doesn't make a difference.
If you want nicer looking packs, you can use the sock filled with rice as the inner layer and make the nicer, outer layer removable for washing.
Have fun!
I am going to try to use felted bowls in the microwave similar to quilted microwave bowls I got a as a gift.
I would like to make a bean or rice heat pack, but I have a few questions. What fabric should you use? Are they safe for children? How long do you microwave them? I wanted to make them for my nephews for Christmas, who are both just under two years old. I worry about them chewing on them. I wanted to make a 2-D pattern of an animal. Any good suggestions on shapes or cut outs to use?
Flannel is great for making heatpacks and yes, they're safe for kids! Don't worry too much about them chewing on them. The worst that might happen is they'll swallow a few grains of rice, or get some of the rice wet... then all you have to do is replace the rice.
I've made several when my husband's cousins had their babies. I mixed a little lavender withthe rice.
It's easy to cut out a teddy bear shape.. or gingerbread man... keep the shape simple!
Then simply fill it with rice, stitch it shut and you're done. Microwave them for 1-2 minutes depending on the size of them. Practice in your own Microwave before you give them then you'll have a better idea of the time.
I've also made them our of the fleece everyone uses for blankets, old blankets, socks (patterened for looks... are great for necks!)
Have fun and enjoy!
hello! I have made these using mens hunting socks and buying the beans at Dollar General because they have large cheap bags.I have also used regular white tube socks.The hunting socks are my favorite.As for heating them,that's up to the individual.I heat mine for about 2 minutes and 30 seconds.My husband has actually put his in the freezer and then puts it on his neck.For using material...how about those nice soft print blankets.Just cut the size you want and sew it together.Good luck.
I have used oven mitts and 2 potholders sewn together and rice seems to work best as it delivers a moist heat. The insulation of the oven mitts/pads keeps the heat longer.
One caution with microwaving these. They get hottest in the center and you may not be able to tell how hot they are. A friend of mine had one for her husband. It was under the covers on his leg. He said it was way too hot and smelled smoke, but until he threw back the covers, they didn't know it was on fire! It burned through two of three blankets, a mattress pad, and into the mattress. They had to pour water on it to put it out. I have started heating mine by placing them on top of a stack of cast iron cookware that is on top of our woodstove. It never overheats that way. Stay safe!
Hi Kayc,
I make and sell the rice bags and I make them out of fleece, then microwave them 2-3 minutes. You get a nice moist heat with the fleece and you can find all kinds of patterns. You can also put them in the freezer for the little boo boos the little ones have. Make them any size you want. I make most of mine for adults and they are 12 inches by 12 inches. Good luck from another Michigander, Barb
I want to know if I can use plastic beads to fill the bags?
By Elizabeth
I wouldn't, due to the fact plastic gives off dangerous toxins when heated and will burn you if too hot. I'd use rice. I have heard of some folks who use kitty litter. Dried beans can be used as well.
You can also use dried corn kernels. Smells like popcorn when you put it in the microwave.
I made one filled with barley. It's been great, used for about a year and a half now, on a daily basis!
Can you use oil such as eucalyptus in a homemade heat pack with rice?
Terri from Tacoma, WA
Yes you can use oil with your heat packs. What I did was use lavendar essential oils and poured just a drop of two directly on the rice. The scent lasted a long time and was more pronounced when placed in the microwave for warming. Remember, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should never use essential oils on their skin.
Can horse oats be used as a filler for homemade magic heating bags?
By Brenda from Rycroft, Alberta, Canada
This is a page about making microwave heating pads. Microwave heating pads, often filled with rice, are used to soothe aches and pains.
Uncooked rice retains heat well. It is easy to sew and fill a fabric bag. It can be useful for applying heat or cold to injuries. This is a page about how to make a rice heat bag.
There are several common recommendations for fillers to use in homemade heat packs. They include: rice, beans, buckwheat, or field corn. Essential oils can also be added to the dry fillers. This is a page about fillers for homemade heat packs.
Homemade heat packs can be filled with various grains. This is a page about using corn in a homemade heat pack.
