(Not an advertisement.)
Though we live in the middle of the country, we’re lucky enough to live close enough to the rural water district’s line to have tapped into it years ago, thereby saying goodbye to well water forever. And really, the rural water is great. I drink it, my children drink it, and because it’s a relatively small and local system run by a group of conscientious humans, I think they take extra good care of things; the quality is even better than that of the cities in the region. Only problem is, the water is harder than heck and by hard, I mean it’s extremely high in minerals, which translates into spotted, cloudy dishes, broken ice machines, and malfunctioning dishwashers. We tried installing a water softener about five years ago, and apparently the hard water killed it. No joke! Hard water is a violent, dangerous thing and will destroy whatever’s in its path.
Until we find a better water softening system, I’m so glad I found this stuff:
I love it. It’s called LemiShine. It’s a citrus based powder, made from all natural citrus products, and it’s designed to be used alongside your regular dishwashing detergent. It has a pleasant scent and has just enough citrus action in it to loosen any pesky minerals in the water and prevent it from adhering to your plates and glasses. I can’t run a wash cycle without it, else the dishes will wind up with a cloudy, depressing film. It also prevents my dishwasher from becoming overrun with mineral deposits, which cuts down on my frantic phone calls to the appliance repairman. He tends to get sick of me.
Because I live in the country and am afraid ever to be without it, I buy about ten bottles at time. And besides using it in the dishwasher, I also sometimes sprinkle a spoonful into a really greasy pan, add a little water, and let it sit for a little while. Then, when I’m ready to wash it, the gunk is all loosey goosey and washes away. And since it has disinfecting and deodorizing qualities, I periodically sprinkle a couple of spoonfuls into the garbage disposal, then add a tiny bit of water and let it sit for awhile, just to keep it from becoming a cesspool down there.
If I had to give up running water, I could learn to survive. But as long as I HAVE running water, I can’t survive without this blessed product.
I dadgum love it.
Ree Drummond is the founder of The Pioneer Woman and a lover of butter, basset hounds and life on the ranch! Ree started her blog in 2006, and now millions visit ThePioneerWoman.com every month for her trusted recipes and fun family stories. Here’s what she has been up to since it all began:
New York Times Bestselling Author
Ree has written two memoirs (Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, and Frontier Follies) plus nine bestselling cookbooks:
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl (2009)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier (2012)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays (2013)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime (2015)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! (2017)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The New Frontier (2019)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Super Easy (2021)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinner’s Ready! (2023)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The Essential Recipes (2025)
Food Network Host
Since 2011, Ree has been sharing simple, family-friendly recipes—and the occasional kitchen prank!—on her award-winning show The Pioneer Woman, filmed right on Drummond Ranch. Ree is also a regular judge on Food Network competitions, including Christmas Cookie Challenge.
Founder, The Pioneer Woman Collection
Ree has been creating and selling kitchen and home products at Walmart since 2015 and she’s involved in designing every piece and pattern. The line now includes best-selling appliances (you have to see the floral blender!), plus hundreds of pieces of cookware, tableware, and more. Ree doesn’t like to play favorites but the Agatha print has a special place in her heart.
Restaurant and Hotel Owner
Together with her husband Ladd, Ree has opened several bustling businesses in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, including The Pioneer Woman Mercantile—a bakery, restaurant, and general store that draws visitors from across the country (many come for the biscuits alone!), P-Town Pizza, Charlie’s Ice Cream Shop, and The Boarding House, a charming hotel with eight different rooms decorated by Ree and Ladd.
Media Personality
Ree appears regularly on national TV shows like Today, Good Morning America and more—all while managing to keep flour off her shirt.
Wife, Mom and…Grandma!
Ree’s kids (daughters Alex and Paige and sons Bryce and Todd) are all grown up, and as of December 2024, Ree is the proud grandma of the cutest baby ever, Sofia Scott, born to Alex and her husband Mauricio. Ree still cooks for Ladd (and the kids when they’re home), and she also looks after a few mischievous ranch dogs.
