This is such a fun project!  In addition to being an easy last minute Valentine’s Day gift, it’s also a great way to perk up an older pair of shoes. To do it yourself, here’s how!

Materials

• Clorox® Bleach Pen® Gel
• Cotton canvas shoes*
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Cotton Swabs
• Dropper or syringe
• Dishwasher safe bowl
• Dishwasher safe plate
• Paper towels

Directions

1. Get ready: open the hydrogen peroxide and pour a little into the bowl.  Set a few cotton swabs in the bowl so they are damp and ready when you need them.  Fill the dropper or syringe with hydrogen peroxide and leave it in the bowl so it is ready to go.
2. Practice!  With the cap on, shake the bleach pen.  Remove the cap on the fine tip end, and gently squeeze out a few small circles of bleach onto the plate.  Begin working with the shoes when your practice dots are uniform.
3. Work in sections.  You can’t put all the dots on at once without the gel sliding down vertical surfaces, so be patient!
4. Apply the gel dots to the top of the shoes first.  Allow the bleach gel dots to dry before continuing.
5. While you are waiting for the gel dots to dry, use the paper towel to clean off any gel from the tip of the pen, and put the cap back on.
6. Turn the shoes on their sides, shake the bleach pen, and apply more dots, continuing the pattern from the top of the shoes.  Allow the dots to dry before continuing.
7. Turn the shoes over and apply gel dots to the other side of the shoes.  Allow the dots to dry before continuing.
8. Holding the shoes so the heel is facing up, and apply any needed gel dots to complete the pattern around the back of the shoes.  Allow the dots to dry.
9. Using the dropper or syringe, apply hydrogen peroxide directly to each dot, refilling the dropper or syringe as necessary.  This prevents any untreated areas of the shoes from being lightened by residual bleach gel when the shoes are rinsed.
10. Thoroughly rinse the shoes (you can do this in the clothes washer if you like) and let them air dry in a warm room.

Remember that you do need to be careful with the bleach pen.  Always make sure the cap is on before you shake the pen.  If you ever get even a tiny amount of gel where you don’t want it, dab it quickly with the hydrogen peroxide soaked cotton swab.  Want different colored polka dots?  Try using a permanent marker to change their color!  With so many creative possibilities, it’s easy to create a one-of-a-kind pair of shoes that will have everyone asking, “Where did you find those shoes?  I want a pair!”

*Do not use the gel pen on leather, wool, silk, mohair and spandex.

The perfect holiday gift—it should be personal, one-of-a-kind, and not outrageously expensive. Oh, and of course you want the recipient to totally LOVE it!  Well, I’ve got a gift suggestion that could be all that: a beautiful striped scarf you customize yourself with my favorite product, Clorox^® Regular-Bleach. It’s so simple to make--an inexpensive scarf (both cotton and rayon work well) is folded into pleats, partially dipped in a bleach solution, and then rinsed with hydrogen peroxide to stop the bleaching action. Ready to try this easy DIY project at home?  Here’s a list of supplies and step-by-step instructions.  Send me a picture of your beautiful creation—no two scarves will turn out the same!

Materials

1. Scarf in a solid color, made of cotton or rayon


2. Clorox^® Regular-Bleach  –or–  New Concentrated Clorox^® Regular-Bleach


3. Large quart-sized glass measuring cup or 6 cup plastic bowl


4. Measuring spoons


5. Rubber bands


6. 3-4 quarts of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide


7. Plastic dishpan for rinsing

• Fold the scarf evenly into pleats. Try to make each fold the same size, and if you’d like the ends of the scarf to match, be sure you have an odd number of folds.


• Secure half of the scarf with rubber bands (this helps keep any fringe from falling into the bleach solution.


• Pour the hydrogen peroxide into the dishpan; set aside (but within easy reach).


• Measure 1 quart of water into the large glass measuring cup or plastic bowl, and add 4 tablespoons (¼ cup) Clorox^® Regular-Bleach; stir gently to mix.  (Note:  if you are using New Concentrated Clorox^® Regular-Bleach, use 3 tablespoons bleach per quart of water.)


• Now the fun part: dip the scarf halfway into the bleach solution and hold it there for a few seconds, then gently dip it up and down so the bleach solution reaches all the folds.


• After 15 seconds, lift the scarf out of the bleach solution, carefully holding it over the bleach solution to catch drips.


• Dip the bleached portion of the scarf completely into the dishpan with the hydrogen peroxide and swirl it around for at least 15 seconds.


• Remove the rubber bands and add the entire scarf to the hydrogen peroxide.


• Pour off the hydrogen peroxide and rinse the scarf very thoroughly.


• Air dry.

--The more pleats you fold, the more stripes you will get. A 3% hydrogen peroxide is sold in quarts at larger retailers like Target. You can also find smaller sizes at your local drugstore or pharmacy.

--Always avoid bleaching wool, silk, mohair, leather, and spandex. Don’t try this to refresh an older scarf unless you know for sure it is cotton or rayon!