Nowadays, more and more of us become conscious of our environmental impact. Gradually, we change our lifestyles to reflect the ongoing climate crisis and the efforts to contain it. Small gestures matter because they make a real difference when they pile up.
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Regarding window cleaning, we rediscover recipes from our great-grandparents that are nature-conscious alternatives to store-bought and chemical-laden solutions.
Homemade solutions are cheap, easy to prepare, and, most importantly, effective. At the end of the day, we all want streak-free, shiny, clean windows. We perform eco-friendly cleaning if we have achieved that with no chemicals or irritating fumes.
If you want to learn the common natural ingredients, what recipes are practical for your own window cleaner, and how efficient those DIY solutions are, continue reading.
Do Homemade Window Cleaning Solutions Work?
People often need more clarification about the effectiveness of a homemade cleaning solution. They worry that DIY glass cleaner methods will not yield streak-free and shiny results. Most wonder why they convert when store-bought products are convenient to use.
While commercial cleaners might be convenient, they are bad for the environment and might be harsh on your windows, causing damage to the surface in the long run. Besides, they pose health risks to you and your surroundings.
The best homemade window cleaner can do the job well, leaving your interior and exterior windows sparkling clean. Depending on the recipe and the natural ingredients you choose, they can effectively remove dirt, grime, and streaks.
What Are Some Commonly Used Natural Ingredients?
Several natural ingredients have various cleaning properties. Most of them are very commonly used in DIY cleaning solutions. In addition to their environmentally friendly qualities, you can pour them into glass spraying bottles for convenience.
Vinegar
Vinegas is a type of acid that effectively battles dirt and grime. It dissolves them and acts as a disinfectant. It also leaves your windows streak-free and shiny. Moreover, vinegar neutralizes odors, deodorizing your windows with its fresh smell.
If you don’t like how vinegar smells, don’t worry; the smell disappears very soon while the sparkling clean effect stays.Â
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If you wonder what type of vinegar to use for cleaning windows, use white vinegar. Its distilled acidic properties are best for dissolving stains from your windows or glasses.Â
Water
Another natural ingredient in a DIY window cleaner is water. It serves as a base ingredient, diluting other ingredients and adding to the streak-free finish for your windows. In most recipes, the water used is lukewarm.
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is excellent for streak prevention; it can also dissolve fingerprints. Its qualities make it indispensable for window and glass cleaning.
Lemon Juice
What is better than a fresh-smelling, all-natural degreaser to help the window glass look as shiny as ever? Yes, all of these are qualities of lemon juice. This natural ingredient has multiple applications around the house.
Opt for lemon juice if you want streak-free mirrors, window glasses, or similar surfaces to smell fresh and look good – one of the best window cleaner solutions.
Cornstarch
Cornstarch can be added to your solutions as a polishing agent, contributing to extra shine and an impeccable look. Also, you can add cornstarch in half a bucket of cold water. We recommend you use a sponge for better results.
DIY Window Cleaner Recipes
There are a variety of recipes for homemade window cleaners. Besides being eco-friendly and cost-saving, they are also very effective and safe for your health and your family’s health. Let’s take a look at a few easy recipes.
Recipe 1: Vinegar-Based Window Cleaner
To prepare this solution, you would need the following ingredients:
- 1 cup of distilled white vinegar
- 1 cup of water
- A spray bottle
Here are some steps to follow:
- Mix the vinegar and water in a spray bottle;
- Shake well before use;
- Spray the solution onto your windows and wipe with a clean cloth or a squeegee blade.
If you have high windows, pick an extension pole suitable to use with your cleaning tools.
Homemade window cleaner recipe 2: Lemon Juice Window CleanerÂ
For this recipe, you will need to prepare and mix the ingredients below:
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 2 cups of water
You can pour the equal parts into a glass spray bottle for convenience.
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Here are the steps to follow for this homemade cleaner:
- Combine the lemon juice and water in a spray bottle;
- Shake well before each use;
- Spray onto your windows and wipe with a lint-free cloth or paper towel.
Don’t forget to clean the window sills first so no dirt enters the cleaning glass area.
Recipe 3: Rubbing Alcohol Window Cleaner
Use water as a base and add rubbing alcohol for this recipe with the following proportions:
- 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol)
- 1/2 cup of water
What to do?
- Mix the rubbing alcohol and water in a spray bottle;
- Shake well;
- Spray the solution on your dirty windows and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth or something suitable for moisture absorption, such as paper towels.
Is There an Eco-Friendly Option?
Homemade cleaning solutions are the ultimate eco-friendly option for cleaning various surfaces. Firstly, natural ingredients are an excellent alternative to harmful chemicals. Secondly, using a homemade cleaner diminishes the single use of plastic containers. No excess packaging means your carbon footprint is reduced.
Do They Work on All Glass Surfaces?
Homemade solutions are suitable for outside windows, indoor windows, and other uses around the home or office – mirrors, tables, shower doors, etc.
Here are some cases when you can effectively use natural homemade solutions.Â
Home Windows
Despite having single or double-pane, high, or oddly-shaped windows, homemade solutions effectively remove dirt and grime from your window glass. They are non-abrasive and do not harm the surfaces. In other words, they are eco-friendly, effective, and easy to make.
Mirrors
Glass doors, mirrors, and similar can be effectively cleaned with any of the given homemade cleaners. They will ascertain that there are no streaky windows or footprints on your glasses or mirrors. Make sure to wipe with a clean microfiber cloth for no lint left.
Glass Tables
Glass tables and other glass surfaces need regular cleaning, and homemade solutions are great for easy, quick, and effective cleaning.
Caution
While a homemade glass cleaner works well on virtually any glass surface, it is crucial to proceed with caution when treating tinted glass or other special glass surfaces.Â
It is a great idea to apply some of the solution on a small spot to test whether it is okay to treat the whole surface. If you notice any change of color, do not risk damaging the surface.
Some tinted windows may react to acids such as a vinegar-based cleaner. It is crucial to test before treating the whole surface. Consider changing the ingredients to the solutions.
What Else to Consider?
There are other natural ingredients to include in your homemade recipes to achieve a more significant effect. Consider adding baking soda to vinegar for a great shine. Spray your windows and wipe them with a clean cloth. Do not clean your windows on a sunny day because the rays may leave streaks on the glass.
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You can add a few drops of essential oils to your vinegar-based solution for a more significant dirt-dissolving effect. A lemon or lime essential oil does miracles on smudged windows. Oils also repel water, so rain will not cause streaks on your windows.
Mixing dishwashing liquid and water is one of the best homemade cleaning solutions for windows and various surfaces. Liquid dish soap is a dirt and grime remover, so your windows will be shiny in no time.
In conclusion, DIY solutions are easy to prepare and cost very little. Their most significant advantage is that they are as effective as store-bought alternatives, but unlike many commercial products, they are harmless to the environment. However, there are some tricks to the trade.
Always use clean cloths and towels to wipe your windows and test-spray solutions on more specific surfaces to check whether they are suitable.
