I make heat packs all the time and I find that using an old missmatch sock works great add uncooked white rice tie the top and place in microwave for 1 to 2 minutes depending on the size of the sock.
I make heat packs all the time and I find that using an old mismatch sock works great add uncooked white rice tie the top and place in microwave for 1 to 2 minutes depending on the size of the sock.
I have a copy of the Homemade Heat Packs and have a question about the one with a combination of oatmeal and flax-seed; Is it oatmeal like you eat, or the seed of oatmeal?
I bought the hand warmers that stay hot for about 7+ hours and they work great. All you do is take them from the packet and they heat up. then after they are done you can reuse them, by putting them into the microwave for 10-25seconds and voila! it will be extremely hot for at least an hour. You might wanna wrap it up in a small hand towel after you take it out.
I buy fabric napkins on sale, generally for a dollar or so, and use those either two sewn together and sectioned off to make a BIG sack, or one folded in half, which is a perfect length to fit across my shoulders or along my spine (I'm kinda little :). The napkins are generally a brushed cotton which is nice and soft and have pretty colors - and of course are precut and edged which helps! If folding in half, I then just sew two of the open sides shut, turn inside out, fill with rice or wheat, fold in the top edges and sew shut. Often you can find a napkin that's slightly bigger than the others and I use that to make a cover, simply fold in half and sew two sides shut and slip over the sack. These are wonderful gifts. I am a massage therapist and use them all the time on myself or clients.
My mom and I made 2 homemade heat packs to give as presents. My dad has one and uses it constantly. We put uncooked brown rice and lavender buds in them. Believe it or not, I'm 9 years old and might start going into a business with these cool things!
DO NOT PUT LAVENDER IN THE MICROWAVE! It is one of the few herbs that burns in the microwave. I recommend dumping the contents of a tea bag (peppermint works best) to make it smell nice, as well as rice and a little salt, and place it in scrap cloth that you have tied into a small sack. Old socks tend to be smelly, especially after being microwaved. Works like a charm. They do tend to cool down within an hour, so be prepared to reheat.
I need to know first of all what kind of material I can use to make these heating pads. I have one it has rice inside of it and the material is pretty rough. I went to the fabric store and a lady said I could use fleece but would this melt in the microwave? Also should i fill it with rice oatmeal or salt? I'm making about 50 of them for Christmas presents! I would like to so a softer material. If you have any answers I'd be happy to know them! Thanks
(submitted via email) I have been using rice with whole clove or cinnamon stick for scent enhancement to make my hot packs. I usually just buy the scrap fabrics that are reduced in price at the fabric shop for mine, so I have a variety of shapes and sizes for all different uses. I'd like to know if anyone has ever tried using the small river stones to retain heat longer?
What is the best cloth to use and what makes the softest heat pack? I need to use them for "the Big P" and I get really bad cramps- I would need something that molds to my "tummy" and relieves the agonizing, debilitating cramps. Any ideas?
I was able to make 13 homemade heating pads with 25 lbs of rice, two bath towels, and 26 one serving packets of tea. First I cut the towels into pieces measuring 10x 20 inches. I folded each piece long ways and sewed two sides, leaving one side open. I turned it right side outward and filled each sack with one full 20oz Dixie cup of rice. Then I added one packet of tea, a half a Dixie cup of rice, another packet of tea, and another half Dixie cup of rice. So each heating pad this size needs 40oz of rice (two full Dixie cups).
If these measurements are followed exactly there should be just enough rice and no extra. Lastly, I folded the raw edges in just enough to catch them in my seam as i sewed the last edge shut. Each heating pad should be about three quarters; full of rice. Three bath towels may be needed for some, as I had no scrap left over. Get the measurements of the towels you want and be sure to do the math before you buy them. Also make sure you get 100% cloth, whether you use a towel or not.
The tea I used was peppermint and chamomile, but any fragrant tea may be used, or none at all if you prefer, it's just to make it smell good. My only other note in making these heating pads is be sure to have a funnel handy, it is a necessity. This project cost me approximately $24 for 13 beautiful and useful gifts ($1.84 per gift), and I know for a fact it can be done cheaper.
