Vinegar is great for cleaning glass, but because it's acidic, it can't be used on every surface. Vinegar can also lose its effectiveness if the container is left open for too long. For an all-purpose cleaner, stick with alcohol. As a bonus, it does a good job of disinfecting surfaces.
Rubbing alcohol is a popular ingredient in homemade cleaners – but not for the reason you might think. Most homemade window cleaning recipes combine rubbing alcohol with vinegar because vinegar does the brunt of cleaning. Rubbing alcohol alone doesn't do a good job cutting through grease or grime.
For example, vinegar does a decent job removing dust and water spots, but it doesn't cut through a lot of sticky stuff and tends to streak more than other cleaners. Rubbing alcohol is a potent cleaner but is harsh and strong-smelling, so it's not a great glass cleaner by itself.
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.
In a spray bottle, combine ¼ cup of white vinegar with ½ teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Dilute the solution with 2 cups of water, then shake the bottle vigorously to mix the components. If you don't have white vinegar on hand, you can substitute it with lemon juice.
Professional window cleaners use a solution made from dish soap and water to achieve a streak-free clean. The key is to use a small amount of soap and distilled water. Some professionals add ammonia to the water for increased cleaning power.
Rubbing alcohol (also known as isopropyl alcohol) can be used to help achieve a streak-free finish on your glass surfaces.
Using isopropyl alcohol and white vinegar together makes a quickly evaporating spray glass and mirror cleaner that competes with national brands. This can also be used to give a nice shine to hard tiles, chrome, and other surfaces.
It may seem natural to reach for a squeegee, but that method requires finesse, as well as fancy wrist action. The best way to clean glass windows or tabletops is by using either a coffee filter or a microfiber cloth.
Vinegar is a strong acid with amazing uses, BUT rubbing alcohol is better for all-purpose cleaning. Remember rubbing alcohol can be used on any surface to clean it. Vinegar is acidic, so it can't be used on everything!
The study also showed that household disinfectants made with bleach or alcohol solutions greatly outperform vinegar at killing germs.
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!
Mix up your window-cleaning solution: In a plastic spray bottle, mix together 2 cups of warm water with 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon of Dawn. Sweep away dirt: Using a broom, sweep away the cobwebs and debris from the windows and sills.
Spray a stronger mix of 1:1 water and vinegar (or Windex, or glass cleaner) at your window, so that the solution covers most of the glass. (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.)
Vinegar is made from alcoholic beverages, but alcoholic beverages come first from fruits or grains. Often when we make vinegar, we start with wine or beer or that has already been fermented, as this simply speeds up the process.
vinegar 1/2 c. rubbing alcohol 1/2 c. water 5-6 drops Castile Soap w/essential oil Mix all ingredients together in a spray bottle. 1 cup Dawn 1 cup white vinegar Spray over soap scum coated surfaces and allow to sit 20 minutes.
Avoid using any rubbing alcohol on painted, shellacked, lacquered, or varnished surfaces, including treated wood. Certain fabrics: The isopropyl in alcohol can be a great stain treatment on certain fabrics, removing all evidence of difficult stains like ink, grass, grease, or sap.
Even though you may think the higher concentration is more effective, experts say 70% is actually better for disinfecting. It has more water, which helps it to dissolve more slowly, penetrate cells, and kill bacteria. The disinfecting power of rubbing alcohol drops at concentrations higher than 80%-85%.
99% isopropyl alcohol has the benefit of being non-corrosive to metals or plastics, so it can be used widely, on all surfaces, and won't leave smears, even on glass or screens. As an industrial cleaner because it does not leave a residue that may cause complications in manufacturing.
Pour one cup of rubbing alcohol, one cup of distilled water, and one tablespoon of vinegar into a spray bottle.
A big problem is the evaporation rate. If you're cleaning your windows on a warm sunny day, the liquid part of the solution evaporates quickly and leaves behind a residue that appears as streaks. On the other hand, if you don't entirely remove the liquid you can also be left with a streaky window.
In a spray bottle, combine 2 cups of white vinegar, 2 cups of water, and 5 drops of concentrated dish soap. Give it a good shake to thoroughly mix the ingredients. The vinegar is an acid and will help break up any mineral or hard water deposits. The dish soap helps to soften up the grime and gently remove dirt.
It contains vinegar and isopropyl alcohol, which both cut through grease and kill bacteria. Simply mix one cup of alcohol and water and add a tablespoon of vinegar. Add the mixture to a spray bottle, and you're good to go!