Do you have any upcycled uses for gel ice packs that you actually find useful? (lemmy.world)

submitted 10 hours ago by j4k3@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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I have several gel ice packs to throw out and would rather make use of them if possible. Some leak and others have been collected for various uses (chronic health related). Is the gel the same stuff used for plant seed starters or anything like that?

Sure, I could search the web and find lots of people selling ads with their impractical MacGyver anecdotes galore, but that says nothing about what is practical and worth actually doing versus conventional alternatives.

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[-] sleepmode@lemmy.world 4 points 1 hour ago

I keep a pile in the freezer in case we lose power again.

[-] OlinOfTheHillPeople@lemmy.world 9 points 6 hours ago

Does Lemmy have an upcycling community? Cause that would be rad.

[-] j4k3@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago

lol :)

https://github.com/upcycle-electronics/

[-] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 hours ago

we want a community, not a guy.

[-] j4k3@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago

Just saying it's my thing too. When I make a community, few people participate at all, even when they are enthusiastic about the creation of one. Unfinished Proj was an attempt and people acted enthusiastic, but 2 followed through. I could certainly post way more there, but that was not my goal. I figure it must be a me thing, so I'm not making any more communities unless I somehow want to keep posting as a blog or something.

[-] firebarrage@lemmy.world 7 points 9 hours ago

I don't think I'd use them for anything other than their intended purpose if you don't know exactly what's in them. For the leaky ones, you could probably collect the gel into some other sealed container like an old jar (not totally filled). Then it would still work well as a cold source for coolers/lunch packs.

[-] j4k3@lemmy.world 9 points 8 hours ago

So it turns out that half of them are nitrogen based and have print on them that explains to use them as fertilizer. Now I'm curious about growing directly in these as a seed starter.

[-] athairmor@lemmy.world 6 points 7 hours ago

Too high of a nitrogen content is bad for plants, too. You’d likely have to mix it with something. Possibly, a lot of something.

[-] Cort@lemmy.world 5 points 7 hours ago

Website says 6-16floz/gal of water

[-] FartsWithAnAccent@fedia.io 4 points 8 hours ago

Damn, wish these were more common!

this post was submitted on 17 Oct 2024

37 points (100.0% liked)

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