Whether you're trying to save a little money or are more concerned with protecting the environment from harsh chemicals, making your own glass cleaner is an easy, effective solution. There are several different glass cleaner recipes you can follow, and most of them use ingredients you already have around the house. Here are a few different glass cleaners that will make your mirrors sparkle and your windows shine!
Vinegar + Dish Soap
For this recipe, you'll need white vinegar and any dish soap you have on hand. Add 0.5 teaspoon of the dish soap and 1 cup of the vinegar to a gallon of warm water. Mix well, and spray. The vinegar may have an unpleasant smell at first, but it fades quickly.
Rubbing Alcohol + Vinegar
If you don't have any dish soap on hand, try using rubbing alcohol with vinegar instead. Add 1/3 cup white vinegar to 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol, mix, and you're ready to clean. (Skip the water for this recipe!)
Dish Soap + Rubbing Alcohol
You can also combine 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol with a few squirts of dish liquid to make your own glass cleaner. Add the mixture to a gallon of warm water before using.
Club Soda
Standard club soda works well as a glass cleaner. Just pour into your spray bottle, and it's ready to go!
The Best Glass Cleaning Cloths
If you want a streak-free finish with your homemade glass cleaner, make sure to use a microfiber cloth. (Pro tip: Don't wash your cloths with fabric softener; it damages the microfiber material, making it less absorbent and more prone to streak.)
You can also use a squeegee, coffee filters or newspaper on windows or glass to reduce streaks. When you're finished cleaning the glass or window, buff it quickly to reduce streaks further.
Glass and window cleaning is a tedious job, but someone has to do it. Making your own cleaner and using the right cloths may seem like extra steps, but the shiny clean glass is well worth the time and effort it takes to do the job right.