Whether you are out of name brand glass cleaner or you want to use a more natural cleaner, vinegar works wonders on windows. Try a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water for a streak-free clean. You can use a spray bottle or dip a rag in the solution, just like you would an ordinary cleaner.
Cleaning glass is more about the tools than the elbow grease. Even if you do exactly the right things, like mixing vinegar with distilled water and wiping with newspaper, it's possible to end up with a frustrating streak or three. In that case, the simplest solution is to finish the job with a quick buff.
Use a Z-shaped motion on your glass panes
It is a good idea to fill your spray bottle with your vinegar solution for a seamless application over the glass. 'Take a microfiber cloth and wipe in a Z-shaped motion to stop the smears and get every little,' they say.
Provided they are clean, microfiber cloths are the best way to avoid thin films left over after you wipe down the surface of your glass or mirror. Some people recommend using rags, or an old tee-shirt, but those materials were not designed for cleaning.
Instead of using standard cleaning products, get a bucket of water and mix it with dishwashing detergent or vinegar. Apply this cleaning solution to the glass using a long window scrubber. Grab a squeegee and pull its blade over the glass in a reverse “S” pattern.
To make the best window washing solution with rubbing alcohol, add 1½ cup water, 1½ cup rubbing alcohol, and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar (if you have any) to a spray bottle. Close the bottle, shake it to mix the ingredients, and use it to clean windows and other glass surfaces in your home.
Have you ever spent hours washing your windows, only to notice streaks everywhere? This has to do with the evaporation rate—if your cleaning solution evaporates before you have time to wipe it off, it will leave a mark.
Make sure to use a commercial glass cleaner or try a combination of distilled water and white vinegar. Once you have the product ready, use a microfiber cloth, t-shirt, or newspaper instead of paper towels. Spray the product on your cloth instead of on the mirror in order to avoid drips that you'll need to wipe up.
(I found Windex to work better, but if you have pets—or kids—who frequently lick outdoor windows, vinegar may be the best route for you.)
But for convenience and safety, the simple solution of white vinegar and distilled water is the best DIY window cleaner. It's non-toxic, unlike most commercial cleaners, and versatile enough for several cleaning projects around the house. Plus, it's arguably the cheapest cleaner you can find!
You can also use water from a bucket. Then fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and completely saturate the glass. Allow it to soak for at least 10 minutes—longer if there's serious buildup. Next, dip a scrubbing sponge into baking soda and scrub the glass.
The cloudiness comes from mineral deposits and buildup or from etching, so to clean cloudy glasses, you need to use vinegar or baking soda. With these simple household staples along with some Dawn dish detergent, you'll have your glassware sparkling like the day you got it in no time flat.
Fill your vessel with equal parts vinegar and water. Soak your cloudy glassware in the vinegar solution: Put your cloudy glassware in the solution and let the pieces soak for about 30 minutes. Test one of the glasses for cloudiness: Take one of the glasses out of the solution and give it a rinse.
Use Vinegar
Try a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water for a streak-free clean. You can use a spray bottle or dip a rag in the solution, just like you would an ordinary cleaner. If you are worried about the fumes, only use vinegar for outdoor windows or mix a couple drops of essential oils to counteract the smell.
Smears and streaks on windows are mainly caused by watermarks and areas where cleaning solution has remained on the surface – this is down to excess moisture not being absorbed when wiped away. Window cleaning products will say that they are streak-free, but it is not that simple.
Microfiber or other lint-free towels won't leave behind little specks on glass surfaces. Newspaper or old, clean cotton diapers are other great options.
Both vinegar and ammonia are good cleaning agents, but if you want to be on the safe side, then it's best to go with vinegar. Vinegar is less hazardous. When it comes to actually wiping the windows down, however, microfiber cloths are the best thing to use for absorbency.
Not only does rubbing alcohol polish mirrors, but it's also useful for cleaning windows and glass crystal too, according to Stephanie Cooper of Energy Cleaning.