10 Homemade Window Cleaners & Streakless Glass Advice

Washing windows is a chore we all have to tackle and selecting an effective glass cleaner can make the job so much easier. We want something that lifts spots and splatters effortlessly but also provides sparkling, streak-free results.

There are plenty of commercial products that work great, but mixing together a homemade solution is so easy to do, why not try them…they cost just pennies a bottle!

All that’s needed are a few simple ingredients that you likely have around the house already. Not only are they typically much cheaper to make, they work just as well too!

Here’s a bunch of different recipes you can try along with a few tips listed at the bottom of this article to help achieve a crystal-clear, streak-free shine along with some troubleshooting tips for removing stubborn spots.

Which one’s the best? I think they’re all good but the first recipe (marked as #1), seems to have the most positive feedback from Tipnut readers.

If you’re looking for all-natural solutions as a substitute for harsh chemical/commercial products, you’ll find a few listed here too!

Note: Several of these homemade batches require liquid dish soap, I prefer the blue Dawn product but feel free to use your favorite. Several have left notes below that Joy is a good option too.

Homemade Recipes & Solutions

Abbreviations:

C. = cup
gal. = gallon

Directions For Applying:

Normal Jobs: Spray directly on glass then wipe dry with paper towels, microfiber cloth or a soft, lint-free rag.

Heavy Dirt/Grime: If you are dealing with especially dirty windows, first take a hot, soapy sponge to them then rinse clear before proceeding as noted above.

Hard/Crusty Bits & Residue: Take a piece of paper towel and soak it in some regular household vinegar then apply it directly to the crusty bit. Leave it alone for awhile to give things a chance to absorb. You should be able to lift if off with a hard swipe of the moist towel. Then proceed to wash with one of the mixes below.

#1

2 C. rubbing alcohol (70 percent isopropyl)
3/4 gal. of water

–mix together than add

1/2 C. ammonia
1 tsp dish detergent (liquid)

–top with water until you have 1 gallon

#2

2 C. water
3 TBS vinegar
1/2 tsp dish detergent (liquid)

#3

1 gal. water
1/4 C. vinegar
1 tsp dish detergent (liquid)

#4

1 gal. water
1/4 C. vinegar
2 TBS lemon juice
squirt dish detergent (liquid)

#5

1/2 C. white vinegar
1 gal. warm water

#6

2 TBSP cornstarch
1/2 C. household ammonia
1/2 C. white vinegar
1 gal. warm water

  • Directions: Mix the ingredients in a bucket, make sure cornstarch is thoroughly dissolved before applying.

#7

1 gal. water
1 C. vinegar
2 TBS cornstarch

  • Combine until cornstarch is thoroughly dissolved.

Quickies (#8 & #9):

Store these solutions in spray bottles: (they also work on mirrors)

  • One part vinegar added to four parts water
  • One cup cold strong black tea with 3 TBS of vinegar

#10 Lemon-Fresh Version
First Published May 3, 2010

Here’s a goody sent in by Amanda:

This recipe is for cleaning windows and glass that I’ve used for years, it brings a nice sparkle & shine so I love it! Only a few ingredients are needed:

  • 3 TBS lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
  • 2 cups club soda (you can use water too or a mix of water and club soda but I prefer 100% club soda)
  • 1 tsp cornstarch

Pour everything into a spray bottle then shake well before using.

Thanks so much for sharing Amanda!

Another great suggestion: trees advises (comments area below) to skip mixing or buying cleaners altogether and try an old fashioned leather chamois that is pre-soaked in water (rinse and repeat a few times until it runs clear). Start at the corners and work down, drying with cotton toweling or microfiber cloth. Nancy replied that if you don’t have a leather chamois, a sponge will do the trick too. Nothing more all-natural or harsh-chemical free than that!

Tips For Best Success:

  • Be generous when applying homemade solutions, no need to be skimpy! This will help soften and loosen any hard bits or residue on the surface.
  • Spray with preferred recipe then wipe off with crumpled newspapers. The newsprint helps prevent smearing and stubborn, left-behind streaks. Depending on how many windows you’re washing, you’ll want a stack of paper at the ready since dry sheets work better than wet ones. Avoid sheets with color ink.
  • Drying with coffee filters also give great streak-free results (shared by Brenda in the comment section below). Another Tip: Save old cotton t-shirts (laundered without fabric softener), they also do a lovely job (shared by Hzlb).
  • Submitted by Diana: A black board chalk eraser brings out a nice shine.
  • Avoid washing windows when the sun is shining or weather is hot–the cleaning solution will dry too fast and there will be stripes left behind on the glass. Working in the early morning or on overcast, cloudy days are best.
  • Wash one side of the surface in an up and down motion (vertical), on the other side scrub side to side (horizontal). This will help determine which side has the streaks that require buffing out.
  • No matter your best effort, troublesome smears are still noticeable? Take a wet sponge, scrub all over the surface then dry again with a microfiber cloth. It could just be too much cleaner was left behind in the last wipe and just needed a better rinse.
  • For large/tall panes, squeegees come in handy but wipe the edge after each swipe to avoid drips. You’ll find some that retract/expand so they can reach tall panes easily.
  • Outdoors: Sweeping away all cobwebs and debris is essential before getting started. I’ve used a rag tied on the end of a broomstick or an extendable cobweb duster to get rid of all the gunk. Another option is to take the hose out and spray with some pressure to clear debris. If you skip this step, you’ll find muddy smears and pieces of dried leaves/cobwebs sticking on the glass in the most obvious places.

Troubleshooting – How To Remove:

Dried Paint Splatters: Saturate both glass and a razor blade with cleaner then take the edge of the blade to carefully dig under the dried splatter, trying to lift it up as it softens from the liquid. You can also boil some vinegar then soak a sponge into it and dab away at the dried paint, lifting it off completely. Might take some elbow grease, but this should provide results!

Hard Water Spots & Stains: Apply toothpaste all over and let sit for at least 10 minutes before washing away (regular Crest works terrific for this, though any non-gel does best). Some scrubbing effort will be required. Another option: Apply a paste of baking soda & water, allow to set for about 10 minutes then take a warm, damp sponge and wipe away carefully. Baking soda is a gentle abrasive and should not leave behind any scratches, but be careful with the pressure.

Calcium (& other Mineral) Buildup: Follow the directions noted at top of page for removing “Hard/Crusty Bits & Residue”. Depending on how bad the buildup is, you’ll want to leave this for 30 minutes or more.

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Comments

    • Susan Clark
    Reply

    Lysol toilet bowl cleaner in 1gal water will take off all hard water on shower doors and exterior windows

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