As energy bills saw another price hike this month amidst the cost of living crisis, many Brits will struggle to afford heat this winter. With this in mind, people will be looking for alternative and affordable ways to keep themselves warm as we enter the colder months.
While there's only so much we can do to combat rising costs, many people have been sharing money-saving hacks which centre around warming products that don't rely on central heating. One such product that people have been raving about is the humble microwavable heat bag.
Last winter, my partner and I fashioned our own warming bag by pouring basmati rice into a thick knitted glove and tying it closed with a shoelace. I was pleasantly surprised by how well this worked, warming me up effectively after a quick spin in the microwave.
This unexpectedly durable DIY bag saw me dutifully through to the end of last winter. However, this autumn, I decided to invest in a shop-bought wheat bag, keen to see if there would be a notable difference to how warm I felt - particularly as our bills have come into sharper focus.
While it's not quite cold enough yet for me to put the central heating on regularly, last year I would turn it on for around an hour per day. By warming my body up with the bag, I wanted to see whether I'd be less likely to use my central heating for long periods throughout winter.
I settled on a Heat Pack Cotton Tartan Microwave Wheat Bag from Amazing Health. It cost £8.99 from Amazon, and had excellent reviews and an eye-catching turquoise cover. I decided to test my new wheat bag against my old failsafe, heating them both one after the other before snuggling up to watch The Great British Bake Off.
My DIY heat bag cost considerably less to make, coming up to £4.31 for two gloves worth of supplies. I already had the materials knocking around the house, but you can pick up a bag of rice for 45p from Aldi and a pair of thick winter gloves from Amazon for £2.36. A twin pack of shoelaces from Tesco will set you back £1.50.
The cost of microwaving the respective bags for 80 seconds works out the same, costing just over 1p when taking into account the recent energy price cap.
Upon opening the packaging of the shop-bought wheat bag, I was immediately struck by the soft, sweet lavender smell, and the soothingly touchable quality of the cotton.
The instruction booklet advised no longer than 80 seconds in the microwave, and when I took it out, the material was warm but not so hot that I couldn't grab it more or less straight away. The lavender also smelt absolutely dreamy.
I usually leave my homemade heating bag to rest for a minute or so, as I find it heats up quite quickly and I don't want to end up with any nasty burns.
After settling on the couch with both warmers, I also noticed how important the shapes of the bags were for heat retention. I've always liked the hand shape of my DIY bag, which feels very comforting when placed on your belly or back.
However, the long, scarf-shaped lavender wheat bag proved to be a bit more versatile, as it's much better for placing around my shoulders, waist, or along the length of my back. I think it would be an excellent choice if you've got an annoying draft in the house, particularly in winter, as it retains warmth well.
I also found the wheat bag stays warm for slightly longer than my rice bag. When I returned to the sofa after doing a few quick chores, there was still a bit of warmth to it, whereas my own homemade effort was stone cold.
Overall, although my homemade bag certainly does the job to an extent, I would recommend the shop-bought version for the best results.
I would rate my new microwave wheat bag a 9/10. It felt safe and easy to use and did warm me through nicely without the heating being on. However, for chillier nights I would have to pair it with other products - my Oodie dupe from Primark, for example, or a fleecy throw.
In comparison, I would give my homemade effort a solid 7.5/10. This doesn't mean I've written off making homemade warming bags altogether, and would perhaps opt for a small cotton pillowcase next time with a wheat filling.
With October's price hike, I will be paying around 26p an hour for heating, but as I live in a flat, I only usually have it on for an hour a day. With an up-front cost of a £8.99 and a cost of 1p to warm up each time, the bag may save me a few pennies throughout the winter if I turn my heating on less.
While I'll certainly still need to put the heating on this winter even with the microwave warmer, I found it did take the edge off on chilly evenings, which could well cut heating costs as we enter the colder months.
Do you have a heating tip to share? We'd love to consider if for our series. Email us at julia.banim@reachplc.com
