http://www.care2.com/greenliving/how-to-clean-with-vinegar.html
How to Clean Windows with Vinegar
By Annie B. Bond, Care2 Green Living Executive Producer
If you have tried to clean your windows with plain vinegar and gotten streaks, there is a simple reason and an easy remedy.
Oddly enough, it was the task of cleaning windows that
turned a huge number of well-intentioned, environmentally
friendly consumers away from non-toxic cleaning using the
simple ingredients that can be found in most kitchen cupboards.
Around Earth Day 1990, every newspaper in the country
(or so it seemed), offered tips for cleaning in ways that didn’t
harm the planet, and the recommendation for windows was
almost always to clean them with nothing but vinegar and water.
People by the thousands tried this, and many swore off cleaning
with homemade products for good because the formula left
streaks on their windows. (I wish I had $1 for every time
someone has said to me, “Well, I tried non-toxic cleaning and it
didn’t work. I used vinegar to clean my windows …”)
The problem was that the commercial window cleaner used before the switch to vinegar left a very fine wax residue. The vinegar alone wasn’t enough to remove it, and the result was streaky windows. If instead, everyone had added a dab of liquid
dish soap to the vinegar and water, the wax would easily have
been removed and the windows would have been cleaned perfectly!
My favorite recipe is to combine 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup of
white distilled vinegar, and up to 1/2 teaspoon of liquid soap or
detergent in a spray bottle. That’s all there is to it. (Make sure to
label the bottle and keep it out of the reach of children.)
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When I wash the windows with vinegar I get streaks. What am…
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add your comment »I have tried just about everything to have clean windows and no streaks. Help! Also does anyone know how to fix water spots in between glass??
Thanks!
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If you use newspaper, trace amounts of ink will come off of the paper and give your windows a nice glossy shine.
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I came up with a slight variation on this mixture that seems to work quite well. I used 50:50 vinegar/distilled water with about a teaspoon or less of Jet-Dry in a quart spray bottle.
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My mom has sworn by this method since I was a little girl. However, she also swears that you MUST use a newspaper to wipe the windows. Is this true? If so, what makes the newspaper so special?
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According to 'Vinegar - A 1001 Practical Uses' published by Abbeydale Press 2005 a similar mix of 45ml (3tblsp) white distilled vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap or detergent and 575ml (1pint) water will last indefinitely.
HTH
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I tried this and my wife said we had the cleanest windows ever(in and out) on our 5 year old Camry. My question is how long will the solution remain active after you mix it up?(What is the shelf life?)-Does anyone know?
Thanks,
Bob W.
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I tried this and loved it. Does anyone know how long I can store the solution(the shelf life)?
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I have found that cold water and a squeegie will get most windows clean-a small amount of biodegradable detergent on really stubborn marks rubbed with a chamios will clear.
If you get a wide squeegie and an equally wide water sponge through cutting up those plastic sponge cushion fillings when they are thrown outor or buying the sponge You can clean a window in 2 minutes. I will try vinegar instead of biodegradable detergent- but I seldom use the detergent anyway and my windows sparkle
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when the window is hot it will streak---interesting fact to know..thanks...
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My mother used a chammy cloth to clean her windows and they were never streaked, of course, she made sure that she cleaned them when it was cloudy.
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