Here's What You Need To Make Your Own Homemade Window Cleaner
Making your own window cleaner can be an inexpensive and natural way to keep your home looking great. Homemade window cleaners are also easy to make and use. Better Homes & Gardens suggests a few different window cleaner mixtures. 2 cups of water, 1/2 a cup of vinegar, and 10 drops of essential oils is a great homemade mixture that will smell fresh. A mix of 1 cup of water, 2 tablespoons of vinegar, and 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol will ensure a streak-free finish. For an extra gentle cleanser, mix 2 cups of hot water and a few drops of dish soap. You could also add baking soda to these mixtures for extra clean windows.
As you may have already discovered, some of the most common ingredients in homemade window cleaners include vinegar, dish soap, rubbing alcohol, baking soda, and essential oils. While these ingredients can be mixed together, they can also be used on their own (or diluted with water) to clean windows. Below are more details about each of these ingredients.
Vinegar
Vinegar is the jack of all trades when it comes to cleaning. Why? Well, according to Window Cleaning Miami, vinegar is a versatile cleaning tool that can be used to clean just about anything. It's also inexpensive, easy to find at the store, and safe to use around pets and kids. When it comes to cleaning windows specifically, vinegar is helpful because it won't leave streaks on your glass.
Vinegar by itself can be a great way to clean your windows. However, some are turned away from vinegar because of its harsh smell. Luckily, the smell of vinegar doesn't linger after it's used, but you could always add essential oils to your mixture for a fresher smell. If the smell really bothers you, you could substitute vinegar for acidic lemon juice. Also, vinegar alone won't cut through grease. If your windows have grease stains, you'll want to combine vinegar with baking soda.
Dish soap
Dish soap or dishwashing liquid is also commonly used to clean many things. This is because, just like vinegar, it's relatively inexpensive, easily accessible, and nontoxic. It's also gentle and won't ruin most surfaces. Bio Home Cares says that dish soap is a mild substance and better to use than most harsh cleaning chemicals. They suggest using dish soap for everything from cleaning outdoor furniture to polishing jewelry to getting rid of fruit flies.
Dish soap is great to use on windows because it will keep them from fogging. It will also remove things like fingerprints and films left behind by other cleaners. Family Handyman says that the best and easiest homemade window cleaner just contains 2 gallons of water and a teaspoon of dish soap. If you're cleaning your windows in cold weather, a great tip is to add some windshield cleaner to the mixture. This will keep the solution from freezing.
Rubbing alcohol
Rubbing alcohol, commonly used to make hand sanitizer, is a disinfecting substance used to clean many surfaces, per Medical News Today. It can also be used to eliminate bad odors. Rubbing alcohol is a strong substance, and large quantities shouldn't be inhaled. When using it in cleaning mixtures, only use a small amount, about 10% of the mix.
Paramount Builders says that, like vinegar, rubbing alcohol can be used to avoid streaks when cleaning your windows. Another benefit of these substances is that they evaporate fast, so they won't run down your windows and create a mess. A small amount of rubbing alcohol can easily be added to a mixture of vinegar and water. Or, you can use a mix of just 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol and a spray bottle filled with water as your last cleaning step. After spraying onto your windows, wash off with a soft cloth.
Baking soda
If your windows are extra greasy and grimy, mixing vinegar with baking soda may be the best homemade window cleaner. Window Cleaning Miami says that this mixture should be used on windows that are extra dirty or aren't in the best condition. Baking soda could also be replaced with ammonia.
But you can also use baking soda and water to clean your windows. Baking Soda Guy says to create a paste using equal amounts of baking soda and water (or a little bit more water, to make the paste more gentle). To clean with this paste, dip a damp rag into the mixture, then gently wash your windows and remove with a clean cloth. However, when using this mixture, you'll want to examine your window for scratches and stop immediately if they occur. Also, cleaning when the sun isn't shining directly through the windows is best because the sunlight may cause the baking soda to leave streaks.
Essential oils
Essential oils aren't only made for diffusers. They can also be used to clean surfaces and give homemade cleaning mixtures a fresh scent. Clean My Space says to choose essential oils labeled as pure and organic, which means they haven't been mixed with any other substances. Essential oils kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses. When adding essential oils to cleaning mixtures, five drops added to 3 cups of cleaner will bring out the scent. For antibacterial benefits, add 10 or more drops to 3 cups of cleaner.
Clean My Space suggests using certain essential oil scents for different cleaning benefits. Citrus scents like lemon are great at removing grease and sticky residue. Tea tree essential oils are also a great option because they work to break down mildew and bacteria. Lavender smells amazing and helps break down mold and mildew growth. Finally, you could choose to add antibacterial thyme to your homemade window cleaner.