I woke up at 3:00am with terrible back pain and was in NO condition to pull out a needle and thread and sew up a sock with rice in it. I took a wet medium sized bath towel and zapped it in the micro for 2 minutes then placed the towel in a large freezer storage bag (don't put bag in micro, it may melt) and TADA! Instant heating pad. The towel stayed very warm for almost an hour and solved my back pain problem.
There's this website selling specialized heating pad filled with mineral salt. The heating pad not only retained heat, but available with very nice natural flower scent. For some reason, salt ingredient has strong stimulate effect for blood circulation, and the weight of the salt also allow heat to penetrate under our skin surface that create more therapeutic effect.
I use rice in an old tube sock...I just tie the opening in a knot....I have one I microwave for a heatpack...and one I keep in the freezer for an ice pack...so simple...
I had the idea to make one for myself last night having sore muscles from jogging. I poured some Sushi rice I had on hand in a sock and tied it off with a scrunchie rubber hair band. It worked awesome. My legs went from being tight and sore to barely sore the next day. I'm gonna try adding lavendar or sage, any other herb suggestions? Also, just curious why not minute rice? does it puff up or explode or something? Now i want to try it to see. :)
Fill a cotton tube sock 3/4 of the length with plain white rice and sew the end shut. Heat this in the microwave on a pie plate (to keep it clean) for 2 minutes. I usually put a washcloth under the heated sock at the beginning because it is really warm. As it cools, I remove the washcloth. It will stay warm for about 20 minutes. Mine have been used repeatedly.
Homemade Lavender Heat Packs 2004-12-20 Topic Site: Make Your Own | Health Post Feedback | Send to a Friend | Printer Friendly | Send Me Responses | Related Links I've just been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and stenosis in my back. I know that there are home-made heat packs that can be made with fleece and something else - which I believe to be rice or beans. The heat helps me so much and I want something here at home that does the trick and doesn't cost a lot of money. I'd also like to take them with me when I go out of town. Where can I find ideas and directions to make my own? I know someone out there can help!
I would like to make my own lavender heat pack, but I'm not sure whether you use lavender flowers or lavender seeds in them. Does anyone have the answer to this dilemna for me? Thanks, SallyK
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Request: Homemade Heat Packs
Archived on 12/27/2006
Tips and ideas for making your own heat pack. Post your ideas.
Answers:
RE: Homemade Lavender Heat Packs
Buy some lavender buds, you can find them and flea markets, or herb fairs. You only need a few, then go to a bulk store and buy flaxseed. I do this because you want the lavender for the smell and the flaxseed to fill the space up at a reasonable price. Lavender is expensive. Use about 1/4 to 1/2 cup lavender and the rest flaxseed. You can also add a few drops of lavender essential oil. (10/04/2004)
By Kathie
Heat Packs
Heat hot packs or foot warmers in the microwave! These can also be made cheaply by using some fabric and dry beans or rice. (12/20/2004)
By Robin
RE: Homemade Lavender Heat Packs
I've used a combination of the feedback you've already gotten. Use whatever fabric conatiner works for your ultimate purpose: something long, flexible and cylindrical for a neck warmer, or more of a pillow if that's what you need. A "dogbone" shape is good for neck support and warmth while sleeping. Use lavender flowers, not seeds. They have the essential oil with the scent. You can also use some essential oil as well, or a less expensive fragrance oil. Use rice as a filler. Flaxseed has its own properties that can add to a special pillow, but if you want something economical and that works, just use rice. (12/20/2004)
By Judi in Orlando
For A Quick Hot Pack To Sooth Sore Muscles
You need:
Zip Lock Or Plastic Bag
Wash Cloth
Towel Or Pillow Case
Microwave
Saturate the wash cloth with hot water that has been then placed into bag.
Microwave for about 5 minutes--times vary remove.
Then wrap inside a towel or pillow case (05/23/2005)
By Lucie Mclaud
RE: Homemade Heat Packs
I use a sock. I fill it with a mixture of rice and lavender buds. Then tie it off with a rubber band and a pretty piece of ribbon. You can place this in the microwave for a couple of minutes, or the freezer for a few hours for a cold compress. This feels really good on sore joints or mussels. (05/23/2005)
By Susie
RE: Homemade Heat Packs
You can go to this web site to tell you how and what to use to make homemade heating pads. http://www.diamondthreadworks.com/microwave-heating-bags.htm (05/24/2005)
I have Fibromyalgia and I wouldn't be without my rice packs. When my muscles start to tighten-up. I pop them into the microwave for no more than 2 minutes and then apply them to the offending muscle.
