I have never had to change my rice?? I have some bags that I made for the kids when they were in their young teens....and they are still using them (10yrs+)...almost daily! Doesn't it heat up any longer? I'm really surprised by this.

I know that there is times when I am not feeling good and I will use one and I almost get nauseous from the smell of the rice.....but I have never tried anything else.

Corn works, but I don't like the "aroma". Flax Seed will also work as will buckwheat hulls, etc. l have used a few drops of essential oil on the rice and that makes it smell better. I used lavender oil and one that smelled like citrus. Just a very few drops will suffice! Bettye

Rice has never stayed warm long enough for me. I like the gel-filled packs. I buy mine at Walmart (around $10 or $15). I use a rectangular one at night to warm my feet in bed, and it's still just slighly warm when I wake up in the morning.

I wonder if lentils or small beans would work and maybe smell better? I don't mind the smell of the rice, but DH and DD complain bloody murder when I heat that thing up ROFL.

What about trying salt? I remember when I was a kid and had a sore throat or ear ache mother would heat up salt in a skillet (no microwaves then LOL) and put it inside an old sock and I would hold it on the area or sleep on it and it felt so good.It stayed hot for a long time too.She used regular table salt but I'll bet you could use the Kosher or some kind of chunky salt.Don't think I would use Ice cream salt because it always looks dirty to me.Isn't it funny how things your parents used have come back full circle and everyone thinks it's a new idea.LOL

I use shelled field corn in mine. I don't like the smell of the rice, either! If you replace the rice with more rice, make sure it is NOT minute rice. Use only regular uncooked rice.

Tami

I don't get it. Smells? Could it have something to do with how HOT you make the rice?

Mine doesn't smell bad at all, but then really, I never smelled the bag. :)

I just put it where ever I want heat.

Thanks again Zipper for my little rice bag you made for me. :)

Moni

Or you could put someting with a stronger, pleasant smell in, like a few cloves. When you heat it up you will smell the cloves.

My little chihuahuas use rice bags daily - I have a sensitive nose and can smell the rice so I make new ones every 6 - 8 months - I all a few dry sprigs of lavendar with the rice - it gives a nice fragrance. I have heard that field corn holds the heat very well - the rice bag will keep warm for 3 - 4 hours but that's with one small dog and usually a blanket over the dog. In the winter, I warm up the bags 4 -5 times a day.

I find that my favorite bag is the one with the flax. It never gets a smell and feels so fluid and slippery. Once in a while put a little essential oil or a spritz of perfume on it, depending on what I feel like.
My favorite bought bag is the Magic Bag...but my 6 yr old absconded with that. She knows a good thing when she finds one!

I use deer corn in mine, it will have a odor after a year or so also. Rice gets rancid and smells bad, and flax seed can catch on fire so be careful (because of the oils).
I still use my corn bags, so far they seem to be the best. When I was a kid my Mom did the salt bag too. They would work for small item, just make sure it doesn't get wet.

info on flax

Here is a link that might be useful: heat bags

I use unmilled wheat in mine - and it starts to smell a bit after a year or so of use, also takes longer to heat up. At that point I just cut a slit across the bottom, empty it and refill with fresh wheat, sew the seam and off I go again.
You can put a bit of cinnamon inside if you don't like the smell of the rice or the wheat or whatever you are using...done that too.
Be careful not to heat any of these types of bags too long, 3 minutes maximum is what I read, and after they have been used a few times it's best to put a small cup of water in the microwave with them so the wheat reabsorbs some moisture...
Suzan J

Rock salt or limestone gravel.

I prefer the limestone in mine. It leaves a better impression when you whack someone with it.

lilliepad, salt is what we used too. I used to have a lot of leg aches and my father would heat up the salt. I can't remember what they put it in anymore, but likely was a sock of some kind. I never thought about using it instead of rice. I wonder how well that would heat up in the microwave. Makes me want to run out and buy a couple boxes of salt and give it a try.

I use a herb filled soft shoulder ring thingy I bought at Linens N Things for $9.99..Stick in my microwave for three minutes . With my fibromyalgia this thing gets a work out all year long. Also works for Reynaud's Syndrome