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.
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.
You can also make an all-natural window cleaning solution using a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and hot water. Adding a touch of liquid soap to the vinegar solution will help remove any streak-causing wax left on the window from commercial cleaners used in the past.
The best window cleaning solution is a simple blend with basic ingredients you likely already have. The most common professional window cleaning solution recipe is filtered or distilled water and dish soap.
1. Sponge the glass with vinegar water. Fill your bucket with a gallon of warm water, add 1 cup white vinegar, and then soak your sponge in it completely.
Rather than mixing your homemade window cleaner in a spray bottle, combine 1 part vinegar with 1 part hot water in a bucket, and follow these steps to clean your windows: Soak a sponge in the cleaning solution. Dampen the window with the sponge, but don't drench the glass.
A recipe containing 2 cups of water, ¼ cup of white vinegar, and up to ½ teaspoon of liquid soap or detergent in a spray bottle or bucket is ideal. See below for larger batches. Start with your inside windows first. With tools and cleaning solution ready, it's time to do the work.
Combine two parts water with one part white vinegar in a spray bottle and you'll be all set with a homemade window cleaner. You can also combine warm water with a few drops of dishwashing soap if you prefer.
2 cups of warm water. 2 teaspoons of "finish" rinse aid. 1 teaspoon dish washing liquid. Shake well and use.
The best homemade window cleaning solution is to just mix two gallons of water and about a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid together in your bucket. Some people also opt to use vinegar and water to clean windows. In warm weather, you'll get a little more working time by using cool water.
Leanne Stapf, chief operating officer of The Cleaning Authority, says mixing one part vinegar to 10 parts water works to shine up your windows practically for free. Vinegar's natural acidity cuts through grime and deters streaking, and it's safe around children and pets.
“Vinegar is a good cleaner because it's acidic, but when you add dishwashing liquid/dish soap to it (which is a base or neutral) - you neutralise the vinegar. You take away the very thing that makes it work well. “The dishwashing liquid works that well on its own. Adding the vinegar is a pointless step.”
One of the biggest mistakes in window cleaning is to over-spray, making it hard to wipe off the cleaning solution. Dry the window. Immediately after you've sprayed your window with the cleaning solution, wipe it off from side to side using crumpled newspaper or a clean microfiber cloth. Work quickly to avoid streaks.
DIY Glass Cleaner Recipe
Beginning with your empty plastic spray bottle, add in the cup of distilled water. Then combine with one cup rubbing alcohol and two tablespoons of distilled white vinegar. Once everything is in the bottle, please give it a good shake to mix the solution up. That's it - super easy, right?
To avoid drips and evaporation, spray Windex® Glass Cleaner on large windows in sections, wiping away the cleaning solution before moving on to the next portion.
A trusted way to get windows sparkling is a combination of water and vinegar. Fill a bucket with water and add two or three cups of white vinegar. Submerge a sponge or clean cloth in the liquid and apply generously. Dry with a clean cloth.
Dawn as a substitute glass cleaner
One of the most effective ways to clean glass is dish soap – it's what professional window cleaners use when cleaning exterior windows.
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.
Rinsing is not necessary! If you're simply using a vinegar and water solution to wipe and disinfect, you won't need to rinse. However, if there's also plenty of dirt and grime you're wiping away, you may also want to rinse with some extra water.