Homemade Heating Pad
If you've been looking for a simple way to soothe muscle aches, this easy homemade heating pad project may be just what you need! My daughter has been struggling with heel issues due to way too much activity while she's growing, and I was told that adding a heat pack to her foot prior to exercise might help.
Now, a normal momma would run to the store and buy a heating pad, but that would be way too easy for this penny-pinching-momma. My problem these days is I just don't have time to get to the store, so I figure anything I can make at home shaves an hour of wasted time off my day.
UPDATE: I couldn't believe how simple this was to make, and have been sitting here all morning typing with my fun little froggie heat pack taking care of me. My sweet daughter may never see this homemade heating pad again.
Here's what you'll need to make your own heating pad:
- 2 cups rice (I used Minute Rice because it's what I had in the pantry, but any type of rice will do).
- an old sock (I found this fuzzie frog in our missing sock basket ~ so glad to have salvaged him!).
- a ribbon (make sure the ribbon doesn't have wire in it as it will need to be warmed in the microwave).
- OPTIONAL: Essential Oils
like lavender, peppermint, or vanilla; since we didn't have these we used a little cinnamon.
And here's how to get it all ready in two minutes or less (way less time than it would take you to get to the store!)
- Pour rice into an old sock.
- If you're going to add a scent to it, pour that in as well.
- Heat for 30 seconds to 1 minute in microwave. Heat longer in 30 second increments if you'd like it warmer.
- Apply to affected area.
I didn't initially add anything other than rice to the sock, but the smell of rice drove my daughter nuts. I was trying to figure out how to change the scent, and since I know she loves cinnamon, I figured that might work! I added about 2 tsps. of cinnamon which worked perfectly.
I'm always amazed at how well projects like this one work, and am thrilled to have made it using just a few items I already had at home. . . woot!
***Note: I loved using cinnamon and it smells wonderful. BUT, if the socks you use aren't tightly woven, the cinnamon might come through the fibers.
Ummm…the only reason I know that is because I kept noticing little brown specks on me after using it. After a very quick jog I smell like one of my favorite cinnamon rolls. 😉 Any tips on other ways to “flavor” the rice would be very appreciated! Although I'm thinking my daughter will have no problem at all smelling cinn-a-mon-y!