Homemade Glass Cleaners You Probably Haven't Tried (2024)

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By

Sarah Aguirre

Sarah Aguirre

Sarah Aguirre is a housekeeping expert with over 20 years of experience cleaning residentially and commercially. Over that time, she has been writing about tips and tricks for housekeeping and organizing a home for national publications.

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Updated on 04/26/22

Reviewed by

Rhea Mehta

Homemade Glass Cleaners You Probably Haven't Tried (1)

Reviewed byRhea Mehta

Rhea Mehta, PhD, is an award-winning toxicologist who has worked to empower people to lead healthier lives, starting in their homes, for over a decade. Rhea holds a PhD in Toxicology, with over 15 scientific publications, and a certificate in integrative health coaching.

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Fact checked by

Emily Estep

Homemade Glass Cleaners You Probably Haven't Tried (2)

Fact checked byEmily Estep

Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants.

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Homemade Glass Cleaners You Probably Haven't Tried (3)

Project Overview

  • Working Time:5 - 10 mins
  • Total Time:10 mins
  • Skill Level:Beginner
  • Estimated Cost:$10 to $15

A lot of things will work as a homemade glass cleaner, from rubbing alcohol to vinegar to soapywater, but single ingredients alone tend to have their own drawbacks. For example, vinegar does a decent job removing dust and water spots, but it doesn't cut through a lot of sticky stuff and tends to streak more than other cleaners. Rubbing alcohol is a potent cleaner but is harsh and strong-smelling, so it's not a great glass cleaner by itself. Combining ingredients is the secret to making a homemade glass cleaner that cleans well without streaking, just like the store-bought formulas.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Basic Homemade Glass Cleaner

  • Empty spray bottle
  • Mixing spoon

Homemade Glass Cleaner With Cornstarch

  • Empty spray bottle
  • Mixing spoon (optional)

Materials

Basic Homemade Glass Cleaner

  • 1 cup rubbing alcohol
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar

Homemade Glass Cleaner With Cornstarch

  • 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 cups water

Instructions

Homemade Glass Cleaners You Probably Haven't Tried (4)

Basic Homemade Glass Cleaner

Mixing alcohol and white vinegar makes a quickly evaporating glass and mirror cleaner that can compete with the cleaning power of national brands. This same recipe can also be used to give a nice shine to ceramic, chrome, and other hard surfaces.

Warning

Do not use vinegar on stone or other materials that can react with or be etched by acid.

  1. Combine Ingredients

    Carefully mix together your cleaning ingredients in a new, empty spray bottle.

    Homemade Glass Cleaners You Probably Haven't Tried (5)

    Warning

    Do not reuse a spray bottle that previously had another kind of cleaner in it. This eliminates the possibility of a dangerous chemical reaction between the new ingredients and the old cleaner.

  2. Label and Store

    Label the spray bottle as "glass cleaner" and keep it safely stored where curious pets or children will not have access to it.

    Homemade Glass Cleaners You Probably Haven't Tried (6)

Homemade Glass Cleaner With Corn Starch

Yes, cornstarch. Why it helps is anyone's guess, but a lot of people with formerly filthy windows swear by it. There are a couple of tricks to using this formula.

  1. Mix the Ingredients

    Combine ingredients in a clean, unused spray bottle. Label as glass cleaner. If you've made two different glass cleaning solutions, mark this one as having cornstarch.

    Homemade Glass Cleaners You Probably Haven't Tried (7)

  2. Use With Care

    Shake the spray bottle well before spraying on the cleaner to mix up the solution. During use, continue wiping until the glass is clear; if you leave any cleaner on the surface, the cornstarch leaves a residue.

    Homemade Glass Cleaners You Probably Haven't Tried (8)

The Best Tool for Wiping Windows

You've probably heard this before, but the best homemade rag for windows is plain black-and-white newspaper. It's free, it's recyclable, and it leaves glass and mirrors without streaks and lint. Cotton rags and paper towels leave too much lint, and paper towels are a waste of paper.

Homemade Glass Cleaners You Probably Haven't Tried (9)

An Exception to the Rule: Microfiber

Since you're interested in simple, homemade glass cleaners, it wouldn't be right not to mention the option of plain water. This is the exception to the previously mentioned advice about mixing ingredients for the best performance. Water is an excellent glass cleaner, but only if you also have a very high-quality microfiber glass-cleaning cloth.

The best microfiber cloths are made of 70 percent polyester and 30 percent polyamide. They also can cost upwards of $15 or $20 each. If you wash and dry them properly (without fabric softener) and keep them in good condition, they'll clean glass with plain water just as well as another homemade cleaner will. Cheap microfiber cloths don't have the same cleaning power and usually aren't worth the trouble. If you have a cheap cloth, you're probably better off with a blended solution and newspaper.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Household Cleaning & Sanitizing. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Homemade Glass Cleaners You Probably Haven't Tried (2024)

FAQs

Homemade Glass Cleaners You Probably Haven't Tried? ›

¼ cup of rubbing alcohol (70% Isopropyl alcohol) ⅓ cup of white vinegar. 4 cups of water.

