Queen of Clean's Hot Tip

MAKE YOUR OWN NATURAL GEL AIR FRESHENER

1 cup of Kinetico water heated to boiling Stir in 4 envelopes of unflavored gelatin (KNOX) until dissolved Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of cold water

Add 1 - 2 Tablespoons salt or a good splash of vodka (to naturally inhibit mold growth) Add 10 - 20 drops of your favorite essential oil or any other concentrated fragrance

At this point you can be creative and add food coloring if you like.

Pour the gel into clean small jars such as small jelly containers, baby food jars or any decorative container with or without a lid. Use your imagination. I added some colored marbles to one of my jars, did green food coloring for one that was scented pine. You can also make layered ones by allowing one color to set and then adding another. The gel will set at room temperature. You can place them in the refrigerator to set up faster, but they will scent it! Decorate your jars as you wish and enjoy. If giving as gifts I would use containers with lids or wrap the open containers in plastic wrap to keep them from evaporating until ready for use.

There are no chemicals in these so they are much safer than the ones you buy at the store. Cost per 2 cups of gel, less than $1.15.

Previous Tips from The Queen of Clean

Sparkling Windows

Outside Windows. Combine the following in a bucket. 2 quarts of warm water and 1/2 cup of cornstarch. Mix well and then wash the window with the solution using a sponge. A natural sponge is the best choice. Then simply buff dry for a fantastic shine.

Tough Job Window Cleaner. For those tough window cleaning jobs such as screen stains or bug stains, Combine these ingredients:

NOTE: There is NO water in this solution.

Combine 1 pint of rubbing alcohol, 2 Tablespoon ammonia and 2 Tablespoon liquid dish soap. Wash window using a scrubbing sponge, rinse and wipe dry. This is great for car windshields too!

"Anybody who wears sandals knows about those ugly "toe marks" that stain the front of your sandals. For a fast way to clean them up, including fabric and suede-finish sandals, take your Act Natural micro fiber cloth and wet it. Wring it out well and then rub back and forth and up and down on the marks until they are removed. Allow to dry out of the sun and your shoes will look almost like new again! Remember, quality water makes for quality cleaning so check out a Kinetico Water Softener today."

Cleaning chrome faucets

With a Kinetico water softener, faucet and fixture cleaning should be quick and easy. However, if necessary, you can use white vinegar on a cloth or sponge to remove water spots and soap scum. Dry and buff with a soft cloth. Rubbing alcohol is also a great spot remover. Apply, then dry and buff. To shine chrome or any metal fixture in a hurry, use a used dryer fabric softener sheet on a dry fixture.

Cleaning mineral deposits from your showerhead:

With soft water, mineral deposits should be at a minimum. However, when necessary, you can fill a plastic sandwich bag with undiluted white vinegar. Tie this around the shower head and leave overnight. In the morning, remove the bag, scrub the head with a brush and it's ready to use.

Removing soap scum from glass shower doors:

With a Kinetico water softener, soap scum should be at a minimum. However, lemon oil or even plain mineral oil will remove soap scum and help to keep it from coming back. Apply the oil with a scrubbing sponge and rub it across the dirty shower door surface. Buff with a soft cloth or paper towels to provide a haze-free shine. The oil provides a protective coating that keeps the water beading and the soap scum from adhering. Never put oil or allow it to drip on the floor of the shower; this will prevent good traction in the shower and may cause someone to fall.