Easy Homemade Glass Cleaner

I wanted to find an easy, non-toxic homemade glass cleaner that would work just as well as the commercial version.  And, be so inexpensive that you’d be crazy to go pay $5.50 for it (that’s what a bottle of Windex® was going for at the store).

What’s In Easy, Homemade Glass Cleaner?

Homemade glass cleaner recipes generally start with vinegar and water, and then add alcohol and/or cornstarch. I know, cornstarch? But, having tried recipes of vinegar/water, vinegar/water/alcohol, and vinegar/water/alcohol/cornstarch, the last concoction is the clear winner – and it really works – you won’t miss the commercial glass cleaner. 

So, how does it stack up on cost? Well, I figure about $0.20 for the vinegar, $0.25 for the rubbing alcohol, $0.05 for the cornstarch, and our water is from a well (essentially free) – so a grand total of $0.045 for a bottle of glass cleaner – versus $5.50. Now I’m wondering what on earth they’re putting in the commercial stuff to make it cost so much? 

Well, the bottle doesn’t identify what’s in it, but the Windex® website says it’s made of water, carriers (isopropyl alcohol, ethylene glycol), cleaning agents (2-Hexoxyethanol, ammonium hydroxide, Mirapol Surf S-210, Videt EGM), wetting agent (sodium C14-17 Sec-Alkyl Sulfonate), and dye (Liquitint® Sky Blue Dye). It also says to keep out of reach of children and pets. You can find out more information on it here.

Probably a lot of the costs are packaging and transportation, but at a savings of $5.00 for the non-toxic home version, we’re going to try the easy homemade glass cleaner! When using it, I do find that you need to shake the spray bottle occasionally to keep the corn starch mixed into the solution. 

For another easy, homemade (vinegar-based) solution to a common problem – weeds, try Weed-Be-Gone – A Safe & Easy Homemade Weed Killer.

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Best Homemade Glass Cleaner

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 cups warm water

Instructions

• Combine ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well.
• Also shake well before using to keep cornstarch mixed and prevent it from clogging the spray mechanism.