Homemade Household Glass Cleaner

Make a household window cleaner from simple ingredients in your home.

Homemade glass cleaners effectively clean glass and other surfaces such as granite countertops and stainless steel and do not leave a residue. Most recipes are environmentally safe and nontoxic. Because you continually reuse the same spray bottle, homemade cleaners conform to green practices --- making glass cleaners for general household cleaning a cost-effective option as well as offering flexibility in choice of ingredients.



Vinegar, the primary active ingredient in homemade cleaners, effectively removes soap scum, grease, hard water, mold and mildew. The acetic acid in vinegar kills harmful bacteria and other microbes. A natural deodorizer, vinegar's smell dissipates as it dries.

Things You'll Need

• Spray bottle
• White vinegar
• Castile soap
• Rubbing alcohol
• Ammonia
• Carbonated water

Instructions

1. Mix 1-part white vinegar and 1-part water to make the simplest and mildest homemade glass cleaner. Add the vinegar and water to a nonaerosol spray bottle and gently shake to mix.

   Spray the mixture onto the glass surface and allow to sit for three to five minutes, which permits the acetic acid in the vinegar to disintegrate dirt and residues. Wipe dry using a paper towel or dry cloth to shine away any remaining streaks on the surface.

2. Combine 1/2 tsp. liquid castile soap with 4 tbsp. white vinegar in 2 cups water for a slightly more effective mixture against heavy-duty buildup on glass surfaces. Liquid castile soap is a natural soap made from vegetable oil.

   Spray the mixture onto the glass surface, allowing the solution to sit for three to five minutes, then rub dry.

3. Add isopropyl rubbing alcohol to the vinegar and water mix to create another powerful glass cleaner recipe. Combine 1 cup water, 1 cup rubbing alcohol and 3 tbsp. white vinegar in the spray bottle. The synergistic combination of acetic acid and rubbing alcohol in this cleansing mixture increases its antimicrobial properties.

   Spray the mixture onto the glass surface, allowing the solution to sit for 3 to 5 minutes, then rub dry. Both the rubbing alcohol and vinegar evaporate as they dry, their initial strong smell dissipating. This mixture is also effective on granite, stainless steel or chrome.

4. Mix 1 cup rubbing alcohol, 1 cup water and 1 tbsp. clear, nonsudsing ammonia into a sprayer bottle to create a stronger glass and all-purpose cleaning recipe than acidic vinegar. Ammonia is toxic, however, so use this recipe sparingly in areas requiring tough cleaning. Be sure to choose a nonsudsing varieties of household ammonia.

Tips & Warnings

• Substitute sparkling/carbonated water such as club soda for regular water to increase the effectiveness of the household glass cleaner recipes. Label the spray bottle containing the glass cleaning mixture, listing the ingredients in case of accidental ingestion. Adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the mixture may leave a pleasant scent.

• Ammonia will chemically react with bleach to form a poisonous chlorine gas that can cause burning and watering of eyes, nose and mouth. Undiluted ammonia is a severe eye and respiratory irritant that can cause severe burning pain, kidney and liver damage, and corrosive damage including chemical burns, cataracts and corneal damage. Repeated or prolonged exposure to vapors can result in bronchitis and pneumonia.

References

• Guide to Less Toxic Products: Household Cleaners
• Organized Home: Pantry Cleaners: Recipes for Homemade Cleaning Products
• Green Living Tips: Castile Soap