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9 Nifty Ice Pack Covers You Already Have at Home

March 4, 2025 · In: Eco Friendly

Ice packs are great for migraines and minor injuries, and ice pack covers are equally important in order to protect our precious skin! Whether you’ve got one of your notorious headaches or you’re traveling and need to ice a sore back, here are some hacks I’ve found other than wrapping your cold pack in a towel. Let’s upcycle, shall we?!

cold pack contents
I know I’ve fooled you, but no, I am not a superhero.

Hello, lovely!

I am not a doctor or licensed medical professional, nor do I play one on TV. Please seek medicinal advice from actual physicians and health providers. This post is to inspire upcyling, fun sustainability practices, and staying creative in all aspects of life!

Yeah, I am no doctor…

…but as someone who’s had migraines my whole life, I’m happy to share what’s worked for me! And sometimes that means curling up under a blanket in a dark, quiet room, and plopping a cold pack on my head (wrapped in one of my repurposed ice pack covers!).

I have an absurd amount of cold packs on-hand, but if you don’t have anything but straight-up ice or frozen peas, then you’re going need something to contain your homemade ice pack to protect your skin.

And you know what? I bet you already have some of these things at home! No purchase necessary!

While towels always work, sometimes they unravel and get messy. After reading, you’ll have some ideas for alternative ways to construct a cold pack.

This post is all about creative ice pack covers you can find at home.

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One more note…

This page contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you make a purchase through my affiliate link at no extra cost to you. My recommendations are always items I buy or totally want to buy!

Ice Pack Covers You Can Find at Home

1. Socks

These are socks showing that they can be used for covers for ice packs.
Tuck a pre-made or homemade ice pack into a soft sock!

Drop your cold pack into a cushy sock! If you’re making one purely with ice cubes, you could wrap ice in a tea towel or washcloth, fold, and then pop in a sock.

You could also try an old Christmas stocking!

2. Drawstring Bags That Come With Those Cute Pajama Pants

This is an ice bag in a pajama pants pouch to demonstrate ice pack with cover.
I’m a glutton for things packaged in reusable containers. It’s so much more earth-friendly and useful! This is a good thing to keep in mind when you’re comparing products.

I love these comfy pajama pants! They are so soft with such whimsical designs, plus come in the cutest carry pouches. You can use these pouches for lots of storage or as toiletry bags.

OR as ice pack covers!

The drawstring helps to secure your cold pack, so it’s not falling all over the floor.

3. Cloth Bags That Sheets are Packaged In

This is a sheet set bag to show the difference between hot pack and cold pack.
This wrinkly bag has gotten some good use as a cold pack cover! The sheet set came from my dear friend and brother’s mom-in-law, Maria! She’s also my shopping partner on trips. We both love a good treasure hunt!

I love sheet sets that come in matching bags that are usually sealed with Velcro. They are so useful for many things, but lately I’ve been using them for my cold compress!

This sheet set comes in a reusable tote! They’re also made with sustainable practices, including the OEKO-TEX certification and being constructed in a factory that’s wind and solar powered.

4. Small Pillowcase

These are pretty throw pillow cover to illustrate reusable ice pack covers.
I bought these pillow covers from a very nice lady and lovely artisan in the UK.

Think pillowcases for throw pillows or just a standard pillowcase you can knot at the end. These are great ice pack covers!

Before you buy something new,
look through what you already have
and you just might find the perfect item!

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5. Scarf

This is Kat wearing a scarf with her dog to show ideas for ice pack cover pattern.
Scarves make great ice pack covers!

Wrap your cold pack in a soft scarf, knot, and enjoy! This will be one of your prettier ice pack covers!

One option is the travel scarf with a hidden zipper pocket! You can store valuables, but also use to carry a cold compress on the plane or long bus ride.

Pro Tip: Need a cooling compress that doesn’t need to be refrigerated? Use a pet cooling mat! I’m sort of jealous of my dog’s cooling pad. I sometimes borrow it!

