I’m happy to be sharing The Best Homemade Window Cleaner with you. It has won us over. After years of filmy residue, we can see clearly now. The film is gone.Ever since moving into our home 5 years ago, we’ve battled trying to get the exterior of our windows clean. They just never looked crystal clear. There was always a filmy residue and often chalky streaks. We tried a variety of window cleaners from homemade to store bought concoctions, as well as using newspaper instead of paper towels with not much success.That all changed a few days ago when we learned about the best exterior window cleaner ever.We’ve been working on updating a bathroom and ordered some mirrors. While the glass guys were here installing the mirror, my husband, Randy, got to chatting with them about how their business was going. During their conversation he happened to ask them what they use for cleaning glass. They shared a simple recipe for what they’ve found to work. They swore by it. We had already tried just using a simple combination of vinegar and water, but they learned a trick from a commercial window cleaner: add a little dish detergent to the vinegar/water mixture.

It was new to us, and it sounded much too easy.So we tried it (or should I say Randy tried it) over the weekend. Randy set out just to test a few windows and the next thing I knew he had worked clear around the house, and was already working on some of the upstairs windows as well. There was an immediate difference, and so much easier than what we had tried in the past.It was so bright inside we had to wear shades.The Best Homemade Window Cleaner:The proportions:2 cups water 1/4 cup white vinegar 1/2 teaspoon dish detergentWhat you’ll need:a bucket scrub brush with optional, extension pole water hose with optional sprayer attachmentWhat Randy did:For starters, he made a whole bucket of the solution. Using a soft bristle scrub brush on an extension pole handle thingy, dip the brush in a bucket of the solution, and scrub it on the window. Before it has a chance to dry, spray/rinse it off with clean water. Be sure to rinse thoroughly. A hose fitted with a sprayer attachment was helpful.Notes: The solution could be made and used in a spray bottle, but we found working on lots of windows, the bucket and scrub brush worked great.

To avoid the need for a ladder (because ladders are the most dangerous tool in the box) Randy used an all-purpose extension pole with a threaded end that enables you to attach different brushes, rollers, etcetera. cd lens cleaner ireland(Similar to this one.)does usb air purifier workUse a soft bristle scrub brush. air purifier for wood burning stoveA sponge mop may also work.This definitely works for outside windows, where you can safely rinse with water. I have yet to try it indoors, but if you do, make sure you can rinse with plenty of water. Perhaps one spray bottle of solution, and a separate spray bottle of clean water?Again, be sure to rinse thoroughly, and before the solution has a chance to dry on window. It’s helpful to avoid windows directly in the sun, so they are not hot and don’t as quickly.

No more piles of used paper towels, no ladders, just clarity. I’m planning on trying it on all kinds of things outside that need de-grungifying.Keeping the shades on. The future is definitely gonna be brighter around here, y’all.If you like this DIY post you may also enjoy learning how to Make a Chalkboard.Happy cleaning!(This post contains affiliate links.) DIY Projects, Home & Garden, How toNatural cleaners are cheap, so use the rest of your cleaning budget to purchase high-quality, lint-free chamois or microfiber cloths. Windows get dirty, but you don't need to reach for chemical cleaners to return them to a sparkling shine. Use natural, nontoxic ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice to clean and polish windows. Chemical window-cleaning agents contribute to environmental damage and can contribute to indoor air pollution. Vinegar and Water Make a general window cleaner using distilled white vinegar and water. Vinegar removes films from glass surfaces and leaves the windows free of streaks and smudges.

Mix equal parts vinegar and water and pour into a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto windows and then wipe the surface clean with a lint-free cloth. For very dirty windows, prewash with soapy water (see References 3). Use undiluted vinegar directly on hard-to-remove water spots (see References 1, page 16). Apply the vinegar to a cloth and rub the area clean. Polish with a dry cloth. Non-Liquid Cleaning When windows are dusty but not too dirty, clean with just a dry cloth for a streak-free shine. Use lint-free cotton cloths to polish windows. Newspapers work well for polishing windows, but the ink can affect some people if it contacts their skin. To remove light dust, slightly dampen a chamois cloth and rub down the windowpanes. (See References 1, page 16) Borax and Cornstarch Make a natural window cleaner using borax and water. Mix 2 tablespoons of borax in 3 cups of water. Apply the solution to the window surface and wipe clean (see References 4). After cleaning windows with borax, rinse the glass using a solution of equal parts vinegar and water to polish the surface and leave the glass streak-free.

Alternatively, fill a gallon bucket with water and mix in 3 tablespoons of cornstarch and 1/2 cup vinegar to apply and wipe dry (see References 1, page 16). Other Window Cleaners Lemon juice works much like vinegar to cut grease and polish glass surfaces. Mix 1 tablespoon lemon juice into 1 quart warm water. Spray the solution onto windows and wipe dry. Polish out scratches in windows and glass surfaces using toothpaste. Apply the toothpaste to the surface using a rag or cotton ball and work it into the area. Polish the scratched area with a soft cloth. References U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Sam UmscheidEnvironmental Law Centre: The Five Basics for Non-Toxic CleaningPenrith City Council: Green CleaningEcoCycle: Alternative Cleaners and Recipes Photo Credits ULTRA F/Digital Vision/Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionExpert ReviewedHow to Make Window Spray with Lemon and Vinegar Two Methods:Gathering IngredientsMaking Window CleanerCommunity Q&A Banish toxic chemicals from your life and make your own window cleaner that will make glass and windows sparkle without those harmful fumes.

This recipe calls for ingredients most likely found at home so locate an empty spray bottle and get started. Grab your trusty bottle of white vinegar. If you have been cleaning the “green way” you most likely use white vinegar to clean a variety of items in your home. Locate a few fresh lemons or a bottle of lemon juice. Either works just as well but if you use the juice from fresh lemons you can throw the peel into the garbage disposal to clean and freshen the drain--cleaning using the two-for-one method! Purchase or repurpose an empty spray bottle. If you are repurposing a spray bottle, especially if it contained cleaning chemicals, you will want to wash and rinse it extremely well. Consider repurposing a spray bottle that contained window cleaner previously. For example, if the bottle used to house furniture polish there is still a chance some of the oil may be left over in the bottle and can diminish the power of your natural window cleaner. Find a container to mix your window cleaner.

A drinking glass will most likely do the trick or you can try to mix it directly inside the spray bottle. Measure 1 tbsp. of white vinegar and 2 tablespoon (29.6 ml). lemon juice in either the drinking glass or empty (and clean) spray bottle. Stir or shake the bottle well to fully integrate. Pour one cup of hot water into the mixture. The water needs to be hot, but not boiling. Stir or mix ingredients again and either pour into spray bottle or add cap and nozzle. Be sure you shake or mix well (even shaking the bottle vigorously) to ensure ingredients are well blended. Use on glass surfaces. While this cleaner is for windows, it's also great for other glass surfaces such as mirrors and glass-top tables. You could even try it on your car windows! Use dry pieces of newspaper instead of paper towels to make windows/glass shine. Add 1 tsp. of fabric softener to your mixture if you are trying to clean hard water or soap stains in the bathroom. For extra stubborn stains, apply the fabric softener directly to the area, allow to set and then wipe with your solution.