Homemade Ice Packs

Tip: Homemade Ice Packs

I have been dealing with back pain for years. And the most helpful and cheap thing I have found to help me tremendously is this great ice pack. You make it using Glad freezer bags (Ziploc has leaked on me before). Mix 2 parts water to 1 part rubbing alcohol. And to be safe, I always put a few extra bags over the one, so if it was to leak. What is so great is that they are very cold but not hard. The alcohol in the water keep the ice pack from freezing hard like a rock.

For a ankle or elbow, I use a quart bag and put in 2 cups water and 1 cup alcohol. For my back, I use a gallon bag and put in 4 cups water 2 cups alcohol. I wrap a dish towel around mine to get as much cold as I can. For the back you can wedge them in between you and a pillow.

This also helps with strains and other injuries of the body.

Source: My doctor told me about making these ice packs.

By carla j g from Kevil, KY

Feedback:

RE: Homemade Ice Packs

I love these! I've been using them for many,many years for my kids! I usually put a little food coloring in it so it looks like a gel pack and to make it easier to see if it's leaking (of course my daughter always had to have a bit of red in her's so it looked pink!). Thanks for the tip about the Glad bags, the one thing I really hate about these packs is how much they tend to leak, but I've never tried it with Glad bags, just ziplock and generic. (01/06/2011)

By lyonpridej

RE: Homemade Ice Packs

I've never tried the Palmolive before but I had the same trouble with the alcohol/water mixture leaking out, and I got up to 4 freezer packs each sealed inside the other. My therapist told me that Karo syrup worked great, and it does. I use one bottle to a quart-sized ZipLoc Freezer bag, make sure it's sealed, and it doesn't leak or anything. It stays thick so it molds to the area, knee, neck, etc. Just don't use the sugar-free kind; it freezes as hard as ice, so it does last longer, but it isn't as malleable until it thaws a bit. (01/17/2011)

By Nanamadre

RE: Homemade Ice Packs

I have never heard of using Karo, but I think I am gonna try it. I did want to give the idea of using a seal-a-meal because the bags are strong and by sealing it (just seal...don't use the vacuum), it should prove to be leak proof. (01/26/2011)

By Jmoyer235

Tip: Homemade Ice Packs

I tried making the homemade gel packs with alcohol, and I kept having issues with the stuff leaking out. I had it triple bagged, and it still leaked out. Is there a heavier type bag I should use? I feel like it's getting more expensive due to the need to keep adding more bags to attempt keeping the fluid from leaking out.

Do the sealers work any better, or does it keep it from forming better to the body when icing?

By Mable from Provo, UT

Feedback:

RE: Homemade Ice Packs

When I used to have tension headaches my mother used a frozen bag of peas for my neck and shoulders, When I felt it getting soft I put it back in the freezer to refreeze. We used it for months. Of course we marked it not to use for meals. Cheaper and easier than making your own ice pack. (08/18/2010)

By AvaElizabeth

RE: Homemade Ice Packs

Are you using the good quality ziplock bags intended for storing frozen foods? There are heavy duty with better quality seals. Try those.

But me, I would use the bag of frozen peas, or just get some ice pack things from the dollar store. You seem to be having quite a problem with these gel packs you are making, and it is hardly worth the effort. (08/20/2010)

By louel53

RE: Homemade Ice Packs

As a physical therapist I have often recommended the type ice pack you describe, but let me give you my most recent patient advice as a better alternative. Use 2 good quality ziplock bags. Into the first one pour 2 large bottles of Palmolive dishwashing detergent. Seal it all, but an inch or 2; force all the air out of the bag and seal the remaining inch. Place this bag into your second bag and seal this one as well, after removing all the air. Place in the freezer. Once cold you will have a gel ice pack that will conform to any body part and is reusable indefinitely, or until someone comes along and puts a hole in the bag! (08/20/2010)

By Tripleb

RE: Homemade Ice Packs

Why don't you just make one using material and rice. It not only holds cold but can be warmed and used that way as well. I usually make up several and have them on hand for individual emergencies. Kinda like a take it and you can keep it thing. If you need more info let me know. These really work great.

Good Luck, (08/21/2010)

By gem

RE: Homemade Ice Packs

Mable from Provo, UT,

Yes, sealers work great to eliminate the leakage. I would suggest you freeze the mixture in regular baggies. Then when the mixture is frozen, put contents into the sealer bag; that way you can squeeze more air out just before you seal the bag. I double-sealed the bag to ensure no leaks. In addition, I turned the bag inside-out before filling in order to eliminate scratchy sides and corners. (10/30/2010)

By msgadget

Tip: Homemade Ice Pack

Yesterday, my 7 year old daughter fell and hurt her knee. Well, she loves an ice pack for all of her ailments so I got the cheap dollar store ice pack out and it was hard as a rock and hard to hold in the right place so since she had already destroyed my "good" squishy one by trying to see what was in it, we made our own.

