Sometimes the best things in life are free… or really, really cheap, like this natural glass cleaner recipe. I’ve experimented with many types of natural cleaners and have finally found natural options that are as good (or better) than conventional cleaners.
Natural Glass Cleaner
This natural glass cleaner was a pretty easy recipe to figure out after I got the tip to use vinegar from an elderly neighbor. Apparently, that is what everyone used in past generations and we’ve just been slow to figure it out. What’s old is new again, I suppose…
I was motivated to create a natural option for cleaning windows when I discovered my one-year-old licking a window one time. I wasn’t sure what was in my conventional glass cleaner but I was pretty sure I didn’t want her eating it. Also, with five professional Fingerprint On Windows Creation Experts, cleaning windows is sometimes a daily job at our house! I love that this cleaner is completely non-toxic so I can let the children help clean without worrying about them being exposed to chemicals.
In fact, I now keep little glass spray bottles and microfiber cloths in a basket in our pantry and cleaning the lower part of windows is not a daily job for our 4 and 5 year olds.
Since taking the picture for the post, I also found large glass spray bottles and prefer to use those now. You can make your own with an empty glass apple cider vinegar bottle and a spray top.
This cleaner has a somewhat strong smell that completely evaporates once it dries. I prefer to use microfiber cloth to wipe down the windows now, but old newspapers or t-shirts also work. Just avoid paper towels as they tend to leave lint on them.
Glass Cleaner Ingredients
- 2 cups of water (distilled or filtered is best so it doesn’t leave residue)
- 2 tablespoons vinegar
- 10 drops essential oil of choice- I use lemon (optional- but it helps cut the vinegar smell)
Glass Cleaner Instructions
Combine ingredients in a spray bottle (preferably glass) and use as needed to clean window. I like to use a microfiber cloth to wipe windows clean with this recipe.
Note: If you have always used commercial window cleaner in the past, mix a couple drops of liquid castile soap or liquid dish soap in some of this mixture the first time you clean the windows to remove detergent residue.
If you are new to natural cleaning, check out these other easy recipes for cleaning your whole house without chemicals:
- Make Your Own Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent-Video Tutorial
- Natural Stain Treatment Reference Sheet
- Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent
- Natural All-Purpose Cleaner Recipe
- Natural Oven Cleaning
- Easy Homemade Scouring Powder Recipe
- Natural Cleaning and Organizing Checklist
- Natural Bathroom Cleaning
- Natural Kitchen Cleaning
What’s your favorite natural cleaning recipe? Share below!
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Just a quick question: What is the shelf life of this glass cleaner?
You should try adding a bit of cornstarch to this window cleaner. Your windows will be the most spotless you’ve ever seen. Honestly I’ve gotten my family hooked with adding cornstarch. My windows look almost invisible it works so well!
Katie, I’m having trouble finding a squirt bottle nozzle that will fit the Apple Cider Vinegar Bottle. Any suggestions? Thanks so much for all of your terrific advice & support.
After about ten years of (happily) using a recipe similar to this one, I tried the corn starch-vinegar-alcohol recipe (without essential oils), and I found that my windows stayed clean much, much longer. I love the smell of essential oils, but I suspect that they may attract some dirt. Maybe that’s not the key (it could be the alcohol), but in any case, I’m very happy I stumbled upon the alternative because my house is almost all windows, and it’s cut my weekly chore list significantly! The recipe above is certainly healthier than the commercial alternatives, but if you want the most effective, try 1/4 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol, 1 Tbs (or a bit less) corn starch, with 2 cups warm water.
What does the cornstarch do?
its amazing I am no expert… It could be your essential oils, but that may or may not be good. They may have found the oil irritating. And, no doubt, having them cough at night was not helpful for anyone’s sleep!!
Rose,
I am no expert… It could be your essential oils, but that may or may not be good. They may have found the oil irritating. And, no doubt, having them cough at night was not helpful for anyone’s sleep!!
Some oils are decongestants, like eucalyptus, peppermint and rosemary. If the boys were a bit congested, the oils could have induced beneficial coughing. But you probably want them to clear whatever before bedtime! For their room, and everyone’s rest, I would try a oil free batch on their room.
You can also have them sniff the oil to see if that is what they are responding to. Every human body & reaction is a little different.
Katie, I used the cleaning products (glass and surface cleaner) to clean my young boys’ bed room and both times they have had coughing spells for a couple nights to follow. Could it be my EOs? I made the mixture and put it into plastic spray bottles. What could I be doing wrong?
So simple yet so amazing! Decided to stop with the store bought stuff when my 10 month started licking the doors. Now we’re safe and this cleans much better. Lick away little one! One question….Why use a glass bottle?