There are several reasons why a homeowner would want to make his or her own window cleaner. One reason is simply the availability of window cleaners. If you are cleaning up around your house, you might find that you’ve run out of the commercial cleaner you bought at the store. In that case, you’ll need to either run out to the store or make one yourself. Fortunately, many window cleaners can be made from items that you likely already have around your house. Furthermore, the environment in many places already has too many toxins. Household cleaners are some of the most common culprits. Fortunately, everyday items can be safer for your environment and work just as well.
The Recipe
The first step in your streak-free homemade window cleaner is assembling all of the ingredients. A very workable window cleaner is made from vinegar, rubbing alcohol, cornstarch, water, and essential oils. The essential oils are optional, but they do help to impart a nice smell to the window cleaner. You should use about even proportions of vinegar and rubbing alcohol. You can use either white vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Use a small amount of cornstarch and then fill the bottle up the rest of the way with water.
Using The Window Cleaner
Cornstarch might seem like an odd addition to a window cleaner, but the science supports it. Glass is not completely smooth; it actually contains many microscopic scratches and bumps. Water can stick to those tiny abrasions. Then, more water and chemicals will bond to that water. That is what creates streaking. Cornstarch disrupts those hydrogen bonds and prevents streaks. If you’re allergic to corn, or don’t have any around, you could use any type of starch in small amounts. Tapioca and arrowroot, for example, would work as well.
You then should pick a microfiber towel to clean the windows. Many people choose to use two towels. Spray the cleaner on the surface and then clean the windows; then, use the second towel to dry the window. That prevents any cleaner from being left on the window. If you don’t have microfiber towels, newspaper or cotton clothing will work. Many people just use an old t-shirt. You just need something that won’t scratch the glass or leave behind fibers.
That’s how easy it is to make your own cleaner. You can alter the proportions of vinegar and alcohol if you need something that will provide a deeper clean.
