If you’re trying to save money and go green at the same time, making a homemade window cleaner is a great place to start with your green house cleaning regimen. Most people find it more convenient to just buy a bottle of window cleaner from the store, but this guide will help you make an eco-friendly version that’s just as effective.
Most people use commercial window cleaners without a second thought, but these days, more and more of us are becoming concerned with how they affect the environment. From the bottle that they come in, to the fuel used to get them to the store, your average glass cleaner is a pretty big environmental hazard. The chemicals within these cleaners aren’t good for animals or people, and they end up polluting our water, too.
Vinegar-based cleaners are great. They remove oil and grease from all your glass surfaces, and they work well on other nonporous surfaces too. Vinegar can also remove sticky residue. There’s a bonus- they keep your windows from fogging! For best results, use white vinegar, but in a pinch, cider vinegar works too.
Use rubbing alcohol to clean your windows without smudges or smears. This is an environmentally friendly and economical cleaner- and alcohol can be used full-strength, or diluted to stretch it even more.
Make a mixture of one-half cup of peroxide to four cups of water- it disinfects as it cleans. You can use wadded-up newspapers to get your windows dry and squeaky clean.
Homemade Glass Cleaner Recipes
- Add equal amounts of white vinegar and warm water into a spray bottle. Wipe with soft cloth or newspaper for a streak-free shine.
- For cut glass, sprinkle baking soda on a damp rag and clean glass. Rinse with clean water and polish with a soft cloth.
When you make your green window cleaners, don’t forget to mark the bottles you put them in. Don’t clean your glass while the sun is shining on it, because the cleaner may evaporate before you can get the job done. Making your own glass cleaner is easy, and you’ll be doing your part to make your home and the rest of the world a little more green.
If you can not find the time to keep up with your own cleaning, check out services such as house cleaning ct by Ecolibrium, Green Clean USA, or Greenforce commercial cleaning.