Alcohol Free Homemade Ice Gel Packs

Traditional commercial freezer gel packs made with alcohol can be expensive. Homemade ice gel packs can be made without alcohol using things you probably have in your kitchen. In fact, there are several types of freezer packs that can be made economically from common household items. Here are a few creative ideas.

Homemade Liquid Dish Detergent Gel Pack

You can make a liquid dish detergent gel pack using either a 1-gallon zip-style freezer bag or a 1-quart zip-style freezer bag and filling 3/4 of it with liquid dish detergent. After forcing excess air out of it, seal the bag. Place the homemade liquid detergent gel pack in a freezer for one hour before wrapping it in a small towel and applying it where needed.

Freezer Pack

This unique homemade freezer pack can be made from two 100% cotton wash cloths. Two wash cloths sewn together create a simple freezer bag. A 2" opening in the seam of is left unstitched for filling the bag. The freezer pack can be filled with uncooked rice, wheat, feed corn, buckwheat hulls, barley, oatmeal, dried beans, or flax seed. The washcloth bag is filled half to three quarters full to keep it flexible enough to conform to the curves of your body, then the bag is stitched closed. Before freezing the freezer pack is wrapped in newspaper or paper towels to protect it. The washcloth freezer pack can be used directly on your skin unless it feels too cold, then it can be wrapped in a towel and applied.

Sock Pack

You can make a smaller freezer pack using an old cotton sock. The sock can be filled ¾ full of uncooked rice, wheat, feed corn, buckwheat hulls, barley, oatmeal, dried beans, or flax seed. The sock pack is knotted or sewn closed to finish. Before freezing the sock pack is wrapped in newspaper or paper towels to protect it. The sock pack can be used directly on your skin.

The washcloth freezer pack and the cotton sock pack can double as a heating pad by putting it in the microwave to heat it. A cup of water is placed in the microwave next to your sock or freezer pack for moisture during heating. Microwaving is done slowly one minute at a time and then checked. If it is hot enough, it can be microwaved for another minute, and then checked again. This process can be slowly repeated to avoid burning the contents until the pack is hot enough. The pack should never be left unattended in the microwave or overheated.

Tip

When treating an injury, apply a cold or hot pack for 20 minutes, wait one hour, and repeat.