by Rick Bavera

Created on: December 18, 2011   Last Updated: December 22, 2011

There are a multitude of ways to green clean your windows. Green cleaning windows (and the rest of your home cleaning projects) with home-made products is environmentally friendlier than most cleaning products you buy at the store. They are safer as well. You can also save money by making your cleaning products from common household products. An interesting tidbit on cost is this: 

" A 32 oz. bottle of national brand window cleaner cost about $4 in 2011, while the active ingredients in 32 oz. of homemade glass cleaner cost about 12 cents." (1)

When producing your own home cleaning products, for windows or for other jobs, you want to be sure to have new, clean containers in which to store the product. That way you will not have to be concerned that there might be accidental mixing of chemicals that could have bad reactions (such as bleach and ammonia).

Following are a few simple recipes for window and glass cleaning products.

Recipe #1:

1 gallon of water, 1/2 cup of white vinegar, and 1/2 teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Apply to window, wipe dry.

Recipe #2:

1 cup isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, 1 cup water, and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar. Apply to window, wipe dry.

After mixing these or any other product, be sure to label your storage container with permanent marker. Also, it is recommended that you mix your products in a well ventilated area. You should also have a good storage place for you cleaning supplies, out of the reach of any children or pets that may live with you or be visiting. 

When spraying the windows for cleaning, it is a good idea to use horizontal strokes on one side of the window, and vertical on the other. That way, if you should have any streaking, you will know on which side of the window the streak is located.

Either a lint-free cloth or a crumpled newsprint will work well as material to wipe your windows as you spray your home-made cleaner.

Recipe #3 comes from the National Geographic link. It is 2 tablespoons of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol in 1 quart of water. They suggest that if you coat the window with this mixture, before using a vinegar cleaner, applying with a lint-free cloth or newsprint, it will help to prevent streaks on your windows. 

Cleaning windows on a cloudy day, or on the shady side of the house (that is, out of direct sunlight) will also help reduce streaking, as your cleaner will not dry more quickly than you are cleaning. 

Recipe #4:

3 tablespoons cornstarch, 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1 gallon water. Apply to window, wipe dry.

Recipe #5:

1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 quart water. Apply to window, wipe dry.

Another ingredient you can add to your cleaner, if you do not like the smell of vinegar in the vinegar recipes, is to add a few drop of an essential oil of your choice, for an cleaning aroma you do like. Essential oils can be found at pharmacies. 

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