Non-Toxic Window Cleaner || Natural Homemade Cleaners

This non-toxic window cleaner is so easy to make. It’s very inexpensive, and it’s safe for your whole household; you, your family, and your pets.

bottle of non-toxic window cleaner sitting on a windowsill with a cloth

There are a lot of diy recipes for natural cleaning products out there. I can tell you from experience that many of them don’t work at all.

This diy glass cleaner works great. I first learned to make it from my grandmother many years ago. I don’t remember exactly how old I was.

But my gram moved away when I was 11, so it was before that. I’m soon to be 60 now, and while I’ve tried making several different non-toxic glass cleaners, I always come back to this basic recipe.

Why It Is A Good Idea To Make Your Own Glass Cleaner

There are many reasons that it’s beneficial to make your own cleaning products. As a general rule, they are less expensive than store-bought cleaners. 

bottle of non-toxic window cleaner sitting on a table with newspaper and rubber gloves

They are eco-friendly. And given the fact that we only have one planet to live on, it’s pretty important that we take good care of the environment. It’s also important that we take care of our home environment.

Natural diy cleaning products do not leave chemical residue behind. And they keep the indoor air quality of our homes free of harsh chemicals as well.

Traditional glass cleaners contain ammonia hydroxide. This ingredient is deemed a high hazard substance by the occupational safety and health association.

It can cause a myriad of health issues. The truth is, it is one of the most toxic cleaning ingredients on the market today.

It is my understanding that there are companies out there who claim that ammonia is a natural ingredient. And, indeed, ammonia is naturally produced in nature. It is a by-product of human and animal waste.

However, this is not the same as the ammonia hydroxide used in glass cleaners. So, don’t be fooled by claims that it is. Regular exposure to products that contain this ingredient can result in chronic health issues.

And, for that reason, it makes simple common sense to use a safe product, like natural glass cleaner, when one is so readily available to you.

Ingredients Needed To Make This DIY Cleaning Product

There are only two ingredients used to make this homemade glass cleaner. And it’s almost certain that you have them in your kitchen already.

ingredients for a natural cleaning product on a table with an empty bottle, newspaper, rubber gloves, and a cloth
  • WATER – Start with the water that comes out of your kitchen faucet. It’s likely that this is all you’ll need. I’ve heard that there are cases, such as households that have hard water, where the tap water in a house will leave water spots on glass surfaces. I’ve never experienced that myself. But before I picked up distilled water at the store to make a homemade window cleaner, I would give my tap water a try.
  • WHITE VINEGAR – White vinegar is preferred for this recipe. And, I’ll be honest with you, I don’t even really have a reason to back this preference up. Apple cider vinegar will clean glass just as well. I seriously think I just veer away from it because of the color. Silly, right?!?!

Ingredients Not Recommended For Use In This Recipe

I regularly come across information on how to make diy household cleaners that recommend ingredients that are completely unnecessary additions to the recipe. I assume these ingredients are being presented as a way to get the best results from these products. 

spraying non-toxic window cleaner on a window pane

It is my, likely controversial, opinion that this is being done in an effort to make their recipe more appealing than the other recipes out there.

Maybe, if it has an ingredient that others do not, people will think that’s what is going to make it work.

You know, like they know some secret that the rest of us are unaware of. With that said … I see that adding isopropyl alcohol, which is not really a desirable ingredient for natural cleaning products, is often suggested as an addition to homemade window cleaners. 

This ingredient should be avoided. It will cause your window cleaner to evaporate from the surface your using it on more quickly.

This will give it an action that is much like that of commercial cleaners, and that can feel pleasing. BUT … it is not a perfect fit for a truly non-toxic formula. 

Additionally, adding castile soap and essential oils are a common recommendation as well. These ingredients will not work to your advantage. They will make the product you create less effective. And should be avoided.

If you don’t agree with me. That’s okay. I do, however, encourage you to give both the simple version I’ve recommended in this post and other versions with these added ingredients a try. I believe you’ll see what I mean.

And, if I’m wrong, then you will have found a version of natural window cleaners that you like better than mine. Bottom line … I’m all about everyone finding what works best for them so that’s not a bad thing.

How To Make Non-Toxic Window Cleaner

It feels sort of silly to even put the instructions for this window cleaner down in words. It literally couldn’t be any easier to make than it is.

bottle of natural cleaning product on a table with a cloth

Simply pour equal parts of white vinegar and water into a spray bottle. You may want to use a funnel for this task.

I never do, because one of the skills that I’ve developed from working in restaurants for so many years is an uncanny ability to pour liquid from one vessel into another without spilling it.

​It’s a skill that many people seem impressed with and I take for granted. But, no matter, I go rogue without the funnel. You do you.

After the ingredients are in the bottle, shake it well. And you’ve made one of the best glass cleaners available. Your really have. 

Don’t forget to label the bottle. I can’t emphasize this enough. As much as you may think you’re going to remember what’s in it, you probably aren’t. I say this because it happened to me countless times before I finally started taking the time to put a label on my bottles.

I encourage you to pick up a few empty bottles, that make you smile, when you see them at the store. It’s an easy way to bring a little joy into the every day. You’ll have them on hand when you want to make something. 

And when the things that surround us are aesthetically pleasing it makes us feel better. I have a little collection of spray bottles, dropper bottles, and other containers on hand all the time. Not much. Just enough to have a few choices when an occasion to use one of them arises.

It’s a simple pleasure. And it’s one that eliminates a lot of plastic waste too!

How To Use Non-Toxic Window Cleaner

This non-toxic window cleaner can be used on windows, mirrors, and glass doors. Really, it works well on all glass items. It makes a decent cleaner for stainless steel too. 

spraying natural cleaning product on a mirror

If you want a streak-free shine on your surfaces, it will serve you well to use a piece of newspaper, in place of a rag, when cleaning with this natural recipe.

This was my grandma’s ‘secret trick’. She believed in the newspaper. And, with good reason, because it works.

If I had newspaper laying around the house, I’d use it too. I actually had to snag some from my sister to have for the pic that includes it in this post, because I don’t ever have any on hand.

​I use a flour sack towel. I use them for a lot of things. They work great for cleaning because they are absorbent and lint free. I prefer to go this way because it’s less waste in the landfill.

We have microfiber cloths available to us now. Grandma didn’t have that option. And, while I’m not that big a fan of these cloths, they do work really well for glass. Upscale restaurants use them to keep their glasses streak-free.

You can definitely get streak-free windows with them too. Or just cut up an old t-shirt if that’s the easiest way for you to go. That works too. Just avoid the paper towels if you can. They are not an eco-friendly option.

And this is a task where it’s mad easy to stick to an eco-friendly option. So, love on Mama Nature. Ditch the paper towels. They’re not a lint-free cloth anyway!

Don’t use this cleaner on marble, granite, or slate. Vinegar and these surfaces don’t always play well together. And work from the bottom to the top of the surface you’re cleaning for best results.

If you are cleaning exterior windows, you may want to consider rinsing them off with the hose before you pull out the window cleaner.

And, if you don’t already have one, pick up a squeegee the next time you’re out shopping. They are a really great tool to have for outdoor glass surfaces. And car windows too.

It is absolutely not necessary to introduce toxic chemicals to your home in order to have clean windows, mirrors, or other glass surfaces.

Use this great recipe to make an eco-friendly plant-based formula that will effortlessly get the job done.

pinnable image for non-toxic window cleaner

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