As we become better informed about the health dangers of chemical ingredients and their presence in everyday household items, we become conscious of everything we use and gravitate towards greener alternatives.
In this blog, we’ll share the many benefits of making natural cleaning products, our favourite homemade glass cleaner recipes, plus practical window cleaning tips to do it like a pro.
Let’s delve right in!
Benefits of Making Your Own Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Creating homemade glass cleaners and other natural cleaning solutions from scratch have a lot of wonderful benefits. Here are some excellent examples.
Switching to natural cleaning solutions is a smart decision you won’t regret. It’s a rewarding experience knowing that you are keeping your family safe while doing something to help the environment.
Natural Ingredients That Make The Best Cleaner for Windows
There are a lot of pantry staples that can be used as an effective glass cleaner ingredient. Check out our top picks for streak-free window cleaner recipes.
White Vinegar and Water Combo
Believe it or not, white vinegar is an amazing cleaning ingredient for the glass portion of your glass windows. It’s an impressive solution that gets rid of the nasty streaks from splashes of water.
To DIY a homemade glass cleaner from vinegar, all you have to do is mix one part of it with one part of warm water. To deep clean windows with stubborn grime and smears, you can spot treat the problem area with pure white vinegar at its full potency. Let it stay for a few minutes before rinsing and wiping it clean afterwards.
Lemon Juice
Another all-natural glass cleaner ingredient is lemon juice. It’s a fruity cleaning alternative with the same natural acid and antibacterial properties found in white vinegar. Instead of using harsh glass cleaner ingredients with nauseating fumes, concoct your homemade glass cleaner with lemon—eyeball how much water measurements depending on the potency you want.
How to Prevent Scratching Glass Windows When Cleaning
Contrary to popular misconception, using natural glass cleaner ingredients won’t automatically leave you with a streaky and scratched surface as long as you know how to do it properly.
- Do not use baking soda and salt. Although they work like magic for your sink or bathroom, these two ingredients are too abrasive for glass windows.
- Use reusable microfiber cloths or cotton rags for wiping and cleaning your windows. Old and tattered clothes that you cannot resell or donate can be repurposed as cleaning rags.
- Avoid using paper towels and tissues. Aside from producing unnecessary rubbish, the dust particles also cling to them and result in scratches on the glass.
- Do not wipe your glass windows when they are dry because you will only be dragging sharp debris on the surface. A moist cotton rag soaked in your homemade glass is a better alternative.
Sponge Versus Squeegee
Pair your homemade glass cleaner with appropriate window cleaning tools. You can choose between a sponge or a squeegee. Both are equally efficient, although some homeowners prefer one over the other. Sponges are widely available and super straightforward to use. On the other hand, if you take your glass cleaning chores seriously and if your home has several floor-to-ceiling windows, a squeegee may be a better option because it covers more areas in one swipe, and you can access hard-to-reach concerns as well.
Drying Your Glass Windows
When you’re done washing your windows with your homemade glass cleaner, wipe dry using a microfiber cloth or cotton rags. Go for ones that are lint-free. You can also repurpose old newspapers for this. Double-check if the ink doesn’t smudge. Again, it’s best not to use disposable tissue and paper towels for cleaning your windows.
Pro Tips for Window Cleaning
Excellent window cleaning techniques can also guarantee impressive results. Follow these tips.
- Never clean your windows in the sun. Postpone window cleaning plans when it’s sunny outside. Wait for a cloudy day instead. The glass cleaning ingredient will dry too quickly and leave unsightly smears.
- Make it a point to give the inside portion of your windows at least once every two months to allow light to shine through it.
- Wear protective gloves even when using natural glass cleaner ingredients to prevent your skin from drying. In rare instances, a homemade glass cleaner that uses lemon and vinegar may have stringent reactions to sensitive skin.
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