A homemade ice pack is a great way to cool off on a hot day.It is easy to make a ready-to-go ice pack using household items.Use rubbing alcohol, water, dish soap, or corn syrup to make an ice pack.You can make an ice pack with rice.A homemade ice pack cover, food coloring, or scented oil can be used to personalize your new cold compress.
Step 1: The bag should have 2 parts water and 1 part rubbing alcohol.
Put a 2:1 mixture of water and rubbing alcohol into a freezer bag.A few drops of food coloring can be added to your homemade ice pack.Put the bag into a second bag to make sure the liquid doesn't leak out and remove as much air as possible.If you don't have rubbing alcohol on hand, you can use dish soap or corn syrup to make an ice pack.Keep your materials and ingredients away from small children.Rubbing alcohol can be dangerous if consumed in large quantities and can cause irritation to the eyes.Babies and small children are at risk from plastic bags.
Step 2: The bag should be frozen.
The bag should be placed in the freezer.It should be left there for a couple of hours to freeze.The solution will develop into a gel or slush because of the different freezing points of water and alcohol.Gel icepacks can mold to the shape of your body, which may provide better relief than a traditional ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables.
Step 3: You can protect your skin with a cloth ice pack cover.
If you want to avoid contact with your skin, cover your homemade ice pack.Cut out a piece that is 1 inch wider than your ice pack, and twice the length of it, from an old flannel shirt.Bring the ends of the material together in the middle.The top and bottom should be sewed together.Remove the ice pack by opening the middle part.Wrap the ice pack in a thin kitchen towel or paper towel and place it on your skin.
Step 4: The ice pack should have a cloth cover.
Choose the material and dimensions for your ice pack.An old, clean sock is an easy option.If the material is tightly knit and the sides are closed up, pillowcases and other pouches are good options.Purchase material and sew it yourself.If you make a rice ice pack, you can use it as a moist heat pack by microwaving it for 1 to 3 minutes.
Step 5: Take the rice out of the pouch.
If you want the filling to spread evenly on your skin, fill the container 1/3 full.If you want to give your pack a nice smell, add a few drops of essential oil.You can use dried beans instead of rice.
Step 6: Put the pouch in the freezer.
The end of the ice pack needs to be sewed up.Make sure there are no small holes in the material where the rice might fall out, and that all of the edges are shut tightly.The ice pack should be frozen for 2 to 3 hours.The rice should feel like ice after a few hours in the freezer.It will warm up slowly instead of melting.
Step 7: The sponge should be soaked in water.
Pick a thick sponge large enough to cover the area you want to apply a cold compress to.For scrubbing, use a sponge without an abrasive side.If you want to cover a larger area, use a second sponge.Run the sponge under the water.
Step 8: The sponge should be sealed in a freezer bag.
The wet sponge should be placed in a freezer bag to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the freezer.If you want to remove excess air from the freezer bag, gently squeeze it.Place the bag in the freezer.
Step 9: The sponge should be frozen and used as needed.
The pack should be frozen for several hours.If you want the pack to be flexible when you use it, you should thaw it for a few minutes.As it warms up, the sponge will become softer.Wrap a thin towel around the bag to protect your skin from ice burns.