Repurposing and upcycling is about being creative!
And you don’t necessarily need to know how to sew
or use a bunch of power tools.

(Trust me. No one wants me around power tools!)

My suggestions are usually things I can do myself…
easy peasier ideas that include all skill levels.

Let’s learn and thrive together.
You’ve got this!

6. Oven Mitt

This graphic says, "If you're not a cook and don't even know where your oven mitts are, proceed to the next idea" to demonstrate hot cold pack covers.
This may or may not be inspired by true life events.

Oven mitts have that comforting, padded feel that would be equally comforting as an ice pack cover! Especially if you’re cold sensitive, the thicker covering feels like an extra layer of protection for your skin.

(Pssst: Always be careful with adding any cold or heat to your body. Check time limits to avoid burns, frostbite, and nerve damage. Again, I’m no doctor. I just want you to be safe!)

7. Soft Cosmetic Bag or Jewelry Pouch

This is a pretty jewelry pouch sitting on top of classic novels to represent cloth ice pack covers.
I just adore this jewelry pouch my aunt sewed by hand for me, many moons ago. She’s a natural crafts person, someone who can sew, sculpt, and cook! I admire that. I cannot do any of those things!

Add some ice to a cosmetic bag made for wet spills on the inside, but is cushy on the outside. Or if you already have a cold compress, just tuck inside the cosmetic bag for an instant ice pack cover!

Several years ago, my aunt sewed the most beautiful, drawstring jewelry pouch for me. It’s wonderful for special gems when you’re on-the-go, but it’s also a great alternative for an ice pack cover!

8. Travel Shoe Bag

This is a gel eye mask, book, and shoe bag to illustrate home ice packs with covers.
We used to have sample sales at my office, which were some of my best days ever! That’s where I got this groovy shoe bag.

I’ve finally convinced (actually cajoled) my partner, Jon, that shoe bags are almost an essential in the civilized world. Let’s face it: Shoes that have been in a public restroom (and all our shoes have!) don’t need to be super sidled up in my suitcase with my clean clothes. Oh, heavens, no! They need a shoe bag!

However, if you’ve gone overboard and bought more shoe bags than you’ll ever need for one trip, they also make great ice pack covers! Throw a few empty ones in your suitcase for travel aches and pains or store a few near the fridge for home use.

9. Wine Bottle Bag

This is a wine bag cover next to a wine bottle and corks to show an ice pack cover solution.
This wine bag cover has been in my collection for a while and look how perfect it is to hold an ice pack!

Do you have cloth wine bottle bags that never get used? Well, now you have no excuse! These bags make great ice pack covers, especially if you have a teensy bit of a headache after a little sippy.

Bonus Ice Pack Cover Idea:

If you’re looking for a comfy cozy gift for a child, tween, or teen, these hot and cold stuffed animal wraps are a really sweet gesture. I’ve purchased this pineapple microwaveable heating pad before as a gift. It was very cute!

Another option is to make a homemade rice bag. This probably does require sewing (I know, GOSH!!), but if you sew, then you’re golden, honey!

Ice Pack Covers Wrap-Up

If we use our imaginations, it’s possible to come up with all kinds of ideas that’ll save money, energy, and resources. Plus, it’s pretty fun conserving what we already own and appreciating what we’ve got. Let me know in the comments if you enjoyed this post and would enjoy more posts like it!

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Recap of similar items I use (and where you can find them):

  • I can’t find the exact eye mask I’m wearing above, but here’s a similar one. They say they are Climate Pledge Friendly and OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified.
  • Adorable pajama pants that come in a drawstring pouch with the same soft material
  • Sheets that come in a tote bag or Velcro-enclosed cloth envelope
  • Travel scarf with hidden zip compartment (for all of you secret agents at heart!)
  • Pet cooling pad (not just for pets, in my humble opinion!)