I took a quart size generic ziplock bag and put rubbing alcohol and water not quite half full and froze it. I guess you could add food coloring for more interest. Anyway now we have a very, very cold squishy ice pack that conforms to all those odd parts that sometimes need ice.

By Ginger

Editor's Note: A reader mentions below that the rubbing alcohol could be toxic to a child. A better mixture might be water and vodka. That way it would be much less toxic if it broke or some of the contents dripped out. If you use this with a child, make sure they don't lick eat the contents or suck on the bag.

Susan from ThriftyFun

Tip: Homemade Squishy Ice Pack

Yesterday, my 7 year old daughter fell and hurt her knee. Well, she loves an ice pack for all of her ailments so I got the cheap dollar store ice pack out and it was hard as a rock and hard to hold in the right place so since she had already destroyed my "good" squishy one by trying to see what was in it, we made our own. I took a quart size generic ziplock bag and put rubbing alcohol and water not quite half full and froze it. I guess you could add food coloring for more interest. Anyway now we have a very, very cold squishy ice pack that conforms to all those odd parts that sometimes need ice.

By Ginger

Editor's Note:
A reader mentions below that the rubbing alcohol could be toxic to a child. A better mixture might be water and vodka. That way it would be much less toxic if it broke or some of the contents dripped out. If you use this with a child, make sure they don't lick eat the contents or suck on the bag.

Susan from ThriftyFun

Feedback:

RE: Homemade Squishy Ice Pack

You can also add cotton balls to this and it keeps it a little more "spill proof" if the seal opens or the bag breaks. (10/16/2004)

By Barbie

RE: Homemade Squishy Ice Pack

This could be dangerous, as rubbing alcohol is irreversibly toxic to the optic nerve (can cause blindness). Make sure your child doesn't lick it or drink anything that may drip out. (10/17/2004)

By Susan B

RE: Homemade Squishy Ice Pack

We use a small packet of frozen peas.

If you label it well, you can use it time and time again - just refreeze. It will mold well to any body part.

Label it well because you do NOT want to eat them after thawing, etc. (01/05/2005)

By anisah

RE: Homemade Squishy Ice Pack

from my OT for my hand therapy for a tendon repair

• 2 cups water
• 1 cup alcohol

(06/19/2005)

By 2shoes

RE: Homemade Squishy Ice Pack

Thank you, this works great! (Very Cold). I have a fractured ankle and it is great for decreasing swelling. I also double bag this mixture to keep liquid from spilling out. :-) (07/24/2005)

By pauper

RE: Homemade Squishy Ice Pack

I found using two bags helps control the condensation. I also found out that using a larger freezer bag for the outside bag is helpful since the condensation will run through both bags if too tight fitting. (09/24/2005)

By Thor

RE: Homemade Squishy Ice Pack

Love the Editors note above. Mix Vodka and water. You start off with a frozen ice pack to comfort your pain and when it thaws you can drink it and further dull your pain. LOL. Chill, just being funny.

I live with neck and back pain every day from herniated discs. My PT passed along the info to mix the rubbing alcohol and water to make cold packs. My little 5 year old loves them. She won't put an icecube pack on her booboo, but she will use the alternative. (11/29/2007)

By Shelby

Tip: Homemade Cold Pack

Another great homemade cold pack is to add regular rubbing alcohol to water - about 1 part alcohol to 3 parts water - in a freezer type zip top bag. I keep a couple of these in my freezer at all times. The bags don't freeze solid because of the alcohol and that makes them ideal to wrap over a wrist, knee or similar area. I use them over and over before they get a leak. I also usually add a drop or two of food color to the mixture to make them easy to find in the freezer.

JLD

Feedback:

RE: Homemade Cold Pack

These work great. I use 2 ziplock bags to prevent leakage. They last a very long time. (10/09/2007)

By Charity.

Tip: Make Your Own Lunch Box Ice Packs

I find those store bought ice packs ineffective. There are 2 kinds. The big bulky ones that take up too much space or the thin kind that don't reach everything. Freeze ice cubes and seal in a vacuum sealed bag, then let it melt until you have moldable ice pack to refreeze that will fit your needs. It's reusable and leak proof to boot.

By Mildred

Request: Homemade Ice Pack

How do you make a homemade ice pack?

