Aches and pains are a part of life, so it’s super handy to have ice packs in your freezer ready for use. In our household, they’re often called “boo-boo” packs for injuries, but the ones from the store tend to start leaking over time.
Using frozen veggies is an okay alternative, but after a few uses, they just become a block of ice that’s not flexible or convenient. And while ice cubes are a quick fix, they melt fast and leave a mess, plus you can’t reuse them.
I discovered a super easy and cheap way to make my own ice packs that don’t leak. The best part? You can make them in different shapes and sizes to suit whatever you need. Plus, you can toss one in your lunch bag to keep your food cool at work or during a park outing.
The trick to keeping ice packs flexible is rubbing alcohol. Alcohol doesn’t freeze like water, so when you mix it with water, you get a slushy mixture that freezes just a bit. You can reuse these homemade ice packs again and again.
I go with a 2:1 ratio of water to rubbing alcohol, but you can tweak it depending on how slushy or firm you want the pack to be. A higher alcohol content will make it slushier, and less will make it firmer.
If you’re using vacuum bags, you can place your mixture into a vacuum bag and seal it to prevent leaks. This method is especially great if kids will be using the ice packs.
Experiment with different sized bags for different needs. Larger ones are perfect for back pain, while smaller ones fit nicely into lunch boxes. Keep in mind that these packs get very cold, so always use a cloth layer between the pack and your skin. I’ve made a simple removable cover with some flannel fabric to do this, which is washable and easy to make with minimal sewing.
For those who prefer not to use plastic bags or make everything from scratch, you can opt for a reusable version. Mix water and rubbing alcohol in an ice bag and keep it in the freezer. This way, you’ve got an ice pack ready without changing the ice every time.
This homemade method is cheaper and takes only a few seconds to whip up. The store-bought ice pack I last purchased was over $13, while all the supplies for this version only cost me about $7 total. Plus, they’re more effective because you can customize how firm and cool they are to suit your needs.
Have you tried making your own flexible ice packs yet?
