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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.
Natural Glass Cleaner Recipe
Equipment
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 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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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.
What kind of vinegar should be used in this application? Distilled white or apple cider?
Thanks!
White is best.
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!
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!
Distilled water is best and I use a little bit of rubbing alcohol in the mix, too.
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!!
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.
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
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.
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!
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.