How to Make a Natural Glass Cleaner at Home

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Are you tired of spraying harsh, smelly chemicals all over your house? 

You can get your windows sparkling and streak-free with a homemade cleaner that uses safe, nontoxic ingredients you probably have in your kitchen right now!

The recipe is below. 

But if you need some convincing first, let’s talk about why you need to make the switch.

Why Do You Need a Non-Toxic Glass Cleaner?

Have you seen what’s in a regular bottle of glass and window cleaner? It’s a whole list of things you can’t even pronounce. 

It also has artificial colors, artificial fragrances, and artificial everything else.

A natural cleaner is kinder to your home and your health: 

If you’re concerned about toxins in your home, the first place to look is oftentimes your household cleaners. 

Many of them contain highly toxic chemical compounds that have been proven to aggravate allergies, breathing problems and skin conditions.

It’s kinder to the planet:

All those toxins aren’t just making your house a chemical dumpsite. They’re also going into the water supply, the air, the plants and the soil. 

All of that pollution harms the environment. 

You’ll save lots of cash: 

The best part about going green when you clean is all the green you’ll save. A bottle of window cleaner costs $3 to $5 at the store. This one costs just pennies to make! 

DIY Tutorial for a Natural Glass & Window Cleaner

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup white vinegar.
• 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol or vodka.
• 1/2 cup of water.
• 2 teaspoons of dishwashing liquid.
• 6 drops of essential oil in your choice of fragrance.
• A spray bottle.

Last update on 2025-01-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Directions:

1. Use a glass spray bottle (don’t want to use plastic laced with BPA or its equally toxic cousin BPS)
2. Add the above ingredients to the spray bottle, close it and shake well.
3. Spray your mixture onto the glass surface.
4. Wipe it off to remove dirt and grime. Wipe the glass with a second dry cloth to remove streaks.
5. Enjoy your sparkling clean windows!

Recipe Notes

• You can use apple cider vinegar if that’s what you have on hand.
• If you use vodka, use a cheap one. It won’t affect the outcome.
• Some people add two tablespoons of cornstarch instead of dishwashing liquid. Both will cut grease and prevent streaks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this on other surfaces besides windows?

Yes, you can use it on any glass, tile, painted wood, or vinyl surfaces. Avoid using it on the following surfaces.

• Marble or granite: Vinegar can damage them.
• Plastic and polycarbonate: Many eyeglasses have polycarbonate lenses or coatings. Do not use anything that contains alcohol to clean them
• If you’re unsure about a particular surface, test a small inconspicuous spot first.

What should I use to wipe the cleaner off?

Any soft, reusable cleaning cloth will do. Paper towels are wasteful and expensive. They also leave behind a lot of lint.

If you can find good microfiber cleaning cloths, use those. They’re lint-free, dust-free and great at removing stains. Some people find that they can get their windows sparkling with just a microfiber cloth and plain water.

• Microfiber cloths are expensive to buy, but they last forever.
• To keep them in top condition, wash them in cold water with mild detergent and never use fabric softener on them.
• Microfiber cloths will clean everything in your house.

By the way, we got an article on how to make disinfectant wipes at home, in case you are interested.

Do I have to add essential oils?

No, they’re optional. They add a nice, natural fragrance plus antimicrobial properties depending on what kind you use. The cleaner will work without them though!

I hope this simple DIY natural glass cleaner makes cleaning your windows and mirrors a little easier – and a whole lot safer!

Interested in more non-toxic cleaning recipes? Check out the rest in our series:

• Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner
• Disposable Disinfectant Wipes (no bleach!)
• Natural Dish Detergent Recipe