

It’s best to clean windows on an overcast, non-windy day. Though it seems straightforward, here are some techniques to help you use homemade window and glass cleaner without leaving streaks. In the UK, it’s known as “surgical spirits” and is available wherever you’d buy plasters or bandages. That’s why, in the United States, it’s sold in the First Aid section of stores. Chemically, rubbing alcohol is isopropyl and is used for disinfection. So, while you can certainly use 90% in this recipe, you will need to work very quickly to avoid leaving streaks. The higher the percentage, the less water it contains, and the faster it will evaporate. It also speeds up evaporation, which helps avoid leaving streaks.Ĭan I use a higher strength? Isopropyl comes in various strengths, ranging from 70% to 90%, depending on how much water has been added. Rubbing alcohol is a solvent that works with vinegar to dissolve grime on your windows. White vinegar does not cause that problem.īy subscribing, I consent to receiving emails. On shiny surfaces like glass and windows, pectin causes streaks. It’s roughly 5% acidity and works fine in this recipe - there’s no need to buy a pricey “cleaning vinegar.” Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is not a good substitute in this homemade glass cleaner since it contains pectin, a form of soluble fiber.


Vinegar does not hurt glass and helps dissolve things like bird droppings and dead bugs. We’re using dish soap in this window and glass cleaner recipe - “washing up liquid,” for UK readers - because it has additional grease-fighting properties. Don’t just squirt it in: too much will leave streaks on windows. Soap contains fatty substances that encapsulate greasy dirt particles, allowing them to be easily rinsed away. That’s why you’ll still find dirt on your windows after heavy rain. When water interacts with city grime, it can make the mess cling harder. This is the product of smog and other airborne particles that coat hard surfaces. But windows also acquire a stubborn mess known as city grime. If windows only got coated with dirt and pollen, a strong spray of water would get them clean. What Ingredients are best for window cleaning? If you want to store any unused portion of this DIY window cleaner formula, keep it in a cool, dark place away from heat and direct sunlight.
