Smelly microwave bean bag

[Deleted User]

I got one of those bean bags which you heat up in the microwave. DP is complaining of it smelling awful, despite me using lavendar oil on it.

Does anyone know if its ok to wash it, either hand or by machine as we dont want to ruin it.

I am not sure as the water may affect the heating of the beans.

Thanks for your advice.

Bay

Sarahsaver

They should be filled with wheat, it may be the wheat has cooked. Unpick the bag, throw away the wheat and refill it. Wheat is very cheap. You chould have a small cup of water in the microwave when heating so as not to cook the contents of the bag, the instructions should say that, otherwise you risk starting a fire in your microwave!

culpepper

You can use ordinary raw rice if you cant find wheat. Dont get them wet though (wheat or rice) or they will go mouldy. You cant put them in the fridge or freezer unless you cover them really well with plastic bags and occassionally they will get a bit damp just from the air so need to be left out after microwaving to dissipate steam every now and again.

Queenie

I have been making rice bags for a number of years now, really easy to make and use.

No - you cannot launder them.
Yes - you can refill them.

One of the reasons those heating bags may begin to smell a bit whiffy is if they have been overheated and the contents have "scorched". Not much you can do about that other than refill it.

If you choose to refill and have some long grain rice in your cupboard (*not* the quick cook rice!!) I suggest you make up an "inner" bag, which you can seal the rice in from any cotton fabric and then make a pillowcase style cover in a pretty cotton fabric which will be removeable and therefore washable I designed my own cross stitch outer cover for the ones I gave as gifts and stitched the instructions into the design

If you don't have a heating bag but might need one in a hurry ... simply half fill a cotton sports sock with some rice, tie a knot in the sock, add a few drops of essential oil, then heat in the microwave. Timings vary depending on your microwave and the amount of rice used. I suggest starting with 45 secs and then 15 sec bursts after that. Gave that advice to an elderly couple on holiday once when I saw them pay out for a brand named heating pad ... they took the heating pad back after first trying the sock/rice method, got a refund and when we bumped into them again a few days later were *very* happy :laugh:

A little spritz of water occasionally is all that is needed to keep the contents from drying out to the point of scorching (as well as not over heating too long or too often).

Fillings can range from rice, wheat, cherry stones and I forget some of the other stuffings I've seen.

HTH

**purpleprincess**

What would you use one of these for?

MrsTinks

Well I use mine on my neck when it gets stiff... wrap it round the neck to help the muscles ease up Just use in place of a heat pack or gel/spray Or as a hot water bottle (I roll mine up and put it on my tummy when I have period pains )

You can stick it in the freezer too to use as an icepack personally I just use the bag of peas for that and then try to figure out what to use a whole bag of defrosted peas for afterwards

Queenie

**purpleprincess** wrote:

What would you use one of these for?

• My son's g/f used one for backache while pregnant.
• Across the abdomen if you suffer period pains.
• My youngest son uses one when he gets growing pains.
• The are great (depending on size) as a warmer-upper on chilly nights.
  
• Attach some ribbon and then tie one around a cafetierre - keeps the pot warm
• Elderly neighbour uses one to warm up their slippers when they come in from the cold.
• Across the back of your neck if you have been on the computer/car journey too long.

All sorts of things really!

**purpleprincess**

Ah ha!!! I might make some of these for presents!! Great idea!! I've learnt so much on this site!

troll35

I keep the pushchair in an unheated porch. When it's really cold I use a wheatbag as a hot water bottle to warm up the cosytoes just before the school run. All snuggly and warm and the little one goes to sleep. I take out the wheat bag before fastening in the baby

[Deleted User]

Thank you all for your suggestions, mine didn't come with instructions so I guess I have scorched the wheat.

Sorry I didn't reply to this thread sooner, I lost it!!!

I'll have a go at refilling it, thank you!

roms

I know this is a very old thread, but does anybody know of something similar but where you don't need to use a microwave (since I don't have one). I'm assuming the only alternative is a hot water bottle, but would be interested thoughts.