Window cleaning can be a tedious and challenging chore when going for that perfect streak-free shimmer, but have no fear! Homes at Heart is here to save the day to make your window cleaning easy while using fewer chemicals. Building off of our green cleaning article last month, we are going to talk about 5 Homemade Glass Cleaners that will clean your windows and glass surfaces just as effectively as commercial cleaners without harsh chemicals.
Being more healthy and environmentally aware of the impact of little things such as the cleaning solutions in your home can protect your family and the environment. We hope these small changes are something you will consider.
5 Homemade Glass Cleaner Solutions
Most people do not realize the potential of many everyday items hiding in their cupboards. At-home cleaning solutions are quick and easy without the harmful side effects of chemical fumes and dyes. All you need is the knowledge of what items work best and recipes to make your own awesome cleaning solutions. Homes at Heart is here to share some knowledge about 5 common items that can be used in window and glass cleaning.
White Vinegar
White vinegar is one of the versatile ingredients in cooking and effective homemade glass cleaners. This versatility is thanks to the acid in vinegar. Vinegar contains a natural acid called acetic acid. This property makes vinegar-based cleaners great as substitute cleaners and disinfectants. Acid content is great for breaking down dirt, minerals, and grime that accumulates on windows and glass surfaces. White vinegar is especially useful because it is colourless. The lack of natural dyes makes sure your homemade cleaning solution won’t leave behind any stains.
For best results with vinegar, mix 1/2 cup of vinegar for every 2 cups of water used.
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Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is another great option for homemade glass cleaners. Alcohol evaporates quickly while being a stronger cleaner than vinegar. Adding rubbing alcohol to your homemade glass cleaners will provide a more thorough clean that leaves behind fewer streaks. Having a cleaning solution that evaporates quicker reduces the risk of water spots being left behind. Not only will you reduce streaks, but alcohol can finish off those pesky stuck-on messes and sticky residue that vinegar doesn’t have the power to remove on its own.
You create an effective solution with only rubbing alcohol. Simply mix equal parts rubbing alcohol and water and get to cleaning. If you have vinegar available, add a couple of tablespoons to your solutions for an even better clean.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is another natural glass cleaner that shares many of the properties of vinegar. Just like vinegar, lemon juice is a natural acid that is great for disinfecting and cleaning. You can substitute lemon juice for vinegar in most situations. Lemon juice will come at a slightly higher cost, but won’t have the pungent odour given off by the vinegar smell. Lemon juice leaves behind a wonderful citrus scent making it a more popular choice for some.
When creating homemade glass cleaners that replace lemon juice for vinegar replace them equally based on the cleaner recipe. For example, in our above cleaner recipe for vinegar, mix 1/2 cup of lemon juice instead per 2 cups of water.
Dish Soap
Every home has a bottle of dish soap somewhere in the kitchen. Liquid dish soap is great for its grease-cutting on cookware.
Did you know it could be used to clean windows?
The same cleaning potential in the kitchen can be applied to your windows and glass. For a great homemade glass cleaning solution with dish soap, add dish soap to water in either a bucket or spray bottle and mix.
Essential Oils
Homemade glass cleaners can be effective yet missing something. The wonderful scents linger after use. This is where essential oils come into play. Essential oils are great and more environmentally friendly than scents used in commercial cleaners. Some essential oils even have antibacterial properties and other benefits along with their scent. Add a few drops of favourite scented essential oils to your homemade cleaners for an excellent fresh scent.
Best Window Cleaning Wipes
Now that you have your ideal homemade glass cleaner prepared and ready to go, let’s talk about the best cleaning tools for wiping glass that prevent streaks. The chosen wipe can make a huge impact on the effort made in window cleaning. Our top 3 window-cleaning wipes are either reusable or recycled. This makes them great for green cleaning ideals and worthy of your homemade window cleaners.
Squeegee
Squeegee blades are popular for commercial window cleaners. Squeegees are great for the streak-free shine they leave behind. The rubber blades on a squeegee make smooth even contact with window and glass surfaces. This even contact guarantees no leftover cleaner that can cause streaking or blotching. If you decide to invest in a squeegee for your home, you will guarantee streak-free windows. Do not worry though, we have another wipe option that is multipurpose and may sound more appealing to you.
Microfiber Cloth
Microfiber cloths are an amazing multipurpose cleaning tool. They can be used in a wide variety of cleaning tasks including window cleaning. These clothes are ideal for their ability to be reused over and over with high durability. Microfiber cloths are great for glass cleaning due to their high absorbency. We highly recommend having a couple of these all-around clothes available in your home for any of your future cleaning needs.
Newspaper
A unique and niche old-fashioned cleaning tool for windows is newspaper. Newspaper for windows is a great way to recycle them while providing a streak-free shine. The paper used in printing is highly absorbent. When you used for glass cleaning, you do not have the worry about ink staining glass surfaces. If you have some newspaper laying around, consider it in your next window and glass cleaning project.
Homes at Heart specialize in residential cleaning services. Homes at Heart provides the ultimate in flexible, customizable service. We’ll bring out the best in your home and you can take the credit. Contact us to book your cleaning today!
