If your house is anything like mine, windows and mirrors require perpetual cleaning from hand prints, food smears, and other lovely grime left from kids. While a number commercial glass and window cleaner products exist on the market, sometimes it is cheaper, and perhaps safer in some instances, to use a DIY cleaner. Everyone’s acceptance of the relative safety of various compounds varies, and so, here are three homemade glass and window cleaner recipes found effective, and perhaps safer than commercial versions.
3 Homemade Glass and Window Cleaner Recipes
1. Vinegar and Water
If you want one of the safest cleaners, vinegar and water works well on glass to remove fingerprints, dirt, and other types of grime.
Vinegar and Water
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Distilled White Vinegar
- 1 Cup Water
Instructions
- Find or purchase a gallon plastic bottle for mixing and storage. You need a clean bottle, not previously used for commercial chemicals. Empty water jugs work well. You will also need a clean sprayer bottle. I prefer heavy duty sprayers.
- Pour the vinegar into the mixing container.
- Pour the water into the container, replace the cap, and shake to mix.
- One thoroughly mixed, fill the sprayer bottle, and use on your glass surfaces.
- Make sure you label your containers for safety.
- If you need more glass and window cleaner, simply increase the amounts of vinegar and water in a 1 to 1 ratio.
2. Castile Soap, Rubbing Alcohol, and Water
Another safer option for a homemade glass and window cleaner uses Castile soap, rubbing alcohol, and water.
Castile soap is biodegradable and contains no synthetic preservatives or other harmful ingredients.
Castile Soap, Rubbing Alcohol, and Water
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons Castile Soap
- 1 Cup 99% Isopropyl Alcohol (Rubbing alcohol)
- 1 Gallon Water
Instructions
- Find or purchase a gallon plastic bottle for mixing and storage. You need a clean bottle, not previously used for commercial chemicals. Empty water jugs work well. You will also need a clean sprayer bottle. I prefer heavy duty sprayers.
- Pour rubbing alcohol into mixing container.
- Fill the remainder of the container with water.
- Put Castile Soap into the top of the container, recap, and gently invert the container to mix.
- One thoroughly mixed, fill the sprayer bottle, and use on your glass surfaces.
- Make sure you label your containers for safety.
3. Ammonia, Rubbing Alcohol, Dish Soap, and Water
Although this mixture contains more ingredients some might find less safe, ammonia works well for cleaning grease and other oils.
All ingredients are commonly found in commercial household cleaners, and are readily available.
Ammonia, Rubbing Alcohol, Dish Soap, and Water
Ingredients
- 2 Cups 99% Isopropyl Alcohol (Rubbing alcohol)
- 1/2 Cup Ammonia
- 1/2 Teaspoon Dish Soap
- 1 Gallon Water
Instructions
- Find or purchase a gallon plastic bottle for mixing and storage. You need a clean bottle, not previously used for commercial chemicals. Empty water jugs work well. You will also need a clean sprayer bottle. I prefer heavy duty sprayers.
- Pour the isopropyl alcohol and ammonia into the mixing container.
- Fill the remainder of the gallon mixing container with water.
- Place the dish soap into the top of the container, recap, and invert gently to mix the ingredients.
- One thoroughly mixed, fill the sprayer bottle, and use on your glass surfaces.
- Make sure you label your containers for safety.
Links to Items Used in Recipes
Isopropyl Alcohol (Rubbing Alcohol)
Do you know about any other recipes for glass and window cleaner?
