I guess I'm having trouble understanding what the problem is....you said you have clear water, and your other parameters except for free chlorine are "ok". Could you please post some numbers from a drop-based kit test for TC, CC, pH, Alk, and CYA?
I think your water is probably fine, and that you were probably just bleaching out the test strips. HOwever, without numbers to look at, we're all just guessing.

Janet