I've made my own. If you can sew a straight stitch on the sewing machine, you can too. Measure the area where you will want to apply the pack. If for example the area is 12 inches by 13 inches, you will need a piece of material 25 inches by 27 inches. You will have about a 1 inch seam. take your material over to your ironing board. With the wrong/inside of the material facing you, fold the 'top' edge of the material down about an inch & iron it flat. Do the same with the 'bottom' edge of the material. Now with the 'right'/outside of the material together, fold the maaterial in half. Pin the short side together, so you will have an envelope effect. Straight stitch the pinned ends. Turn the 'envelope' inside-out. Press the envelope flat. (All this ironing makes the sewing easier as it makes your project lie flat & easier to sew.) Fold the envelope in half & iron it,then fold the half in half again & iron that. Take some pins and put them where the ironed folds are. Go to your machine & sew from the top down to the first corner on your right. When you get to the corner, lift up your pressure foot, leaving the needle in the material, turn the material so you will be sewing along the bottom edge. Sew slowly so that when you get to the place where the pins are in the ironed fold, aso you can swivel the material & after having removed the pins you can sew from the bottom to the opened top. When you get to the top, you now have sewn in a U shape. Swivel the material so that you can go back down on the line you have just sewn to the bottom. When you get to the bottom swivel the material so that you are sewing along the bottom edge until the next set of pins in the middle fold. Sew up & down again & make another U.Now you have 2 'pockets' completed. Do this twice more and when you come to the top on the left side you will have 4 'pockets'.
Now you can fill them with rice. I use Jasmine rice as it doesn't have an old musty smell after a few uses (my rice packs have been in the microwave about 500 times. I've tried adding lavender to them but haven't been able to get the right preportions.) I use the top I've cut off a plastic coke bottle for the funnel. Fill the 'pockets' about half-way full. Carefully lay the pack down so that you won't spill all the rice out. Push the rice down to the bottom of the pack & pin along the top edge of the rice NOT the top of the pack. Use as many pins as necessary so the the rice does not escape & get in the way of you're sewing the final seam across the top. I always make one row of stitching across the top & then make another row of stitching just to make sure. I have wrapped them in a towel on occasion to keep them from getting dirty. But I finally make 'covers' for them. Now stick them in the Microwave & ENJOY. (06/05/2005)
By
RE: Homemade Heat Packs - Vanilla Bean?
I've recently woken up with a n incredibly sore neck and have since been looking for an easy way to make a heat pack. I've tried the rice idea. Unfortunately, I used poly sock, so that was quite disastrous! I now know that cotton is the way to go. (07/27/2005)
By Sarah
RE: Homemade Heat Packs
I've had several relatives who have used homemade microwave heat packs, but they were filled with either rice or corn -- and I thought they were extremely uncomfortable. One day I was in the mall and asked one of the vendors who sells these what made hers so soft. Ever since, I've been making them for friends and family, and I fill mine with a combination of oatmeal and flax-seed.
I also use about a half-bag of that scented ground potpourri (for sachets) you can buy at WalMart in the crafts section, per heat-pack. (It comes in lavender and other scents like Gardenia and Cinnamon.) Mix up about 2 cups of the oatmeal with 1-2 cups of the flax, and the sachet-potpourri, and fill about 3/4 full in a long sewn-together tube of fabric (about 30" x 6 or 7" folded in half), then sew ends together.
Microwave for one minute on high at first -- then just 30 seconds to warm it up each time after it starts cooling down within that same hour. I wouldn't live without these in the winter -- and I LOVE how they smell so great too! (11/08/2005)
I use regular cracked wheat seeds - the kind you use for growing 'wheat-grass'. Add a little bit of cloves, lavender, etc. (12/31/2005)
By Catherine
RE: Homemade Heat Packs
I am probably older than most of the posters (67), and have suffered front pinched nerves and back problems since I was 20. Finally wound up with cervical spine surgery.
BUT, a zillion years ago, an old Italian Grandma helped me out by heating "kosher" salt in a pot and filling a white cotton sock with it. She sewed the top and that was it. Of course now you can heat the sock with the salt in it in the microwave. I never used any scents, just plain old "kosher" salt.
(12/31/2005)
