Back when I first started experimenting with making my own cleaning products, it didn’t take long for me to realize that Windex (or any type of glass and window cleaner) was one of the easiest types of cleaners to replicate at home. While the streak free shine of store-bought glass cleaners may seem like the result of advanced chemical wizardry, creating a great streak free homemade window cleaner is a lot simpler than you might think!
In fact, there are several ways to create an effective DIY window cleaner, and I’ll be sharing a few of the best homemade ones with you in today’s post! More specifically, I’ll be showing you how to make the three following window cleaning solutions:
- Homemade Glass Cleaner – great all-purpose glass cleaner for everyday use
- Non-Toxic Glass Cleaner – non-toxic formula, good for hard water spots and mineral deposits
- Outdoor Window Cleaner – recipe and method for clean, streak-free exterior windows
No matter what type of glass surfaces need cleaning around the house, you’re sure to find the perfect homemade window cleaning solution right here in this post. (And because you skipped the Windex and made it yourself, that’s money, time, and effort saved too!)
#1 – Homemade Glass Cleaner
You’ll need:
- 1 Tablespoon ammonia
- 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
- 3 drops Dawn dish soap
- Water
- Spray bottle (16 oz)
Directions:
Carefully pour the ammonia, rubbing alcohol, and dish soap into a spray bottle, then fill the remainder of the bottle with water. Screw the spray top onto the bottle, then shake the spray bottle gently to mix.
How It Works
Ammonia and rubbing alcohol are not only effective cleaners in their own right, but they evaporate quickly too, which is crucial to that all-important streak free finish. Adding just a few drops of Dawn dish soap to this glass cleaning formula gives it a boost of grease-cutting power, so that even the greasiest fingerprints and smudges wipe away with ease!
#2 – Non-Toxic Glass Cleaner
You’ll need:
- White vinegar
- Water
- Spray bottle
Directions:
Fill your spray bottle with equal amounts of white vinegar and water, replace the spray top, and shake to combine. (That really is all there is to it!)
How It Works
In addition to containing just two all-natural and non-toxic ingredients, the beauty of this glass cleaner is how effective it is against hard water spots and mineral deposits. It’s perfect for cleaning glass surfaces that are frequently exposed to hard water, like glass shower enclosures and patio doors. To use it, just spray it onto spotty glass surfaces, let it sit for a few minutes to work its magic, then wipe clean.
Keep in mind that this vinegar-based solution doesn’t contain any fast-drying ingredients, so it won’t dry as quickly as the previous solution. After you spray and wipe the window, wipe it again with a clean, dry microfiber cloth to remove any remaining moisture and prevent streaks.
#3 – Outdoor Window Cleaner
You’ll need:
- 2 gallons warm water
- 1/2 cup dishwasher rinse aid
- 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
- 1/4 cup ammonia
- 1/4 cup dishwasher detergent
- Bucket
- Hose with a sprayer attachment
- Long handled brush or mop
Directions:
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Prepare the window cleaning solution by adding the warm water, rinse aid, rubbing alcohol, ammonia, and detergent to a bucket. Take the bucket outside along with a long handled cleaning brush, like a car wash mop or even a microfiber floor mop.
Before you start cleaning, give the windows a good spray with the hose to remove any surface dirt or grime. Next, dip your brush into the cleaning solution and scrub the windows thoroughly.
When you’re satisfied, spray windows thoroughly to rinse off the cleaning solution. Allow the glass to air dry, or use a squeegee to wipe off any remaining water, and continue around the house until all your windows are clean.
How It Works
Thanks to a combination of standard window cleaning agents like alcohol and ammonia and a couple of surprising dishwashing agents, this homemade window cleaner transforms a somewhat arduous chore into a simple and satisfying process! Even the grimiest outdoor windows are left crystal clear, drying quickly without a trace of spots and streaks.
When I’ve used this solution in the past, my clean windows have dried so quickly that I didn’t even have to bother using a squeegee or paper towels (though that may be one of the rare perks of living in such a dry climate!)
Tips for Streak Free Windows
- Looking for the perfect streak free shine on your windows, mirrors, and glass surfaces? Make sure you do the following:
- Work Top to Bottom. When cleaning windows, mirrors, shower doors, and other glass surfaces, always work from top to bottom to prevent drips and streaks from the top down.
- Give It Time. Give your glass cleaners time to work by spraying them on, then waiting a few minutes before wiping dry with a lint free microfiber cloth.
- Use a Clean Cloth. If your cloth isn’t totally clean (maybe your detergent didn’t get rinsed out all the way or you used fabric softener when you washed it), you’ll likely leave streaks behind. For this reason, you should avoid washing your cleaning cloths with anything that’s greasy or covered in stubborn residues. And skip the paper towels—they’re rarely lint free.
- Clean Windows Early. If you’re planning to wash your windows, be sure to do it early in the morning. The higher the sun gets in the sky, the warmer the windows will get, making them next to impossible to get clean. No matter how good your window cleaner is, a warm window will end up streaky!
What is your favorite glass cleaner?
