I (and I’m sure I’m not alone on this) tend to enjoy shiny, transparent, streak-free, squeaky clean glass. Having clean mirrors and windows makes the house feel more inviting, plus it makes it easier to use that glass for its respective intended use. But what I don’t like is commercial glass cleaners. For one thing, they’re kinda expensive for all that they are (which isn’t much). For another, they’re typically riddled with nasty chemicals that I purposely try to avoid. But they DO do a good job at getting glass clean.
So, because I’m a cheapskate and like to make things of my own (and in my own way), I began experimenting with homemade glass cleaner recipes in search of one that would make my windows just as clear and clean as a commercial glass cleaner might.
Some say to just use plain white vinegar. But, when I tried just plain white vinegar (diluted with water, of course), it left streaks on my glass.
Next, I tried a recipe that used rubbing alcohol and water. Which did a little better, but didn’t come out quite as squeaky as I prefer.
Then I came across a weird recipe on a frugal website that used cornstarch and water. This strangely did okay (I mean, cornstarch–who’d have thought to put that on the window?), but still didn’t match the super clear cleanliness that I wanted.
Using the knowledge I had gleaned from experimenting with different glass cleaner recipes, I mixed alcohol, water, and cornstarch. Voila! I think I have found my perfect window cleaner. The alcohol disinfects, the cornstarch does something magical to make it streak-free and clear, and the water simply dilutes it.
Another thing I really like about this recipe is that it used up cornstarch that we’ve had hanging around the house for a long time. Since we started eating real food, we do not consume cornstarch any more. So nice to have something that uses it up!
Now, without further ado, here’s my glass cleaner recipe. If you give it a go, please be sure to leave a comment letting me know your thoughts.
Homemade All-natural Glass Cleaner
Ingredients
- 2-3/4 c. cold water (MUST be cold to prevent the cornstarch from thickening)
- 2 tbsp. cornstarch
- 1-1/4 c. isopropyl alcohol (good) OR ethyl alcohol (better)
Instructions
- Measure the water in a measuring cup or pour into a bowl.
- Whisk in the cornstarch then pour the cornstarch-water into a spray bottle.
- Pour in the alcohol. Shake to mix.
- To use, simply stray onto glass and wipe away with a clean, lint-free cloth.
Notes
2. Keep out of reach of children.
Karen says
Sounds like a great recipe! We don’t use cornstarch in our house anymore either, do you think arrowroot would work in place of the cornstarch?
TJ says
You can buy organic non-gmo cornstarch. That’s what we use. 🙂 As for the arrowroot, I’m not sure. You can give it a try and see. 🙂