You don’t need to buy those expensive cleaners at the store! Not only will this homemade glass cleaner be safe for you, your children and your pets, but it will also save you money and give you that streak-free shine we all want on our windows and other glass surfaces.
Just like our DIY Borax ant killer, our all-purpose cleaning powder, washing soda, and even cream of tartar stain remover, these are made with multi-purpose ingredients that you probably already have at home.
Many of the everyday items we use to keep our homes clean are actually harming us long-term with common toxins. By making your own cleaning products, you control what goes in them and can eliminate toxins common in household cleaners.
I’ve been making homemade cleaners for years, including my homemade cleaning paste, this all-purpose cleaning spray and even homemade disinfectant spray.
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. 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, just be sure no one sprays it on their clothes or it may stain!
Homesteading Hack: We have since updated our recipe after learning that vinegar and soap, when combined, actually make for a less-effective cleaning agent! Vinegar alone will do a better job at cleaning those windows. So if you’re watching this older video, just know that the recipe card below is updated with our preferred recipe.
Reasons Why Homemade Glass Cleaner is Best
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 a child 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
- Vinegar – Either white or apple cider vinegar will do. Don’t worry about using your expensive raw ACV (especially because this could cause streaking); just any old vinegar will do here.
- Water – Using distilled water will prolong the shelf-life of your glass cleaner. Because regular water has contaminants, distilled water is best, and filtered water is the next best.
How to Make Homemade Glass Cleaner
- Using a funnel, add the vinegar and water to a spray bottle.
- Add lid and shake gently.
- Date and label the bottle.
- Use like any other glass cleaner!
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 a rag, try using newspaper. Some people swear by this method of getting those streak-free windows we all desire.
- The great thing about using a 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. It cuts through dirt and grease extremely well.
- 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!
Other Posts You May Enjoy
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- Unexpected Dish Soap Uses – Tips & Tricks!
- Hydrogen Peroxide Uses: Clever Cleaning Tips
- Baking Soda Uses: Cleaning Tips & Household Hacks
- Versatile Uses for Borax Around Your Home
- Washing Soda Uses: My Top Tips for Clean Living
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Homemade Glass Cleaner – A Non-Toxic and Easy Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar (or distilled white vinegar)
- 1 cup distilled water
- 1-3 drops food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Add 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!
