The Best and Strongest All Natural Glass Cleaner

Make a natural glass cleaner from ingredients found in your home.

Don't be fooled into believing so-called "green" glass cleaning products are completely natural. On closer inspection, many of these products still contain small amounts of toxic petrochemicals. Fragrances and dyes used in many of these products are often considered unnatural. You can make your own all natural glass cleaner from ingredients that exist in your home or can be bought cheaply at your local supermarket or discount store.

Natural Versus Synthetic

"Natural" can be misconstrued.

Over the past 50 years, a huge number of synthetic chemicals have been introduced into a wide variety of manufactured products. The healthier alternatives to these products consist of naturally occurring ingredients that pose much less risk to humans and pets. However, there are still no standard definitions for terms like "natural" and "nontoxic," "Natural" does not always mean harmless or nontoxic, nor does synthetic or man-made necessarily suggest non-biodegradable or harmful. For instance, ammonia is an ingredient in some green cleaners, though it is also an irritant if not properly diluted.

Recipe

Making the best, strongest glass cleaner.is easy.

If you want to save money and help the environment, preparing your own glass cleaner is the way to go. There are numerous recipes for homemade glass cleaners, but most don't have the power to clean the toughest greasy, gritty surfaces. Make the strongest cleaner by mixing 1 oz. of ammonia with 4 oz. of rubbing alcohol and four drops of liquid castile or other natural dish soap in a 32 oz. spray bottle. Fill the remainder of the bottle with plain water, close tightly, and shake gently.

Other Alternatives

Vinegar is a good natural cleaner.

There are, of course, natural or green glass cleaners available at your local market. However, they can be more expensive than traditional cleaners and may require a little more elbow grease to be as effective. If you prefer alternatives to the aforementioned recipe, you can mix 1 cup of vinegar with enough water to fill a 32 oz. spray bottle. Or, add the juice of one lemon and 1/2 tsp. of baking soda to a bottle of water.

Caution

Use gloves and a funnel when pouring ammonia.

Never mix ammonia with bleach. It's only natural to think that combining these two excellent cleaning agents would make a super cleaner, but in reality they create extremely poisonous gases. Use rubber gloves when pouring ammonia. Use a funnel to avoid splashing. Always mix over a sink in a well ventilated area, and clearly label the mixture; store out of children's reach. Do not use these homemade mixtures on tinted windows.

References

• HGTV; Homemade Natural Cleaning Products; Allison Dick
• Mrs. Clean: Make Your Own Glass & Window Cleaner

Resources

• "Green Cleaning For Dummies"; Elizabeth B. Goldsmith and Betsy Sheldon; November 3, 2008