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Cherry pillows are packs filled with dried cherry pits (cherry seeds) which can be heated in ovens or microwaves. Natural and eco-friendly, they are used to keep warm and cosy during the cold winter, improve sleep and relieve pain. They constitute alternatives to hot water bottles and electric blankets. Cherry pillows are also often referred to as cherry pit packs or cherry pit heat pads.
How are cherry pillows made?
As mentioned above, a cherry pit pillow is filled with dried cherry pits. The cherry pits are placed in a fabric cover, which is then sewn shut.
It’s basically like a normal pillow but filled with cherry pits instead of feathers or other content traditional pillows are usually filled with.
How do cherry pillows work?
Cherry pits naturally capture heat and diffuse it slowly and evenly on whichever part of your body you wish to place it.
Warm application
Once heated, place the cherry pillow - or cherry pit heat pad - on the area of your body that you want to keep warm. This can be your neck, your shoulders, your stomach, or any other part of the body you want to keep warm and soothe aches for!
A cherry pillow can also be placed on the bed to provide warmth and comfort for a night of better sleep.
Cold application
Cherry pit pillows can also be used as cold packs to cool down in the summer or reduce inflammations after a rough workout or sports injury.
For this, place your cherry pit pack in the freezer for a few hours: it will come out stone cold after a few hours!
How long does it take to heat a cherry pillow?
Although you should always check your product’s instructions, hot cherry pillows can typically be heated in the oven or the microwave.
Oven
Place your hot cherry pillow on an oven grid or platter. Set your oven to 110 degrees Celsius (230 degrees Fahrenheit) and heat your cherry pillow for a maximum of 5 minutes.
Caution as you take it out: the cherry pillow may only feel warm initially but will get much hotter once you move the pits around in the pack.
Microwave
The microwave is probably the simplest option when it comes to heating a cherry pillow. Place it in the microwave and heat it for a maximum of 2,5 minutes, depending on the watt power you opt for:
Power in Watts | Maximum heating time |
700W | 2,5 min |
800W | 2 min |
900W | 1,5 min |
1000W | 1 min |
Again, be careful when taking the pillow out of the microwave and shake it gently to move the pits around.
What are the benefits of hot cherry pillows?
Cherry pillows are mainly used as means to keep warm and for heat therapy. Their benefits are similar to the benefits of using hot water bottles: the heat from hot cherry pillows can help relieve muscle tension and pain, improve circulation, and of course, keep warm in cold times.
Cherry pillows are very convenient as they can be heated within a couple of minutes and can be transported just about anywhere, at home, at the office, or even while travelling.
They are also safer for children as they don’t require hot water and cannot leak or burst as hot water bottles could if you're not cautious.
How long do cherry pillows stay warm?
While this depends on the brand and quality, cherry pillows typically stay warm between 20 and 30 minutes.
This is probably the main downside of cherry pillows: they don’t stay warm very long, especially compared to hot water bottles, which will keep you warm for 3 to 5 hours depending on the hot water bottle size and cover you use.
Final thoughts
While we’re primarily hot water bottle fans and lovers, we thought it would be interesting to present an alternative option to keep warm and cosy: cherry pillows.
Cherry pillows turn out to be interesting alternatives to hot water bottles and electric blankets (we also invite you to read our article comparing hot water bottles versus electric blankets). Eco-friendly, natural, and renewable, they constitute a good means to keep warm in cold times or soothe muscle pain!
