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Homemade Glass Cleaner – An Easy Non-Toxic Recipe

You don’t need to buy those expensive cleaners at the store! Not only will this homemade cleaner improve your health, but it will also save you money and give you that streak-free shine we all want on our windows and other glass surfaces.

Bottle of dish soap, a plastic spray bottle and a large bottle of vinegar sitting on a counter.

Have you ever made homemade glass cleaner or other homemade cleaning products before? There are many different recipes out there, but I like to keep it simple and inexpensive by using one of my favorite cleaning ingredients, vinegar!

For this recipe, you can decide if you’d like to use apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. Also, be sure to use a good non-toxic and biodegradable dish soap, otherwise, you may not want to allow your little kids to help clean with this spray.

I love to mix up a batch with my kids, and I don’t have to worry about them because the ingredients are all non-toxic! I find if they help make the spray, they’re much more eager to help in the cleaning!

Adding a few drops of food coloring can make it more exciting for the little ones, just be sure they don’t spray it on their clothes or it may stain!

Reasons Why Homemade Glass Cleaner is Best

  1. So much healthier for you – no need for all the extra chemicals in store-bought glass cleaner for them to work. Very important when the weather is really cold and you’re not opening up the windows to air things out.
  2. Way cheaper – this cleaner only costs me about $0.30 cents per bottle to make. The same eco-friendly glass and window cleaner at the grocery store is at least $3.50.
  3. I know the ingredients – I know they’re safe for my family and pets. If I had a store-bought bottle of window cleaner, I would never hand it to my two or three-year-old to help me clean a bathroom mirror or a window. But with my homemade version, I know this is a safe alternative for them to start learning chores at a young age

Ingredients Needed for Homemade Glass Cleaner

  • Dish Soap
  • White vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Distilled Water

Glass Cleaning Tips

  • This cleaner is great for windows, mirrors, and countertops! Be sure to label the bottle right away so no one is confused!
  • If you want to add a few drops of food coloring just so no one thinks it’s water, then that’s fine as well.
  • Be sure to keep this away from any marble products as vinegar is not good for marble. 
  • If you’re not having good results cleaning your mirrors or windows with a clean microfiber cloth, a towel or rag, try using a piece of newspaper. Some people swear by this method of getting those streak-free windows we all desire.
  • The great thing about using newspaper is you can compost it after cleaning. We’re trying to avoid using paper towels as with a large family like ours, we can fly through them so quickly, but we can always pick up extra newspapers around town!
  • This cleaner works well as an all-purpose surface cleaner and also works on stainless steel surfaces as it cuts through dirt and grease extremely well.
  • Using distilled water will prolong the shelf-life of your glass cleaner.
  • As I mentioned in the video, be sure to label your bottle and store it away from any cooking or personal care items. 
  • It’s also a great idea to date your cleaner. If you find your cleaner isn’t giving you good results, the date on the bottle could tell you why! After some time, the soap will break down and not work as well. 
Bottle of dish soap, a plastic spray bottle and a large bottle of vinegar sitting on a counter.

Homemade Glass Cleaner – A Non-Toxic and Easy Recipe

You don’t need to buy those expensive cleaners at the store! Not only will this homemade cleaner improve your health, but it will also save you money and it will save you time because you don’t have to keep these items stocked on your shelf!
3.53 from 23 votes
Print Pin
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 bottle
Author: Carolyn Thomas
Cost: $0.30

Ingredients

  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar (or distilled white vinegar)
  • 1 cup distilled water
  • 5 drops dish soap
  • 1-3 drops food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a spray bottle. Add lid and shake gently.
  • Date and label the bottle.
  • Use like any other glass cleaner!

Notes

  • If you’re not having good results cleaning your mirrors or windows with a clean microfiber cloth, a towel or rag, try using a piece of newspaper. Some people swear by this method of getting those streak-free windows we all desire.
  • The great thing about using newspaper is you can compost it after cleaning. We’re trying to avoid using paper towels as with a large family like ours, we can fly through them so quickly, but we can always pick up extra newspapers around town!
  • Using distilled water will prolong the shelf-life of your glass cleaner.
  • As I mentioned in the video, be sure to label your bottle and store it away from any cooking or personal care items. 
  • It’s also a great idea to date your cleaner. If you find your cleaner isn’t giving you good results, the date on the bottle could tell you why! After some time, the soap will break down and not work as well. 
Tried this recipe?We want to see! Tag @homesteadingfamily on Instagram.
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