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.

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 so many professional “Fingerprint-on-Window-Creation-Experts” in my house, cleaning windows is sometimes a daily job!

How to Make Natural Glass Cleaner

This DIY glass cleaning recipe 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…

Granted, I don’t always make my own cleaners now that there are so many good natural store-bought options, but you can’t beat a quick, convenient recipe from ingredients already around the house. It saves money and is always there when you need it!

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 cleaning rags in a basket in our pantry. Cleaning the lower part of windows is now a daily job for our 4 and 5-year-olds.

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 no longer use microfiber cloth to wipe down the windows (here’s why), but old newspapers or t-shirts also work. Just avoid paper towels as they tend to leave lint on them.

4.25 from 28 votes

Natural Glass Cleaner Recipe

This DIY natural glass cleaner recipe is very inexpensive and effective. It works on glass and smooth surfaces and only needs three ingredients!

Prep Time2

Yield: cups

Author: Katie Wells

Equipment

Glass spray bottle

Materials

2 cups water (distilled or filtered is best so it doesn’t leave residue)
2 TBSP vinegar
10 drops essential oil (optional, I use lemon)

Instructions

In a spray bottle, combine all the ingredients.
Use as needed to clean windows.

Notes

If you have always used commercial window cleaner in the past, mix a couple of 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:

What’s your favorite natural cleaning recipe? Share below!

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

51 responses to “Simple Homemade Glass Cleaner Recipe”

shannon

October 22, 2014

I do not live in the States and only have access to white wine or red wine vinegar. Does anyone know if these will work just as well? So far I have been using “Alcol” or Alcohol and have found it quite effective.

Reply
Karen

July 21, 2014

What kind of vinegar should be used in this application? Distilled white or apple cider?
Thanks!

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1. Wellness Mama
  
  July 21, 2014
  
  White is best.
  
  Reply
Bonnie Douglas

June 25, 2014

I use water in a spray bottle and a micro fiber towel from Wal-Mart for $1.98 (+ or -) made specifically for glass. You can find it in the cleaning supplies, mine is blue. It works better than anything I have used!

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Danae

June 19, 2014

Love your site! In my country we use vodka or distilled spirits called Zivania for windows with newspaper. We don’t have much rain and houses have huge windows and lots of them. Here in the Northeast too much rain makes for too many bugs and their stains come off well. Of course this is not suitable for kids to use, although it evaporates completely and windows will be O.K. To lick!

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Joanna

June 2, 2014

Distilled water is best and I use a little bit of rubbing alcohol in the mix, too.

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Pat

June 1, 2014

First off once I discovered that Windex contains ammonia which kills your white blood cells, I have been telling everyone I know not to use it. So I just mix tea tree oil and water together (can’t stand the smell of vinegar). Or you could just use water!!

Reply
Heather

May 30, 2014

I fill a small metalic spray bottle with distilled water and add about 10-15 drops of doTERRA Purify essential oil to it. It works great as both a glass cleaner and all purpose cleaner.

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Christina

May 27, 2014

Would the vinegar be harmful to tinted windows – finding a decent cleaner for my car that doesn’t streak or kill the tint is almost impossible. Thanks

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Rachel Zwicker

May 26, 2014

This is a lazy question. I made my all purpose cleaner with your 50/50 water to vinegar recipe. Does this formula not work as well on glass? Would be nice to just have one spray bottle for surfaces and glass.

Reply
Shannon

May 25, 2014

I use two microfiber cleaning system by Norwex – one to clean, one to polish – with only water and it works great even for filthy windows. Why would you also use a cleaner, even a natural one? My children do the windows and will sometimes use a spray bottle with water simply because they love spraying it. Otherwise I just wet the cleaning wipe for them at the faucet and off they go!

I’m going to try the club soda suggestion for my stove top!

Reply
1. Cristina
  
  August 14, 2014
  
  Yes, the Norwex Envirocloth and Window Cloth are amazing! Just water and anyone can do it. If you wring out the Envirocloth well enough, you don’t even need the Window Cloth. Just let the water dry, it won’t leave marks, streaks or residue.
  
  Reply
Gail

May 25, 2014

What about Norwex? Just water and a cloth! What could be easier than that?

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1. Nicole
  
  October 16, 2022
  
  Mlms are trash ?
  
  Reply
Brianne

May 25, 2014

Katie, you truly are a gem and have become my go-to resource when I need natural living tips (such as toxin-free cleaners) for myself or my clients. Thanks for amassing such a great collection of articles, recipes, and tips!

Reply
1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  May 25, 2014
  
  You’re welcome!
  
  Reply
Sara

May 24, 2014

I also add the cornstarch (eliminates streaking) it definitely makes it work even better-however you must shake it before each spray which may be hard for your kiddos but otherwise it works better. The recipe also adds rubbing alcohol:
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
1 T cornstarch
2 cups water
Mix and shake each time before using to avoid clogging the sprayer.
Works better than any commercial spray that I’ve ever used!

Reply
1. Luc
  
  June 7, 2014
  
  The Alvin Corn Glass Cleaner Recipe is also the best glass cleaner I have ever used Sara
  
  Reply
Caroline Maslin

May 24, 2014

Sounds great, I am going to try this! Don’t use newspaper to clean your window, it can scratch the glass. Years ago, our mothers used newspapers, but it was a different quality and modern paper does not cut it. Paper towel does work, but it has to be a very good quality one. Happy cleaning!

Reply
1. Carol
  
  May 25, 2014
  
  The other reason that newspaper used to be recommended is that the vinegar and the newsprint together made the windows super shiny. But now newspapers are coated with something to keep the print from coming off on your fingers, and that coating ruins the shiny magic.
  
  Reply
2. Joe
  
  August 17, 2015
  
  Newspaper ink is made of oil, unlike past years, that is why it will streak.
  
  Reply
Muriel

May 23, 2014

Can I use apple cider vinegar? I can buy it in bulk organic for cheap. Haven’t been able to find a good source for white vinegar.

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Nancy

May 23, 2014

I also add a TBS of cornstarch. Sounds odd I know but it works great!

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Carolyn

May 23, 2014

Last weekend I cleaned some dirty windows in a cabin with a similar recipe! Worked like a charm! I sprayed it on, wiped the window down once, but it was still wet cause I needed alot of cleaner since there was grime all over the window. Then I let it sit for a minute or so and then came back and polished it up. Beautiful sparkly windows!

Reply
Abbie Heller

April 13, 2013

Another product I have had great results with is club soda; it’s acidic and cuts through the greasy residue that can make it impossible to get a shiny stove top or microwave exterior.

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1. Amy
  
  May 24, 2014
  
  Oh! I’m definitely going to try the club soda! Thank you!~xo
  
  Reply
Art

July 24, 2012

I just made this tonight and couldn’t wait to try it. It works better than any store bought glass cleaner I’ve ever tried! Thanks!

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1. Connie
  
  July 12, 2016
  
  Disagree. This concoction did nothing but left streaks. It is no better than using straight water. Waste of time.
  
  Reply
Fallon

January 18, 2012

Hi! Ok this may be a silly question, but I haven’t bought much vinegar in my day! Is there just straight vinegar or is it all distilled white vinegar? Thanks!

Reply
1. Whitney
  
  May 25, 2014
  
  I use distilled white vinegar. I buy a box with two 1 gallon containers at Sam’s Club for a good price! (Bakers and Chefs brand I believe…) The cheap stuff works just fine!
  I use vinegar in almost all of my cleaner recipes!
  
  Reply