How to Craft a Home Made Heating Pad

There's nothing more soothing than a heat pad on tired aching muscles, earaches, cramps, and backache. This article will show you how to make your very own heating pad from items commonly found around most homes.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• For heating pad # 1, you need:
• tube socks
• needle and thread
• 2 pounds rice grains (do not use instant rice)
• Optional: peppermint oil, dried lavendar, ground cloves, rosemary, marjoram
• Or for heating pad # 2, you'll need:
• tube socks
• coarse salt
• a heavy-duty safety pin

1. 
   tube socks

   The first step in making your own heating pad is to gather your ingredients. For the first kind of heating pad, you can use rice (grains of rice, do not use instant rice). However, these can also be made with other ingredients besides rice, including beans, barley, wheat, flax seeds, or whole oatmeal. Rice seems to be very popular but these heating pads can be made with all of the above ingredients instead of rice, and they work just as well. You'll also need a new, clean tube sock for your heating pad. For a nice aroma you can add some oils like peppermint, or herbs, or spices, but these are optional.

2. 
   rice grains

   Fill one clean tube sock with about 2 pounds of rice. Sew the end of the sock shut with needle and thread, using stitches that are close together so the rice doesn't fall out every time you use the heating pad.
   If you like, you can now cover your homemade heating pad with another white tube sock. The second tube sock keeps your heating pad clean since you can wash it when it gets dirty, and keeps the heating pad from being too hot or burning your skin.

3. 
   rice filled heating pads

   To use your heating pad, place in your microwave oven on high for 2 to 3 minutes and then place on the area of your body that needs a heating pad. Watch that the heating pad isn't so hot that it burns you.

4. 
   [peppermint oil is nice

   You can use the same rice-filled tube sock to cool you too. Just place in the freezer, then when it's cold enough, cover with a towel or cloth and place on your body.

5. 
   tube sock heat pads

   A variation of the home made heating pad is to use salt instead of rice in your tube sock heating pad. Heat 1 pound of coarse salt in a heavy pan on top of your stove (cast iron works great), and then very carefully funnel the heated salt into the tube sock. Don't make it rigid, but so that it feels about like a bean bag. Use a heavy-duty safety pin to close the top tightly and cover with a second tube sock to avoid burning the skin. The salt heating pad can even be used in cabins, boats, and tents, because you don't need a microwave to heat the salt. Imagine how good the salt heating pack would feel after a long hike through the woods! The salt can be used over and over again.

Tips & Warnings

• This is very easy to make but quite effective too. Use your homemade heat pad on toothache, earache, stomach ache, menstrual cramps, and for backache. It really helps.

[carolzn]

on 9/17/2009 This is a great article. I am going to finally try making my own heating pad. Thanks.

[Lilfix]

on 4/25/2009 Great tips on how to craft a home made heating pad...I've done this with the kids on my property so they could give them as Mother's Day gifts...the Moms loved them...Thanks for sharing! RRRC5*

[Walkaboutangel]

on 4/20/2009 These homemade heating pads work so well... And are so easy to make...

[CrystalR]

on 3/28/2009 This worked fantastic - thanks!

[bizzyliz]

on 2/13/2009 I never thought of using a tube sock. I made a big rectangular(almost square) rice bag to warm my feet or place on across my shoulders and back to help relax muscles. I'm going to try this sock version. Thanks for the ideas.