I’m wondering how this affects the flowerbeds directly beneath the windows. Are the products used (in the runoff) harmful to flowers and plants?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Ammonia is a natural bi-product of the decomposition of protein – it won’t hurt your garden
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Vinegar is made from decomposition of fruit – it won’t hurt your garden
Dish Soap – can have phosphates and other similar chemicals.
Try not to use so much that you have a great deal of “run off” down the house until you rinse. The worse any of these should do is mildly change the PH in the area directly below the application. Should not harm or poison any ground or plant.
Jet-Dri – that is an unknown
“JET-DRY® products are a special combination of nonionic surfactants, a chelating agent, dye, and fragrance* (*for our fragranced products). On a more detailed note, they are kosher and don’t contain phosphate.
How it works: Rinse agents help your dishwasher rinse away residue that causes spots and film on dishes and glasses. Rinse agents for automatic dishwashers, such as JET-DRY® Rinse Agent, are designed to lower the surface tension of the water, causing it to sheet off the dishes during the final rinse. This prevents the formation of droplets of water that can remain on the surface of the dishes and are ‘set’ by the heat of the drying cycle, forming spots and film. Rinse agents are also helpful in obtaining dry dishware when dishwasher energy savings switches are activated, or when dishes are left to air dry.* *Source: The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA), visit: http://www.cleaning101.com. (http://www.jetdry.com/whatis.shtml)”
Thank you Cheryl! That is such useful information! :-)
Jet dry is basically diluted food grade acids. So it won’t harm your plants.
Love the idea of streak-free windows. You are the greatest….
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You have no idea how MUCH I love your posts, English is not my native language, but I am always waiting to read what’s next from You. Thankssssssss for all the tips! ( I made my laundry detergent, And I am loving it.)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.gotta love a man that cleans!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Wow, that really is a good thing! Can’t wait to give it a try!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Now if you could just come up with a formula for a “handy hubby,” I’d be all set! Thanks for all of the great, economical hints!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Considering many of us are now using Vinegar In our dishwashers instead of the jet dry…could we do the same here?????
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Penny, “Jet Dry” is dishwasher rinse aid. You’ll find it with the rest of the dishwasher products.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I was wondering what you could substitute for the dishwasher soap as I don’t have a dishwasher.
Can’t wait to try this out. Wonder if I can get my son to help?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Tellina I don’t have a dishwasher either. I just went to our local $1 store and got a cheap box of the powdered dishwashing soap. Worked perfectly for me…GOOD LUCK
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Do you have a homemade version for inside windows and mirros?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have made this and cleaned the outside windows…perfectly!!!! Then I’ve poured a small amount in a spray bottle and diluted it with water to do the inside of the windows…then I just took a wet/dampened cloth and polished the window then dried with a soft cloth…perfect again!!!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What pray tell, for the benefit of your ‘over the pond’ friends, is Jet Dry? As I don’t have a dishwasher, perhaps I’ve just led a sheltered life….
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You put it in the dishwasher. It is a rinsing agent. At the store, it is usually on one of the upper shelves, just above the dishwasher soap.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.thank you. i was going to ask that question. i’m in australia too.
Oh, happy day! Bless you for posting this.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.you’ll be having all the birds flying into your windows they’re so clean…if you hear a big thump, you’ll know what it is :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.hahaha….I DID think about that. Maybe I need to put up some cat decals. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.C’mon Now! I thought I couldn’t love you anymore…until NOW! Please run for President, you could solve all our problems! I love you!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love you too Marce! ;-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can your husband come over and vlean mine? There is no way mine will clean windows.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Georgeann…you have to offer the right “incentives”. ;-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I live by a busy road and my windows are DISGUSTING! Can’t wait for a warm day to try this! Thanks for sharing.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.that is beautiful! wish i could wash my inside windows the same way :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Me too Krysten. If you figure out how, let me know! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use straight alcohol inside and it works beautifully on windows, mirrors, and chrome fixtures. I get large bottles of alcohol at the Dollar Store and replace the top with a sprayer and off I go. Everything shines!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.All I can say is, “WOW”. I love clean windows. I hate washing windows. “wow” I will be trying this!!
Thank you!
Mary Malone
Please log in or create a free account to comment.wonder if my homemade (Jillee formula) dishwasher soap would work?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Deb…..since I posted this: https://onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/03/homemade-dishwasher-soap-not-detergent.html
I don’t have dishwasher soap “pre-made” sitting around. I happened to have a box of cheap dishwasher detergent from another blog post I was working on about whitening whites….so I used that.
that being said….if you have a homemade version of dishwasher detergent…I would use that! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Where did you purchase your long handled mop? I can’t find one with a base that is short like yours.
Thank you, I have all the ingredients but need to find that mop.
use a paint roller handle tht telescopes/extends to varying lengths
Wow, now that is graphic! What an easy way to clean windows. Ours really need it, and we will try this for sure. Thanks for the help you always give us.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can you use this on cleaning car windows?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.this worked amazing!!!! thank you!!! :)
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