Homemade Heating Pad by Carleyy
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HeatingPad 018.jpg
Make your own heating pad at home in two minutes!

I often strain my neck after staring at a computer for many hours.  A couple weeks ago I strained my neck really bad and couldn't go into work for a couple days.  Jason gave me the idea to make an at home heating pad.
 
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Step 1: Materials

HeatingPad 002.jpg
HeatingPad 004.jpg
1 Pair of Socks
1 1/2 cups of Rice
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timwikander says: Apr 10, 2013. 10:59 PM
This is great!
ccarreer says: Apr 9, 2013. 3:43 PM
OMG! I feel like facepalming here. xD

Friend of mine totally gave me one of these for Xmas, but I've worn it out already. I was trying to figure out how to make another one, and BAM! Duh! Sock!

Genius.
Suzi17s says: Apr 4, 2013. 11:19 AM
this is a realy good idea.
0johnlewis0 says: Jan 17, 2013. 4:28 AM
Great "waste to best " idea !! This will surely make the resources go well utilized :) Utility Heating pads.

T
hanks
ktyrel says: Mar 12, 2012. 5:19 PM
i hurt my shoulder last year i cheerleading and this feels great on it. it probably inst going to heal but it feels a little better. and btw. i didnt want to cheerlead...ever but my mom made me.
GREAT POST!!!!!! THANKS!!!!
SIRJAMES09 says: Dec 21, 2011. 4:53 PM
and if you do not want a round pad, cut some material in the shape you wish, & sew it up after filling it with rice...OR, do this & have 2 or more heating pads. :)

This is just great!! Thank you for sharing Ma'am.
PRockGirlScout says: Feb 8, 2011. 7:39 PM
I love making these for gifts. The sock thing is great adhoc solution but I sew rectangular shaped ones out of just basic cotton broadcloth (cut up flat sheets from the clearance rack work great). I sew channels every few inches to keep the rice from bunching up on one side.

Then I make decorative covers out of flannel using a sham closure so they are easily removed for washing. I usually embroider the recipient's name on the edge of the closure. Here's a sham closure for anyone who is interested:

http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/living/2010/10/07/how-to-make-a-pillow-sham/
SIRJAMES09 says: Dec 21, 2011. 4:43 PM
TY Ma'am for sharing this website..

I stumbled across this instructable looking for something about making pillows...

TY Again. B0)
Mike73 says: Nov 27, 2011. 1:43 AM
Cool idea and easy to make. Maybe I make some, too. My wife always needs more than one of the pads we already have to warm up ;-)
kwthemale says: Nov 26, 2011. 8:59 PM
If only my microwave worked...
The Laughing Man says: Nov 26, 2011. 8:23 PM
Made these with dried corn once, called em "Corn Bags" sowed them up like bean bags made you hungry for popcorn. Pop em in the freezer and they are great cold packs too.
hmaulana1 says: Aug 30, 2011. 12:23 AM
waw...
cantik
sanjay117 says: May 22, 2011. 6:58 AM
CARLEYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
are you married?
i am ready to marry you for this!
joke apart!
great idea!
doxsys says: Feb 11, 2011. 3:06 PM
You forgot Step 4: Get foot massage from significant other. :)
jjinyancey says: Feb 7, 2011. 10:41 PM
I have fibromyalgia and neck problems, so this is a great help to me! I've been using my same rice sock for over a year......just reheat it when I need it, but NEVER for that long! I can only heat mine for 1 1/2 min., but then my microwave IS a big, built-in one; probably has higher watts. But good grief, PLEEEZ use a new, clean sock! I made mine out of a long, white tube sock and filled it about 2/3 full of plain, long-grain white rice before I put a simple knot in the end of it. Then, I wrote "1 1/2 min." on it with a perm. marker so if my husband needs to use it, he will remember how!
rxtrekker says: Feb 7, 2011. 9:43 PM
beans also work as a filling. (the dried ones, not the green ones!)
twighahn says: Feb 7, 2011. 4:09 PM
add heerbs and spices to make it smell good
rwhorton says: Feb 7, 2011. 3:16 PM
Should you wash the socks first??
BtheBike says: Feb 7, 2011. 4:03 PM
what ? don't want athletes foot on the nape =D .

