How to Make Homemade Glass Cleaner That Works

How to make homemade glass cleaner

Windows, mirrors, and other shiny surfaces always seem to attract some grime eventually. My windows always look especially dirty after the winter months. Now, I’m not saying I go and clean all the windows in my house (that is just crazy talk) but I do clean the ones I look out the most.

The problem I found with cleaning my windows was that store-bought glass cleaner is expensive, and sometimes it leaves nasty streaks! To solve my problems, I searched for a good homemade glass cleaner and found one that I am loving, and hopefully, you will love it too! Best of all, you should already have everything on hand to make this homemade cleaner.

Homemade Glass Cleaner Ingredients

How to Make Homemade Glass Cleaner

Adding vinegar and rubbing alcohol to homemade glass cleaner

Step 1.

Add the vinegar & rubbing alcohol to the spray bottle. {I always use a funnel so it doesn’t end up all over my counter}

Adding cornstarch to homemade glass cleaner mix

Step 2.

Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch.

Adding warm water to homemade glass cleaner mix

Step 3.

Then add the 2 cups warm water. The warm water washes the cornstarch down the funnel perfectly.

Shaking the homemade glass cleaner gently to mix

Step 4.

Shake the homemade glass cleaner gently to mix it up.

How to Use the Homemade Glass Cleaner

Microfiber wash cloths

You’ll want to use this homemade glass cleaner with microfiber washcloths to get the best results. I found these microfiber washcloths at the dollar tree & I LOVE them. They work great for washing windows and mirrors or for shining my granite countertops. I also love that I got 3 for $1!

Testing the Homemade Glass Cleaner

Using the homemade glass cleaner on a mirror

Test #1 Before

My kids’ bathroom mirror is always a mess, so that’s what we’ll be testing this homemade glass cleaner on. It is hard to get a good picture of a dirty mirror, but trust me, it is messy!

Mirror after using the homemade glass cleaner

Test #1 After

Looks much better! Make sure you shake well before each use so the cornstarch doesn’t clog up your sprayer.

Clean window after using homemade glass cleaner

Test #2 Before

The mirror test worked well, but I had to try this homemade glass cleaner on a window as well. Here’s one of my back windows the kids are always touching, lots of little fingerprints…

Window after using homemade glass cleaner

Test #2 After

How nice and shiny! I really recommend the microfiber washcloths, make sure they are dry though and when it starts to get wet get a new one. A newspaper is also good to use, I just don’t like getting my hands black so I never use it.

Have Fun Cleaning!

After I made my batch I went around my house and cleaned a bunch of windows and mirrors because I was so excited about the results! I guess I’m more motivated to clean with homemade cleaners than with the store-bought ones.

Warning: If you use this homemade glass cleaner on any sliding doors, make sure to be careful! The glass might be so clear that someone might walk right into it thinking it’s open! (Trust me, it happens).

More Inexpensive DIY Household Cleaner Recipes:

DIY glass cleaner recipe

How to Make Homemade Glass Cleaner That Works

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 cups warm water
  • Empty spray bottle

Instructions

  1. Add the vinegar & rubbing alcohol to the spray bottle
  2. Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
  3. Add the 2 cups warm water
  4. Shake gently to mix

Notes

Shake well before each use!

Types: Cleaning, Adult
Categories: Frugal, Inside The House, Natural, Outside The House, #StayHome

Comments

  • I made almost this exact same recipe this past weekend, just without the cornstarch. Do you know what the cornstarch does in it?

  • I love all your homemade cleaning product recipes. Is there a good recipe to replace using bleach when doing laundry? Yeah, i know bleach is already pretty cheap, but still, to make something rom scratch is much more fun, lol. 🙂

    • I haven’t seen a recipe for bleach, I’ll check into it. I have seen one for homemade oxi-clean which works well for colored things. I’ll see what I can find.

    • My mother was an antique dealer for many years and loved textiles. She had many tricks to care for antique fabrics that were stained and used hydrogen peroxide in place of bleach. I know it costs more than bleach but I save by not having to replace clothing as often because it is so gentle on fabric. I can find it by the quart on sale sometimes for $.50 at walgreens or at the dollar store .Just use it as you would bleach.