By Clementine from Burlington, NV

Feedback:

RE: Homemade Ice Pack

You can take a wet wash cloth, hand towel, or larger and roll it up and place it in a ziplock baggie and freeze it. Whenever you need an ice pack, just unroll and fit to area. You may want to have more than one on hand. Just roll back up and refreeze. (10/19/2010)

By Lorelei

RE: Homemade Ice Pack

I usually have left over socks that don't have mates. I put them over a cup and push the inside down into the cup, and then fill it up with rice as much as you like. I then tie a knot and then place it in a Ziplock bag in the freezer, also you can put this in the microwave to heat it up, I usually heat it for less than a minute, but it gets really hot. Blessings, Robyn (10/19/2010)

By Robyn Fed

RE: Homemade Ice Pack

I have seen people put beanie babies in the freezer and use them for ice packs. Just put the bean bag dolls in a zip lock bag, and they are ready to go. (10/19/2010)

By Robyn Fed

RE: Homemade Ice Pack

I use a bag of peas; marked with an X with a sharpie so it doesn't get used for anything else! Can be frozen and reused over & over; it molds itself to the area. extremely handy to have! (10/19/2010)

By MzScarlett

RE: Homemade Ice Pack

Fill empty water bottles to within an inch from the top. Freeze. These can be used over and over again. No mess, no fuss. Just fill them once. (10/20/2010)

By a4a42316

RE: Homemade Ice Pack

What fantastic suggestions, they would all work! I logged on to suggest a packet of peas, which was of course already mentioned. I'm off to fill a sock with rice! (10/20/2010)

By LTK

RE: Homemade Ice Pack

Mix 1 to 1 rubbing alcohol and water. Pour it inside a sturdy (brand name) plastic zip lock baggie. Then insert that one inside another one (at a different angle). Freeze. The alcohol keeps the water from completely freezing. This is very, very cold. So do not put it directly on your skin, put a washcloth or something in between it and your skin. I used it for my kids. (10/20/2010)

By thriftyvicki

RE: Homemade Ice Pack

The best thing is to buy a package or two of frozen peas and use the package as a pack. You can alternate two packages so they don't thaw and eat them later! Cheap, easy and earth-friendly. (10/20/2010)

By janetc

RE: Homemade Ice Pack

You can use a frozen bag of peas. (10/21/2010)

By K9cats

RE: Homemade Ice Pack

I read somewhere how to make a homemade ice pack for a girl child. They kept the child's doll in the freezer and when she got a boo boo, she was given the doll to put on it. (10/23/2010)

By tanyamichalski

Request: Homemade Ice Pack

I just had surgery for a broken femur bone and am going through ice without an ending. Does anyone have the recipe for homemade ice pack gel?

By Donna from Castle Creek, NY

Feedback:

RE: Homemade Ice Pack

Buy a couple of large bags of frozen peas. The package molds to any shape and they can be refrozen and used again and again. I used to use them for my tension headaches. (08/21/2010)

By AvaElizabeth

RE: Homemade Ice Pack

Yes, you can use packages of frozen vegetables for an ice pack. Peas are usually recommended but I think others would work, too, like corn? And then there are also re-usable frozen ice packs with plastic containers and some sort of chemical inside. (08/21/2010)

By pamphyila

RE: Homemade Ice Pack

1/2 alcohol and 1/2 water. Put in a freezer bag or 2. Makes the gel type. Does not totally freeze and contours to your body. (08/24/2010)

By firefly57

RE: Homemade Ice Pack

After losing my leg I asked at my Orthopedic office for 1 of their gel packs and they gave me one. I also just found some at our dollar store. I hope you get well soon. (08/25/2010)

By keeper60

RE: Homemade Ice Pack

Try bags of peas, or sometimes I use the cooling packs I get for my casserole dishes.

But if you don't like that, here is a site with several recipes:
http://tipnut.com/quick-easy-homemade-ice-packs/

I would double bag them with the top of one at the bottom of the outer bag. Good luck. (08/26/2010)

By yoder178

Request: Homemade Ice Pack

Last summer I had some eye surgery. My surgeon's nurse recommended I use a bag of frozen peas as an ice pack after the surgery. I tried that, but wasn't too delighted with it.

I remembered someone suggesting freezing dish washing detergent in a Ziploc bag, so I tried that. It was fantastic! The detergent never completely froze, so it conformed very well to the shape of my face. I told several friends about it, and they all thought it was a great idea.

Here's the best, thrifty part: once you no longer have a need for the ice pack, you can let it thaw and use the detergent to wash your dishes! Oh, by the way, if you still feel you must use the frozen peas, be sure to put them in a bag and don't use the box, as I heard someone did.

By Tooz from KY

Feedback:

RE: Homemade Ice Pack

When I had my eye surgery last fall the Dr. told me to take a small Ziploc bag, put some water in it and then add some rubbing alcohol. Put it in the freezer and it will get nicely slushy, but never frozen rock hard. It will then conform to any area that you use it on, especially the eye area. Also, the alcohol makes it feel even colder. You can make several and keep them on hand in the freezer for injuries. Also, the story about the frozen peas in the box must be going around. I heard that one too, when I had my surgery. (03/25/2010)

By lovethosehounds