General Chat

Liz What are wheat bags when there's at home? catherine xx

Just checked on a site to find out time to heat these - what scary warnings on here.

Do’s and Don’ts Wheatbags factsheet Wheat bags can bring relief and comfort to you when you use them properly. As with any product involving heat, there is a danger of fire and a risk of injury to you if you do not use it properly. Manufactured wheat bags Wheat bags available in shops usually contain buckwheat, which has a known moisture content. Knowing this moisture content and the volume of the wheat bag means that the manufacturer can recommend proper heating times. If you follow the recommended heating time, the bag should not overheat, cause a fire, or burn you. Homemade wheat bags Homemade wheat bags can pose a greater fire and injury risk because the moisture content and volume of these bags is not known, and the proper heating time can’t be recommended. The use of a type of wheat other than buckwheat may increase the risks of overheating, fires, and burns. Adding oils to wheat bags If you add oils to wheat bags, over time you will saturate the cover cloth and create an added fire risk to the existing danger of overheating and fire. Overheating and Fire Risks Continual heating and drying of the wheat bag may overheat it to ignition point. When heating it in a microwave, place a cup or bowl of water in with the wheat bag to reduce this risk. Spontaneous Combustion If the wheat bag is kept insulated after initial heating (for example, placed under bedclothes, or on a car seat in the sun), spontaneous heating can then occur and the wheat may catch fire. Do’s and Don’ts DO Buy wheat bags with clear heating instructions. Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Buy wheat bags which include a manufacturer’s contact details in case you have a problem. Use only as a heat pack for direct application to the body. Watch for over-use – an over-cooked odour, a smell of burning, smoking or charring. Leave to cool in a safe area and on a non-combustible surface, like a kitchen sink. DO NOT Do not use wheat bags as bed warmers. Do not over-heat (recommended maximum is three minutes for manufactured bags). Do not reheat the bag until it has completely cooled - which may be two hours after initial heating. Do not leave the microwave unattended when heating a bag. Do not store the wheat bag until it is cold. Do not use the bag if you observe any problems – contact the manufacturer. Will be much more careful with mine in future, bought it on a market stall and lost the leaflet with it.

Catherine they act like hot water bottles but often have herbs in them to aid sleep. PP - what scary warnings - SHARE T.O.R. ;o))

Like a new form of hot water bottle, Catherine. Good for using on aching joints, etc

Okay my message was obviously a bit late. pmsl

T.O.R. Me to a t, I often post late and am beaten to it by others! lol

Have you used it yet PP..

I had a dog one bought for me a couple of years ago. A couple of weeks ago I put him in the microwave. After a minute or so I smelt burning - rushed to the microwave. Poor dog had his leg caught under the wheel on the microwave - some of wheat had burnt & there was a hole in his paw :-((( Took me a while to pluck up the courage to put him in the bin - I felt so cruel :-(

I may seem cruel................................. :-) Felt as if I'd killed a real dog mind! PS some of my relations came from Cork :-)

Blimey I have got one on my shoulder at this very moment, they are really great for relieving pain I also use mine to put on my knee when it is cold whilst I am on the computer..sad or what

Have used wheat bags for over two years now. No problems - TWO MINUTES MAX on high in the micro wave. (800 watts) Better than hot water bottles any day for muscular relief. Don't be too alarmed - we shall all turn into nervous wrecks with all this health and safety.

I had been warming mine through on the top of the gas fire, and it did ease my shoulder. Just had a look and as I thought, o.h. only has a small one, lol I mean just a 500w microwave, really ancient, so I guess 2 mins on high wouldn't do any harm but wouldn't really heat the bag to last long enough. Will have to be trial and error, but certainly very comforting as the wheat sort of settles warmly round the aching joint, bit like a bean bag we used to have at school to play with.