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Try this homemade window cleaner – it uses 3 simple ingredients you probably have on hand. It really is the best window cleaner!
Homemade Window Cleaner – So Easy to Make
Not long ago, my husband's entire family was visiting and I realized just how filthy my windows were (seriously, they were gross). So I decided to see what kind of window cleaner concoction I could whip up. . . and this stuff is just amazing.
Our house faces East, so the morning sun glares through the windows on the front of our home. Then in the afternoon the windows facing the back of the house get the afternoon sun which don't leave any room for mistakes either.
It's awful ~ they look so pretty when they're clean but don't stay that way for long…argh!
Cleaning your windows is one of THE easiest chores around the house – but for whatever reason it is one that tends to be put off.
I'm always looking for cleaning products you can make with items at home, and this homemade glass cleaner is SO easy to make. You're going to simply add your vinegar and water, along with rubbing alcohol and cornstarch, mix it up in your spray bottle (or in a bowl and then transfer to your bottle), and you're good to go.
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We prefer to use newspapers instead of microfiber cloth or paper towels to clean the windows with this homemade window cleaner. It doesn't leave streaks and is basically a free cleaning product if you subscribe to the newspaper (or know someone who does!).
So, I spent about an hour scrubbing one Sunday afternoon, and have the sunshiniest windows you've ever seen.
Also, I'm pretty sure I paid less than a quarter for all the ingredients (SO much cheaper cleaning glass with this versus commercial cleaners), so this is a keeper at my house.
To start, simply gather your ingredients:
- water
- rubbing alcohol
- cornstarch
- vinegar
- spray bottle for storage
Grab a spray bottle large enough to hold everything, add all of your supplies, then mix well. Don't forget to label your bottle!
Next, simply spray your windows, and use either a cloth or newspaper to wipe your windows clean.
Homemade Window Cleaner
Materials
- 2 Cups Water
- 1/4 Cup Vinegar
- 1/4 Cup Rubbing Alcohol
- 1 tsp Cornstarch
- Recycled Newspaper Use these instead of rags for cleaning
- 1 Spray Bottle You can grab these at the Dollar Tree!
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients well and pour into the spray bottle
- Label bottle and give a good shake
- You may occasionally need to shake it up to keep the corn starch from settling
- Spray your windows as you would with commercial cleaner and use newspapers to wipe
I'm not sure why the corn starch works in this homemade window cleaner, but it does…no idea why!
If you have a few windows to scrub in your home, take a few minutes this week to get it done. I always put this at the very bottom of my to-do list, but when they're clean it feels so good.
Let us know if you have any other great tips for cleaning windows at your house – I've heard that there's a good recipe out there using dish soap for glass surfaces too – let us know if you've tried that one!
This tip will leave your eye glasses streak free . Take a pinch of Dawn detergent between your thumb and index finger, while wetting your glasses with the other hand. Rub the Dawn between lenses… Now here’s the special part. Rinse under water without touching lenses and shake the glasses a few times.
Hope this helps you out to getting sparkling clean glasses.
Great tip – thanks Chris!
Found this on another site: Turns out glass and mirrors aren’t actually perfectly smooth. They have teeny tiny pits in the surface. And water can get trapped in those pits and the water in most glass cleaners gets bonded or attracted to the water in those pits. That causes water spots and streaks. The cornstarch in this DIY glass cleaner breaks those water bonds and results in the most amazing shiny, streak-free, spot-free finish you’ve probably ever seen.
Cornstarch is a round particle and acts as a “scrubbing” agent without being abrasive. My mother used water, vinegar, cornstarch and a splash of ammonia to wash windows.
Awesome cleaning solution with no harsh smell! Thank you.
Yayy ~ you’re so welcome Arlene! 🙂
Thank you. Excited to use this.
Yayyy ~ hope you like it Barb! 🙂
This is a great recipe for washing windows. Use for car windows as well.
So glad to hear that Linda ~ thanks for the tip about the car windows! 🙂
Great Info. Just what I was searching for ! Great job.
Great Info. Just what I was searching for ! Nice job.
This is an awesome article, thanks so much for sharing. I would have never thought to add corn starch to my solution, time to give this a try!
Thanks for sharing! Always looking for ways to save money on this kind of stuff!
I've had this recipe for a while hadn't tried it as I'm picky about the windows. With my glass top tables, I go through a lot of glass cleaner. Sounds as if I'm going to be saving even more money now. Thanks!
Windows are are on to clean list this month:( 🙂
Norwex would do the job with just water!! And 90 percent of the rest of your house!
I tried MULTIPLE homemade window cleaners last summer… UNTIL I tried THIS ONE!!! Don't let the ingredient of "cornstarch" scare you away. AWESOME! Will NEVER use anything else!!!
Thanks so much for sharing Robin – I love it and am amazed at the corn starch too!
I can’t wait to try this! I have everything on had too! Why newspaper? I usually use a cloth.
Hi Katie! The newspaper doesn’t leave any lint…. and cleans off beautifully (don’t know why, but it works!) It’s also free if you’re a couponer and already get the paper 😉
I really couldn’t believe it worked so well, but they look great. Hope it works for you!
Does leave ink on the white frame though.