Homemade Cleaner to Make Glass Shine
Clean, streak-free and shiny---glass like this makes your home look inviting and clean. Commercial cleaners cost money and may contain chemicals that you don't want around your kids, pets or family members with allergies. With some common ingredients, make nontoxic and economical glass cleaners at home. Many formulas exist, so try them out until you choose a favorite. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Spray bottle
- Castile soap
- White vinegar
- Paper towels or old newspapers
- Rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
- Lemon juice
- Cornstarch
- Amonia
Instructions
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Remove residue from repeated usage of commercial cleaners. In a spray bottle, mix 1/4 cup castile soap with 1 cup vinegar and 1 gallon water. Spray your windows and wipe them dry with paper towels or old newspapers until the residue is removed.
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Maintain a streak-free shine on your glass and prevent wintertime frost from collecting on your windows. Mix 1/2 cup of rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol to 1 qt. (4 cups) of water. Spray your glass in a well-ventilated area and wipe clean with paper towels or newspaper.
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Create a fresh-smelling glass cleaner by adding lemon juice to your spray bottle. Combine 1/2 cup lemon juice with 2 cups water and clean glass as usual. If you want the cleaner to be even more effective, add a small amount (less than 1 tsp.) of castile soap.
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4
Reduce streaking by adding cornstarch. Mix 1 tbsp. cornstarch with 1 qt. (4 cups) warm water and 1/4 cup white vinegar. This mixture dries quickly, so spray your windows on a shady or cool day.
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Remove hard water buildup on glass by using white vinegar full strength. Most water deposits come off with a vinegar/water mixture of 1 to 1, but stubborn stains may require pure vinegar. Spray the vinegar on your glass in a well-ventilated area, as vinegar will make your eyes water and make breathing difficult if you inhale too much.
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Clean and disinfect glass by adding ammonia. In the spray bottle, combine 4 tbsp. ammonia, 2 tbsp. vinegar and 1 qt. (4 cups) water. Spray and wipe as usual. This cleaner is especially good for kitchens and bathrooms---areas that tend to collect germs.
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Tips & Warnings
Paper towels can leave behind lint and streaks. Wiping glass with old newspapers lets you recycle paper while the newspaper's ink acts as a mild abrasive, polishing and leaving a streak-free shine. The ink will come off on your hands, however, so wash them with warm water and soap when you're finished.
These cleaners are safer than many chemical products but should still be stored out of the reach of children, who may ingest them or spray them into their eyes.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit window image by Marek Kosmal from Fotolia.com
