By Annie B. Bond, Care2.com producer (www.care2.com).

1 cup flour (wheat, corn, or rice)
3 tsp. alum
water
10 drops oil of cloves (natural preservative)

1. Combine the flour and alum in a double boiler. If you don’t have a double boiler, set a smaller pan inside a bigger one that contains enough water that can be brought to a boil without overflowing.

2. Add enough water to make a consistency of heavy cream; stir until blended.

3. Heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture has thickened to a gravy texture. Let cool. Stir in the clove oil. Pour into a glass jar with a screw top. Apply with a glue brush.

Makes 1 cup

Shelf Life: 2 weeks refrigerated

Helpful Hints:

• Alum is available in the herb section of most supermarkets
• 20 Mule Team Borax (found in laundry section of grocery stores) can be used as an alternative to alum.
• Clove oil is found in pharmacies and health food stores.