Commercial window cleaners can be very toxic and costly. Did you know you can make a very effective non-toxic window cleaner with things found in your kitchen! It will save you money and is safer for you and the environment. The common ingredient found in most window cleaning recipes is vinegar. Most say to use white vinegar, but some recipes suggest that apple cider vinegar will work as well. The most basic formula is comprised of a 1:1 ratio of white vinegar to water. Some recipes suggest adding three to five drops of your favorite essential oil (like lavender, peppermint or grapefruit) to add a pleasant scent in your home. For those of you with grimy, greasy buildup on your windows, try adding just a little bit of liquid soap or detergent—it will wash the grime and grease away.
Recipe for the Best Window Cleaner
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon liquid soap or detergent
- 2 cups of distilled water
- 3-5 Drops Essential Oil
Mix the above ingredients together in a spray bottle and shake to combine. Then spray your windows and wipe. The addition of the detergent or soap will help remove grease and buildup.
Tips for Success
Use crumpled newspaper or a lint free cloth to wipe your windows. Be sure to only use black and white newspapers, not the colored ones. Don’t clean your windows if the sun is shining on them, or if they are warm because streaks will show after drying.
To get a streak free, clean window, use straight horizontal or vertical strokes. By cleaning the inside of the window with horizontal strokes and the outside with vertical strokes it will make it obvious which side of the window needs further cleaning or polishing to eliminate streaks.
What’s your favorite window cleaning tip?