How to Clean Windows with Vinegar
Choosing vinegar for window cleaning is a smart and budget-friendly decision. This household staple, commonly found in US homes, is a cost-effective alternative to commercial cleaners, offering significant savings per ounce.
Specifically, Walmart’s Great Value distilled white vinegar is around $4.00 per gallon, while Windex Glass Cleaner is around $4.00 for 32 ounces, making it nearly $16.00 per gallon.
And it’s not just cheap; vinegar has a long history as a household cleaner. Vinegar is mildly acidic, containing about 4 to 8% acetic acid. It can cut grease and dissolve buildup, thus efficiently removing fingerprints, smears, and hard water stains on glass. Vinegar’s acidity also gives it mild disinfectant properties against some bacteria and mold. Finally, because it is non-toxic, vinegar is a safe and environmentally friendly cleaning agent. To start cleaning your windows with vinegar, follow one of the recipes below.
It’s crucial to remember that vinegar, due to its acidity, can potentially damage certain surfaces. Always exercise caution and test any cleaning product in an inconspicuous spot before full application.
Window Cleaning Recipes
Basic Vinegar Glass Cleaner
Martha Stewart, the homemaking maven, suggests combining equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle for a good, all-natural cleaning solution. [1]
Streak-Free Spray for Windows, Glass, and Metal
Melissa Dilkes Pateras and Carla Sosenko, authors of A Dirty Guide to a Clean Home: Housekeeping Hacks You Can’t Live Without, recommend adding cornstarch to your vinegar cleaner solution as the secret ingredient that microscrubs without scratching.
You Will Need:
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
- 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Add all ingredients to a spray bottle and mix. [2]
A Dirty Guide to a Clean Home: Housekeeping Hacks You Can’t Live Without
Citrus-Fresh Alternative Glass Spray
If the smell of vinegar is too strong for you, Dionna Ford and Mandy O’Brien, authors of Homemade Cleaners: Quick-and-Easy, Toxin-Free Recipes to Replace Your Kitchen Cleaner, Bathroom Disinfectant, Laundry Detergent, Bleach, Bug Killer, Air Freshener, and More, recommend adding 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice without the pulp to your vinegar solution. [3]
Lavender Multi-Purpose Cleaner
Jennifer L. Scott, author of At Home with Madame Chic: Becoming a Connoisseur of Daily Life, adds 40 drops of lavender or tea tree oil to her vinegar multi-purpose cleaner to soften the vinegar scent. [4]
At Home with Madame Chic: Becoming a Connoisseur of Daily Life
Glass Spot Remover
If your drinking glasses have hard-to-remove water spots, Kasey Schwartz, author of Essential Oils for a Clean and Healthy Home: 200+ Amazing Household Uses for Tea Tree Oil, Peppermint Oil, Lavender Oil, and More, recommends a simple, homemade vinegar rinse.
You will need:
- 1/2 gallon of hot distilled water
- 1/2 gallon of vinegar
- 10 drops of lemon essential oil
Fill your sink with the hot water and vinegar. Add the essential oil and stir. Add your spotted glasses to the water and allow them to soak for an hour. Rinse well. [5]
Window Cleaning Tips
Using crumpled newsprint to wipe the glass clean will give you streak-free results. For non-disposable options, use a soft, lint-free cloth, squeegee, or chamois. [6]
Clean your windows when the sun is not directly shining on them. Direct sunlight can cause your cleaner to dry, leaving behind streaks. [7]
Always label your bottles of homemade window cleaner and other homemade cleaning products.
References
- [1][7] Martha – Up Close & Personal – “Spring-Cleaning: Windows.”
- [2] Pateras, Melissa Dilkes. A Dirty Guide to a Clean Home: Housekeeping Hacks You Can’t Live Without. United Kingdom, Random House Publishing Group, 2023.
- [3] Ford, Dionna, and O’Brien, Mandy. Homemade Cleaners: Quick-and-Easy, Toxin-Free Recipes to Replace Your Kitchen Cleaner, Bathroom Disinfectant, Laundry Detergent, Bleach, Bug Killer, Air Freshener, and More. United States, Ulysses Press, 2014.
- [4] Scott, Jennifer L.. At Home with Madame Chic: Becoming a Connoisseur of Daily Life. United Kingdom, Simon & Schuster, 2014.
- [5] Schwartz, Kasey. Essential Oils for a Clean and Healthy Home: 200+ Amazing Household Uses for Tea Tree Oil, Peppermint Oil, Lavender Oil, and More. United States, Adams Media, 2015.
- [6] Moore, Melodie. Complete Idiot’s Guide to Household Solutions. United States, Alpha Books, 1998.
