Why Do Heating Pads Smell? 5 Scent Issues

Heating pads are warm and relaxing, but foul odors can ruin everything they have to offer. Strange smells can affect electric heating pads and those filled with corn, beans, rice, and other foods. However, the cause of these unwanted scents varies drastically.

Heating pads smell bad because they get so hot that they burn the wires or dried filling in the pad. Dried rice, corn, beans, and various herbs can burn if they’re microwaved for too long. Running an electric heating pad for longer than 30 minutes can cause burning odors.

On the bright side, you can fix heating pad odors by airing them out and spot cleaning them. However, it’s essential that you find out what’s causing the smells to help you find out how to prevent them.

Why Does My Heating Pad Smell Like Fish?

Your heating pad smells like fish because there’s mold or fungal growth from excess moisture. You shouldn’t get a heating pad wet, especially one that has beans, corn, or other dried food. Electric heating pads can smell fishy if they’re covered in body oils, sweat, and other debris.

Huggaroo explains you shouldn’t let your heating pad get wet for too long. You can put it in the microwave to get rid of excess moisture, but blow drying will also do the trick.

Another option is to dry the damp heating pad with a sponge or a microfiber towel. Some heating pads can get wet because they have internal sponges designed to apply wet heat.

Here’s a list of reasons your heating pad smells bad:

• You might’ve heated the pad on a mattress topper for too long. Damaged pads will discolor a mattress topper, making it look and smell gross. The odor could be coming from your mattress rather than the heating pad.
• Neglecting to clean a heating pad will make it smell horrible. Warm heating pads make you sweat, which soaks into the fabric. The body oils and sweat cover the heating pad with bacteria.
• Heating a heating pad for too long will create burning odors. Whether you have a microwaveable heating pad or an electric heating pad, you can overheat it rather quickly. For example, heating a microwaveable heating pad for longer than 5 minutes can burn the filling.
• Drink spills and food crumbs will make your heating pad smell gross. Much like sebum and sweat, these substances can grow bacteria on your heating pad (especially if you have corn, beans, or rice in the pad).
• Heating pads only last between 3 to 5 years, so they’ll start to smell bad and deteriorate after too long. If your heating pad smells stale or gross after a few years, it’s time to consider a replacement.

I recommend the Sunbeam Heating Pad because it’s simple, durable, and easy to wash. You don’t need to worry about overheating it because it has a thermal fuse. It comes in a 12″ x 15″ heating pad, but you can also choose the 12″ x 24″ heating pad.

Can Heating Pads Be Washed?

Heating pads can be washed with a sponge, but you can’t put a heating pad in the laundry machine. However, you can put a heating pad cover in the washer and dryer. The filling or electrical wiring in your heating pad can cause overheating issues if they’re washed.

One of the quickest ways to know if you washed the wires it if your heating pad is blinking. Moisture usually trips the thermal fuse. If you plug in your heating pad and it smells like its burning, unplug it immediately and wait for it to dry.

Never spot-clean or wash an electric heating pad when it’s plugged in. Furthermore, never get water anywhere near the plug, thermal fuse, wires, or controller on the heating pad. All of these electrical components can fry it, making it unusable.

Microwaveable heating pads are a bit easier to clean. Read on to learn how you can wash and dry your microwaveable heating pad, even if it has clay beads, herbs, rice, or beans in it.

How to Clean a Microwavable Heating Pad

To clean a microwaveable heating pad, you can machine wash the outer cover, then hang it out to dry. Spot clean the inner heating pad with a semi-damp wash cloth dipped in distilled vinegar. Let the inner heating pad dry before putting the outer cover over it.

Try this detailed microwaveable heating pad cleaning process:

1. Remove and wash the heating pad’s cover in your laundry machine. Sunbeam suggests cleaning the outer cover of your heating pad separately because it’s usually designed to be removed. These removable covers can be cleaned in your wash and dryer, though some of them need to be hang-dried.
2. Use warm water and soap or vinegar to spot-clean the heating pad. It’s best to get rid of stains, spills, crumbs, and sweat as soon as you notice them. It’s much easier to prevent unwanted odors in your heating pad than to eliminate them.
3. Dry the heating pad with a blow dryer, then put it back into the dry cover. Never put a microwaveable heating pad in a clothes dryer or a dishwasher. Let the cover dry completely before putting the heating pad into it to prevent mold and bacterial growth.
4. Microwave your heating pad to complete the drying process. Many microwaveable heating pads have a little bit of moisture from clay beads and herbs. However, you can remove most of the leftover moisture from the cleaning process simply by putting it in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes.

Much like electric heating pads, microwaveable heating pads can burn or catch on fire. Electric blankets burn, too. If you notice burn marks while cleaning your heating pad, it’s time to find a different one.

The Huggaroo Original Microwaveable Heating Pad wraps up to the back of your neck and shoulders. It’s incredibly soft and filled with clay beads, peppermint, lavender, and many other herbs. Microwave this heating pad for two minutes for soothing all-around comfort.