Whether you hurt yourself or have a muscle cramp or sprain that refuses to lessen the pain, you cannot always have an ice pack at home. Everyone should always have a flexible ice pack at home handy because situations never come with a warning. And, spending behind ice packs is so not logical when you can make your own at home that too for cheap! Also, homemade ice packs are soft, flexible, and comfortable for icing down body aches and pains and they certainly do not contain harmful chemicals. Here are some easy and cheap ways to make your very own ice pack:
BY USING RUBBING ALCOHOL
Things you need: To make this ice pack you need 1 cup rubbing alcohol, a freezer sized zip lock bag (a good quality one which won’t leak) and 2 cups water.
Method: Mix rubbing alcohol and water in a bowl and pour it in the zip lock bag. To be extra careful, you can add the zip lock bag in ne more bag. Before closing the bag, just make sure you squeeze the bag and take out all the air. Place the bag in freezer for 2-3 hours. Use it as and when required and toss it again in the freezer to gel it.
BY USING VODKA
Things you need: To make this ice pack, you need 1 cup vodka, a bigger sized zip lock bag that won’t leak and 2 cups water.
Method: Mix vodka and water in a bowl and pour it in the zip lock bag. To be extra careful, you can add the zip lock bag in one more bag or seal it with a sealer that you get commercially. Squeeze the bag and remove all the air before sealing it up and put it in the freezer. Let it sit for 2-3 hours and use. Put it back in the freezer after using.
BY USING SPONGE
Things you need: To make this ice pack, you need 1 sponge, some water and a zip lock bag.
Method: Take the sponge and keep it in a bowl. Pour water in it until the sponge is saturated and fully soaked. Put the sponge in zip lock bag and freeze it for 2-3 hours. Use it as and when required and put it back in the freezer.
BY USING DISH SOAP
Things you need: To make this ice pack, you need a big zip lock bag, 3-4 cups gel dish soap, 1 cup rubbing alcohol and 2 cups water.
Method: Take a bowl and add gel dish soap to it along with rubbing alcohol and water. Stir it slowly making sure the soap does not foam. Keep it still for some time after stirring so that it mixes on its own and the foam disappears if any. Pour it carefully in a good quality-leak proof zip lock bag making sure it is filled till the brim and there is no bubble left inside. Put it in the freezer for 3-4 hours and use it as and when required. Don’t forget to put it back in.
BY USING BALOONS
If you are running out of supplies and absolutely have nothing but just balloons, you can use them.
Things you need: To make balloon ice pack, you need balloon and water and that is it.
Method: simply fill the balloon with water and tie a knot at the opening. Put the balloon in freezer and use it.