What is the best homemade cleaner for glass? ›

In a spray bottle, mix 2 cups of lukewarm water, 1/4 cup of distilled white vinegar, and 1/3 teaspoon of grease-cutting liquid dish soap. Shake to mix. Spray on windows and use either a lint-free microfiber cloth or a window squeegee (preferably) to clean the glass.

What is the best homemade window cleaner? ›

Combine 16 ounces of hot water and a few drops of mild dish soap in a large bucket. We recommend using distilled water to get a streak-free finish. Mix thoroughly and pour into a spray bottle.

Does vinegar clean glass better than Windex? ›

Spray a stronger mix of 1:1 water and vinegar (or Windex, or glass cleaner) at your window, so that the solution covers most of the glass. (I found Windex to work better, but if you have pets—or kids—who frequently lick outdoor windows, vinegar may be the best route for you.)

How do you make streak-free glass cleaner? ›

Use Homemade, Nontoxic Glass Cleaners

You can rely on distilled white vinegar (or lemon juice) and warm water — mix them together in equal parts — to not only leave windows streak-free, but also break down any residue or grease on the surface of the window.

What is the best homemade eyeglass cleaner? ›

Supplies
  • 3 parts isopropyl alcohol.
  • 1 part water.
  • 2-4 drops of dish soap.
  • Small spray bottle.
  • Clean microfiber cloth.
Oct 6, 2022

What do professionals use to clean windows? ›

Ammonia and Alcohol-Based Solutions

Some professional window cleaners prefer ammonia or alcohol-based solutions due to their powerful cleaning capabilities. Ammonia effectively cuts through grease and dirt, while alcohol helps eliminate streaks and evaporates quickly, leaving a clean and clear surface.

What is the best solution for streak-free windows? ›

Use Vinegar

Whether you are out of name brand glass cleaner or you want to use a more natural cleaner, vinegar works wonders on windows. Try a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water for a streak-free clean. You can use a spray bottle or dip a rag in the solution, just like you would an ordinary cleaner.

How do you make no wipe outdoor window cleaner? ›

How to DIY the Best Window Cleaner for Outside Windows
  1. Add one-fourth cup of rubbing alcohol, one-fourth cup of distilled white vinegar, one tablespoon of cornstarch, and two cups of distilled water to a spray bottle.
  2. Shake well to combine the ingredients.
  3. Label the bottle.
May 1, 2024

What really cleans glass? ›

Combine two parts water with one part white vinegar in a spray bottle and you'll be all set with a homemade window cleaner. You can also combine warm water with a few drops of dishwashing soap if you prefer. Invest in a glass spray bottle to mix up your formula.

How do you clean glass like a pro? ›

Steps:
  1. Fill bucket with clean water and add a small amount of liquid dishwashing detergent.
  2. Wipe down the exterior window frame using a wet terrycloth rag.
  3. Dip a window scrubber into the water bucket and then wring out the excess water.
  4. Clean the glass with the scrubber to remove all dust and dirt.

What is the best homemade window cleaning solution? ›

In a spray bottle, combine ¼ cup of white vinegar with ½ teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Dilute the solution with 2 cups of water, then shake the bottle vigorously to mix the components. If you don't have white vinegar on hand, you can substitute it with lemon juice.

Why do my windows look smeared after cleaning? ›

Improperly drying your windows can leave streaks and smears. When cleaning your windows, it is important to use a clean, lint-free cloth or squeegee to dry them. Avoid using old newspapers or paper towels, as these can leave behind lint and fibers that can smear the glass.

Is vinegar and Dawn good for cleaning windows? ›

For very dirty windows, especially exterior windows, combine 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup of vinegar, and 1/2 tsp of dish detergent. If you're cleaning immediately, use warm but not hot water for added cleaning power. Shake the bottle to combine.

What is the best thing to clean glass without streaks? ›

Use Vinegar

Whether you are out of name brand glass cleaner or you want to use a more natural cleaner, vinegar works wonders on windows. Try a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water for a streak-free clean.

Does baking soda and vinegar clean glass? ›

Fill a spray bottle with 75ml of baking soda and 75ml of vinegar, mix the solution well and spray onto the windows. Finish with a dry cloth to wipe over the window, giving it a fantastic shine. Be sure to wash your windows on a cloudy day so the direct sun won't cause any streaks on the glass.

How do you make all purpose cleaner for glass? ›

How to Make Homemade Natural Glass Cleaner
  1. 1 cup white vinegar.
  2. 1 cup warm water.
  3. 1/2 cup lemon juice or 15 drops of lemon essential oil.

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