My Mom made 2 of these with dollar store river rocks.
White rice started to powerize .
peacenique says: Feb 7, 2011. 10:10 AM
Of all the things you can use to fill these, I wonder which keeps heat the longest.
mmaunder says: Feb 6, 2011. 10:10 AM
My understanding is that you must have some moisture in the microwave whenever you use it, so adding a bit of water is essential
Anianna says: Feb 6, 2011. 10:02 PM
No need to add water. We've never had to add water even in the winter with very low humidity. Rice is great at absorbing ambient humidity and will retain some moisture anyway.

It is this property that makes rice work well in salt shakers, for example. If you keep a few grains of dry rice in your salt shaker, the salt won't absorb moisture and clump up. The rice absorbs any moisture and keeps the salt dry.
Anianna says: Feb 6, 2011. 9:57 PM
I used my first rice sock when I was pregnant. A sock is the best size and shape for the lower back and for using under that heavy baby-filled belly! If you have a sock with a hole in the toe, you can tie off or sew both ends, so it's a great way to recycle some socks that aren't really good to wear anymore.

Good 'ible.
sebgonz says: Feb 5, 2011. 10:41 AM
I love these projects. I've been wanting to make these with cherry pits since they hold their heat better. I'll post it once I do. You can never have too many of these to choose from.
Anianna says: Feb 6, 2011. 9:53 PM
I like to use cherry pits because a heat wrap with cherry pits is machine washable. ;)

The problem with pits is they are more expensive and harder to get hold of unless you have your own cherry tree. Rice is great because it is relatively inexpensive and when it starts getting funky, you can empty your wrap into the compost heap, wash your sock, and put some fresh rice in.
loveiscoolandgood says: Feb 6, 2011. 4:19 PM
Very creative. Good-luck
Bryan Smith says: Feb 6, 2011. 3:46 PM
I have one that has field corn in it. I use it as a bed warmer and it keeps the heat for a couple of hours.
yasirafzal says: Feb 6, 2011. 11:56 AM
good one. Thanks for sharing.
dimpap says: Feb 6, 2011. 11:31 AM
WOW ! Nice .. PADs ! :)


mikchil says: Nov 2, 2010. 7:10 AM
popcorn works good and adds a great smell.
davidsona says: Feb 6, 2011. 9:53 AM
I'd be afraid the popcorn would pop!
poppet2 says: Feb 6, 2011. 9:08 AM
My daughter and I used to make heating pads to sell in our store. We sewed rectangles and long, thin (about like the sock idea only longer) pieces. Recently I bought one that has buckwheat and goes over shoulders, covering back, shoulders and chest...kind of like a filled shawl. It's nice, but it doesn't hold the heat well, and rice would be quite heavy, even tucked into smaller, sewn "quilted" areas. Field corn, however, is a good compromise, being lighter, but holding the heat well. You can scent these with oils, according to your choice.
But this was a great idea, so simple and everything right at hand. I'd keep one handy in the freezer and one out for the microwave. If you like these, don't put off doing this. They're more than worth the trouble, and this was done so nicely and simply.
kevinice16 says: Feb 6, 2011. 9:05 AM
you are very cute ^^
momofmedo says: Feb 6, 2011. 8:45 AM
I use lentil peas, and add dried lavender which gives a relaxing aroma
gijoebob says: Feb 6, 2011. 7:51 AM
You can also add pumpkin pie spice for a different aroma. Great job!
jsager says: Feb 6, 2011. 7:01 AM
My wife has been doing this for sometime but she uses flax seed instead of rice.
gangsan1996 says: Feb 5, 2011. 9:02 PM
ur bras showing
bmohr says: Feb 3, 2011. 11:06 AM
We do this too. You can also keep a sock of rice in the freezer. Since you are really only supposed to ice a sore muscle for less than 20 min, it works out well as the rice warms up in about 10-12. Then put the sock in the microwave for the heat. The icing reduces inflammation and the heat then promotes blood flow. Both help to interrupt the pain signals to the brain. I like heat better though :)
Neon Panda says: Nov 24, 2010. 12:31 PM
Brilliant going to try this later, My dog keeps on eating my socks so i have hundreds of lonley socks! How long do u heat it for? ^^
Carleyy (author) says: Nov 24, 2010. 4:00 PM
2-3 minutes should last for 30 minutes of heating your neck, if you heat it for too long it will smell a little burnt.
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