The Best Window Cleaner

A little dab of this and that from your kitchen cupboard will provide you with the best window cleaner!

Around Earth Day 1990, many newspapers offered recipes for non-toxic cleaning with the basics we all have in our kitchen cupboards, and the recipe was just plain vinegar and water with the option of drying the windows with old newspapers.

People by the thousands tried this but ended up swearing off cleaning with homemade recipes because the formula left streaks on their windows. Unfortunately, the commercial products they had used for so many years had left a wax buildup and vinegar alone wouldn’t do the job of removing the residue.

The good news though: Adding a dab of dish soap to the vinegar and water will remove the buildup.

THE BEST WINDOW CLEANER
Make a great all-purpose window cleaner by combining 1/4 cup vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap or detergent, and 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake to blend and spray on your windows!

Here are 9 other great uses for vinegar in the home!

Read more: Home, Non-Toxic Cleaning

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Michele W.

8:41AM PST on Jan 17, 2012

Thank you

send a green star

Kristen J.

10:48AM PST on Jan 13, 2012

Hands down, Pow Glass is the best new glass cleaner I have tried EVER! It is a all natural glass cleaner that leave NO STREAKS! I have tried so many different glass cleaners and none of them have worked this good. It also leaves a fresh scent in the air, instead of a chemical smell or a vinegar smell! Everyone has go to try this product!

Jonathan P.

5:58PM PST on Dec 13, 2011

Its called Johnny Tsunami Wash Title

5:33PM PST on Dec 13, 2011

Or if you don't feel like cleaning your own windows you can always call us in the Bremerton WA area our site is http://www.getjohnny.com.

Sherri M.

2:03PM PST on Nov 10, 2011

I have been using crumpled up newspaper for years with remarkable results. I ALSO pull out my squeegee for use when doing the exterior of my windows as since are out of my reach and my squeegee has a telescopic handle! Both work fantastic!

pinky S.

9:19PM PDT on Oct 24, 2011

I love Powglass the way it cleans my car windows. I was a bit hesitant to do it on the sun but decided to give it a try. Wow, it really works.

Robert O.

12:32AM PDT on Aug 19, 2011

Thanks Annie.

11:35AM PDT on Aug 9, 2011

I have tried Powglass that was given to me by friend. I love the fact that it leaves no streaks even on the hot surface when i do my glass sliding doors or car windshield and it's natural.

Alexis M.

5:48PM PDT on Jul 25, 2011

This recipe is fine for regular window cleaning, meaning that anyone who has windows soiled by dust or dirt can benefit from using a mix of vinegar, soap and water.

However, if your windows have accumulated a mineral build up, which gives the pane a hazy appearance as if whitish water spots were permanently stuck to your window, then the formula above will not work to remove those hazy spots.

As a professional window cleaner in San Francisco Bay Area I can only recommend that, if you wish not to use any harsh chemicals to remove the stains, you instead apply the recipe mix to your window but rub off the spots using a #0000 steel wool pad.

This work will take time and elbow grease to complete if the mineral deposit is heavily set on your window, which is why chemical solutions can make the job easier and most of them are environmentally safe.

Give it a try. You won't believe the difference!