A fairly inexpensive idea to help stay warm this winter

[RayOfHope]

I know we are all trying to stay out of the poorhouse with heating bills this winter, and this might help keep the thermostat down an extra few degrees, especially at night:

I have several small pillows filled with flaxseed. The smallest is about 6 inches by 10 inches. You can microwave the pillows for several minutes, and they'll stay warm for hours. The oil in the seeds is what retains the heat. You can do this with uncooked rice, but the flax is much more effective and retains heat much longer.

You can buy bulk flaxseed at an organic food store. Sew a simple pillow, then fill the pillow with about 4 cups of flaxseed and hand stich closed. These are wonderful in the bed at night (I went to bed at 9 last night and my big pillow was still warm when I woke up at 2 am). You can also drop some essential oils in too, if you like.

You can rewarm this pillow many, many times. I've had one I've used for over a year. Be careful and just warm about 2 minutes then check the pillow, or you'll accidentally burn a hole in the pillow.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

1. I thought you were going to suggest burning neocons,

but flax-seed pillows work well, too.

Thanks for the tip, and Merry Early Fitzmas! (*knocks on wood*)

:toast:

WIMR

[Shipwack]

13. That's scary..

I thought the exact same thing... :o

Of course, with a little luck, neocons are going to be scarce to find in a few months... "Who, me? Nah... didn't even vote for the guy!"

[WritingIsMyReligion]

22. You know it!

:evilgrin:

[Squatch]

2. Wear flannel PJs

We keep our house at a balmy 65 during the winter.

[StClone]

14. Flannel sheets too

Work wonders!

[Sanity Claws]

3. How will this help?

Do you sit on the pillows? Use them to warm your feet?
I just don't see them as making much of a difference. Maybe I'm missing something.

[grasswire]

8. like a hot water bottle, I guess

And incidentally, empty plastic shampoo bottles make great substitutes for regular hot water bottles. Fill up with hot, hot water and slip the bottle into an old unmated cotton sock. Works just great, and kids love them down by their toes.

[RayOfHope]

9. Yep, like a hot water bottle

Hold it, snuggle it, put it by your feet, warm the bed, whatever. They put out a ton of heat for a long time.

[HeeBGBz]

25. They are great for achy backs, necks etc

Anything you need to apply heat compresses on. Works great.

[BlueEyedSon]

4. Big down comforter & body heat!

[TommyO]

12. Down comforters seconded!

During this time of year I'm using a down blanket (windows cracked open, room temperature around 58 degrees when I wake up). Later, I'll switch to a heavier down comforter and keep the windows closed, but the heat turned down at night. I look forward to the three furballs sharing space on the bed with me - the furballs are Phoenix, Guylian, and Corky - three great cats.

[wryter2000]

5. Thanks

I found polyester throws at Albertson's for 3/$10. These things are really warm. Plus, I found if I wear something on my head, I stay warmer, esp. in bed. Now that I'm alone, I keep the other side of the bed warm by putting my larger stuffed animals under the covers with me.

[rzemanfl]

6. My wife used to think I was wonderful in the bed at night. n/t

[xultar]

7. This I'm gonna try!

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

10. Cotton ticking, or does it matter?

I imagine some fabrics don't do well in the microwave, but I don't know.

Thaks for the idea.

[RayOfHope]

27. Mine are made from a 100% cotton twill

Actually, I ordered them, but after looking at a big bag of flaxseed in the store, I thought 'hey, I could make these!" Fabric just needs to be microwaveable.

I'm guessing you could also throw a couple of cups of flax in a cotton sock and tie it off (per a suggestion elsewhere in this thread).

[LisaM]

11. "Sew a simple pillow".....

Hmmm. What if you can't sew? It would be like telling my boyfriend - "start with a simple roux...."

[patricia92243]

17. Fill an old pillowcase and tie a knot in the top of it . n/t

[Inland]

15. Good, I thought a hot water bottle was wasteful,

by the time the hot water gets to the tap.

[schmuls]

16. natural heating

Hot flashes work well too, but then you freeze afterward!!!

[madrchsod]

21. yes they do

sometimes it like sleeping next the furnace!

[Cleita]

18. I live in California so I although we can get below freezing,

it's not that often. Otherwise I bundle up with layered clothing. Your heated pillow is a good idea. I will try it. My cat might enjoy one too. He really tries to cuddle a lot when the weather is cold. I also make a point of cooking winter meals in the oven. It helps heat up the place for a while without too much gas being used, like the heater does.

[HereSince1628]

19. My advice for warm sleeping is get a partner...a dog, a woman, a man

it really makes little difference so long as they are warm blooded and willing to snuggle together under the cotton.

[nickyt]

20. Thanks, dads - also a great gift idea n/t

[MarsThe Cat]

23. i hate warm pillows.

i likes my pillows cool.

and if you want a cheap idea to save heat-
candles.
i always pick up large/cheap candles at garage sales, and when they burn down, i save the leftover wax to make more candles.

a dozen or so candles burning in each of several rooms REALLY keeps it warm.

[RayOfHope]

26. two kids under 4 plus many burning candles=

one house burnt to the ground. Plus candles don't warm your toes in the bed :)

[MarsThe Cat]

28. socks warm my feet in bed.

and i have no kids, but we do have three cats- once they get their whiskers burned once- they lose A LOT of curiosity about open flame.

[HeeBGBz]

24. I do the same thing, only with feed corn

I'm making several microwaveable pillows for my family for christmas. They are good for keeping pets warm too.