How To Make a Homemade Ice Pack With Dawn Dish Soap & Rubbing Alcohol

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Gel ice packs offer a comfortable and flexible alternative to those traditional rigid ones.


Today, we'll explore the straightforward process of creating your own homemade ice packs, with dish soap and rubbing alcohol playing the lead roles in this clever project.

Orange Dawn dish soap

Best value pack dawn soap

Make your own gel ice pack with these value pack dawn dish soap refills that Amazon reviewers swear by!

Tools and Materials:

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1. Gather Your Materials

Begin by grabbing your preferred liquid dish soap. I used the orange Dawn antibacterial dishwashing liquid, and it worked perfectly.


Ensure you have rubbing alcohol, ziplock bags, and duct tape on hand.

Step-by-step guide for DIY ice pack

Ziploc Food Storage and Sandwich Bags Variety Pack

2. Cut Bags to Size

For added fun and convenience, consider creating different-sized ice packs.


To achieve this, cut larger ziplock bags down to your desired sizes.

How to size down Ziplock bags

Heat the blade of a knife over a gas stove, then run it down the plastic bag to separate and seal it simultaneously.


This process creates smaller bags.

DIY gel ice pack with dish soap and alcohol

Dawn EZ-Squeeze Ultra Dish Soap Dishwashing Liquid, Original

Amazon Basics 70% Ethyl Rubbing Alcohol First Aid Antiseptic

3. Mix the Solution

Achieve the optimal gel-like consistency by mixing 2 parts dish soap with 1 part rubbing alcohol. Adjust the quantities based on the size of the bags you're filling.


Pour the dish soap and rubbing alcohol into a container, thoroughly mixing the solution.

Creative use of Dawn dish soap and rubbing alcohol

4. Fill and Seal

Fill each ziplock bag about ¾ full with the mixture.


Tip: If you are concerned about leaks use duct tape to seal the sides and double-bag the ice pack.

Frozen relief for body aches

5. Freeze and Enjoy

Place your DIY gel ice pack in the freezer.


More Brilliant Hacks

Read this Rubbing Alcohol tutorial for other genius ways to use alcohol outdoors.

Dish soap ice pack

Homemade Ice Pack With Dawn Dish Soap and Rubbing Alcohol

And there you have it – your very own DIY ice pack.


Thanks to the lower freezing points of dish soap and rubbing alcohol compared to water, the mixture maintains a slushy state, achieving that perfect gel-like consistency. This delightful feature ensures your dawn and alcohol ice pack effortlessly molds to your body for optimum comfort.


Have you dabbled in other DIY ice pack concoctions? We're all ears for your freezing innovations!

Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
3 of 7 questions
  • Joyce Blessed Campbell Joyce Blessed Campbell on Sep 12, 2024
    How to get read of roaches
  • Kat126066832 Kat126066832 on Sep 12, 2024
    Why are you advising us to add the dish soap to the bag for an ice pack? I've made these for years, one is in my frezzer at this moment, minus the Dawn dish soap. Not needed for an ice pack! Just the alcohol and water in the correct amounts is fine.
  • Jle139286686 Jle139286686 on Dec 23, 2024

    What purpose does the dish soap serve?

Comments
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2 of 21 comments
  • Lan141998152 Lan141998152 on Jan 09, 2025

    A solution to something that was not a problem.

  • VickiT VickiT on Mar 17, 2025

    I have another hack to share if you like….

    if you are expecting severe weather like snow storms, high winds, tornados or hurricanes. Anything that COULD CAUSE YOU TO LOOSE POWER….. Fill jump locks with water and freeze them. As many as you can fit. Transfer those to fridge or cooler when frozen and freeze more!!!!

    you can keep them in your freezer all year long.

    The more full your freezer is , the better it works.

    then if the power goes out you can transfer some to the fridge to save your food.

    Tye first thing that sells out of the stores when the power goes out is ICE and WATER. Now you will have both! Ice to help keep freezer cool and water as it melts in the fridge!

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