Ice packs alleviate symptoms of pain, bruising, swelling and muscle spasms stemming from sprains and minor injuries. Making your own ice packs is an economical solution that allows you not only to save money, but also to have ice packs on hand when needed. Using rubbing alcohol in an ice pack is a good option because the alcohol does not fully freeze in water. This means that the frozen ice pack remains capable of taking the shape of the part of the body you use it on, instead of being just a block of ice.
Step 1
Mix water and rubbing alcohol in large bowl. Measure two parts water to one part rubbing alcohol.
Step 2
Label the outside of the freezer bag with a marker so that the contents of the bag remain known for future use.
Step 3
Pour mixture into the freezer bag until it is about halfway filled. Remove as much air as possible from the bag as you seal it closed.
Step 4
Place sealed freezer bag into another freezer bag to minimize leaks. Seal the second bag.
Step 5
Put freezer bag in the freezer for at least three hours.
Step 6
Store the ice pack in freezer until needed.
Tips and Warnings
- Add more alcohol to your ice pack mixture for increased pliability of the pack. Conversely, use less alcohol for a more rigid ice pack. Reuse the ice pack by refreezing after use. Pack lasts as long as the freezer bag remains hole-free.
- Do not apply ice pack directly to your skin. Use a towel to separate skin from ice pack.
Things You'll Need
- Large bowl
- Marker
- Freezer bags