And some random fashion for you today:

This is Cosette, Kat's dog, dressed up as Punky Schnoodster which has nothing to do with cold pack covers, but it's fun!
This is Cosette when she dressed up as Punky Schnoodster for Halloween. Isn’t she looking so on-point?! (This is before the hair bows went in!)
This is Cosette, Kat's dog, in a tutu which has nothing to do with what is a cold pack, but it's still fun.
Cosette loves a tutu! This is also another repurposing improvisation! This tutu wasn’t initially made for dogs, but it’s obviously made for Cosette!

By: kstano · In: Eco Friendly · Tagged: Cold Compress, Cold Packs, Eco-Friendly, Ice Pack Covers, Sustainable, Zero-Waste

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Louise says

    March 5, 2025 at 3:14 pm

    These are great ideas that I would never think of.

    Reply
    • kstano says

      March 6, 2025 at 12:25 am

      Thank you for saying that! I appreciate your note!

      Reply
  2. Hari says

    March 5, 2025 at 3:15 pm

    Thanks a lot for sharing these at home ice pack cover ideas. Super helpful indeed.

    Reply
    • kstano says

      March 6, 2025 at 12:26 am

      Thank you! I really appreciate that!

      Reply
  3. Domii says

    March 17, 2025 at 12:43 am

    Super cute and easy ways to use icepacks. I wouldn’t think of some of them but it’s cool to be so versatile, you know! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • kstano says

      March 19, 2025 at 1:22 am

      Thank you, Domii! Yes, it’s all about being versatile! 🙂

      Reply

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Trees: the original shadies! Today, on World Envir Trees: the original shadies! Today, on World Environment Day, I hope one of your favorite trees comes to mind. What does it look like? Is it a big, shady oak or a magnolia bursting with flowers? Is it from your childhood or the park down the street?

I’ve always been obsessed with trees and am typically taking pics of them like an overly eager tourist. It never gets old to me. (Maybe for people around me, but not me!)

Trees are so important for our planet, from the air we breathe to the homes they provide for our furry and feathery friends. 🐿️🦉I just love them! 🩷

Thanks, trees, for your shade, protection, and beauty! 🌲🌴🌳

#shadetrees #worldenvironmentday2025 #naturebeautiful
Good things can come from rain even though it migh Good things can come from rain even though it might make us somewhat soggy for a while☔️

When I worked at a bank out of college, one of my fellow coworker friends told me I wasn’t soggy, meaning I was always smiling and chipper (annoying 21-year-old, that was me!) compared to our soggy workmate (who had lived a bit longer than we had and deserved the soggy status). 

Now that I’m older, I can get A LOT soggier, but I also know flowers still grow even in the toughest of times. Which is sunshine for my soul☀️🏖️🌈🦄🦋

Hope you feel loved today whatever life forecasts. Because you’re worth all the sunny days🩷🌈☀️

#beautiful #nature #naturephotography
Nature makes me want to be a better person…to be Nature makes me want to be a better person…to be gentle as often as I can, to be a light when I’m needed, to be someone’s joy just because. 

Is nature teaching you, too? Hope you can get outside today and see something good in yourself that others already see.

#beauty #photooftheday #growthroughit
I’ve always had a soft spot for the smallest (bu I’ve always had a soft spot for the smallest (but mightiest) of us🩷🦋🐝🐞🐇

#godscreatures #creaturesgreatandsmall #naturesgifts
Though, seriously, do be careful out there. Hike w Though, seriously, do be careful out there. Hike with a friend, stick together, and bring plenty of water, snacks, and supplies (including directions, a compass, or a map)🩷🦋🌈

#roadlesstraveled #naturehike #preparefortheelements #enjoynature #safetyfirst
In so many places, the world is reminding us, even In so many places, the world is reminding us, even begging us, that love is a choice we can always make🩷🌈🦋

#love #heartsinnature #redbudhearts

 

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