      • Theres a coupon for any curad product @ lozo.com, walmart has the curad hydrogen peroxide for $.52, and walmart will take 5 coupons for curad per day. 5 for 10 cents!!

  • My grandmother used to clean windows using water with a dash of spirit and newspaper – would you believe my neighbour just cleaned her windows using the same ingredients because she ran out of window cleaner and she was highly satisfied with the result?

    It works – try it!

  • you can use a squeegee and dish dawn or joy to clean the outside windows.oh yea and water with the soap..

  • I was really excited when I first tried this, and thought the windows were sparkling clean. However, when the sun shone on the windows, I could see the cornstarch residue. I also could still see streaks. Next time I’m going to try adding less than 1 T. of cornstarch and see if that helps; also maybe try using a new microfiber cloth…..the one I used had been washed many times.

  • I just tried a new natural glass cleaner called Powglass. It’s an absolute bomb. I didn’t see the streaks even in the sun when I did my car windows. the great thing is it can also be used on tv and computer screens. i highly recommend it.

  • have this been tried on shower glass? Ive tried about everything and can get my showers to stay clean

  • Cleaner that works for all of your house for around 3.00 and makes gallons and smells good you get top job vinegar cleaner isle Walmart you also buy a pint of ammonia and any flavor dish soap you like mix1/2 c top job to 1/2 c ammonia to1/4c dish soap add into a gallon size container finish filling container with water dawn works best but you can use any type you like I use it for windows, bathrooms , cleaning carpets with my Kirby ,cleaning kitchen floors sinks etc does not have a bad smell removes stickers crayon soap scum etc and yes grease

    • Cleaner that works for all of your house for around 3.00 and makes gallons and smells good you get top job vinegar cleaner isle Walmart you also buy a pint of ammonia and any flavor dish soap you like mix1/2 c top job to 1/2 c ammonia to1/4c dish soap add into a gallon size container finish filling container with water dawn works best but you can use any type you like I use it for windows, bathrooms , cleaning carpets with my Kirby ,cleaning kitchen floors sinks etc does not have a bad smell removes stickers crayon soap scum etc and yes grease oh and I forgot the best thing it does you can spray it on your weeds and kill them

  • I have found that the best way to clean glass and mirrors/mirrored items is to get a cotton rag (old men’s t-shirt or flour sack dishtowel or an old tea towel that is linen) and wet it. Then squeeze most of the water out and pour some rubbing alcohol on it. I carry it in one hand and a dry COTTON rag/cloth in the other hand. I go over the item with the damp water/alcohol cloth and then follow up with the dry cotton cloth. It works like a charm and I have no streaks. DO NOT use paper towels to clean/dry glass or mirrors. I have found I get streaks that take more time to get rid of than using cotton cloth. I throw my cloths in the wash and they’re ready for use again…no waste.

  • i made this and was super excited, i followed the directions, it left white streaks 🙁

    • That is a bummer Jeanine, what did you use it on?

      • My windows, maybe next time I’ll cut the corn starch in half and see what happens

        • Give that a try and makes sure you mix it really well before applying to your window.

          • I’ve also noticed that if you use a used microfiber towel that you’ve washed, there are many more streaks. The problem I think, is the detergent and softener residue left on them. My fix has been to buy flour sack towels and only wash them in vinegar and rubbing alcohol with no softener. You’ve got to understand if you can smell anything on your laundry (i.e. Perfumes) there is residue left behind.

  • Well, I have been using green cleaners for a few years and am absolutely satisfied with the result. Lemon juice, grapefruits, acv can do miracles on my kitchen and bathrooms =) Frognal Carpet Cleaners Ltd.

  • For your showers…… clean really well then apply lemon oil. Soap scum and hard water spots can’t attach so you’ll always have a sparkling clean shower!!! Easy Peasy!!!!

  • Thank you for the recipe! It works fantastic on my stainless steel appliances too! I’m so excited, as it’s super difficult to find a cleanser that doesn’t leave my appliances streaky. I will definitely pass this recipe on.

  • I use 1/2 cup of Alcohol and 1/2 cup vinegar instead of 1/4.
    This is the Best Window Cleaner we have use. It is important to dry really well.

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