How to Make Your Own Glass Cleaner

Co-authored by Ben Barlow and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: November 3, 2021 References

No one wants to breathe in a lungful of nasty chemicals while they’re cleaning their windows and mirrors. Thankfully, there are tons of quick, easy ways to make your own glass cleaner with ingredients you probably have lying around your home. No need to worry—in a matter of minutes, you’ll be ready to tackle any streaky or grimy glass surface in your home, from your windows and mirrors to your glass tabletops and car windshields.

Ingredients

Vinegar and Dish Soap

2 c (470 mL) of water
¹⁄₄ c (59 mL) of white vinegar
¹⁄₂ tsp (2.5 mL) of liquid dish soap
10-15 drops of essential oil (optional)

Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol

2 c (470 mL) of water
2 US tbsp (30 mL) of white vinegar
2 US tbsp (30 mL) of rubbing alcohol
5 drops of peppermint essential oil

Vinegar and Corn Starch

2 c (470 mL) of warm water
¹⁄₄ c (59 mL) of rubbing alcohol
¹⁄₄ c (59 mL) of white vinegar
1 tbsp (7.5 g) of cornstarch

Vinegar and Water

3 c (710 mL) of water
1 c (240 mL) of white vinegar

Lemon Juice

1 US qt (0.95 L) of water
1 US tbsp (15 mL) of lemon juice

Dish Soap

2 c (470 mL) of hot, distilled water
3-4 drops of liquid dish soap

Windshield Wiper Fluid

1 US qt (0.95 L) of rubbing alcohol
¹⁄₄ c (59 mL) of white vinegar
3-4 drops of liquid dish soap

Meant specifically for cars

Method 1

Method 1 of 7:
Vinegar and Dish Soap

1
Vinegar and dish soap offer a non-toxic alternative to standard glass cleaners. Grab a clean, empty spray bottle and fill it up the bottom with ¹⁄₂ tsp (2.5 mL) of liquid dish soap and ¹⁄₄ c (59 mL) of white vinegar. Then, thin out the mixture by pouring in 2 c (470 mL) of water. Tighten the lid on the spray bottle, shake everything up, and you’re ready to start cleaning with the help of a microfiber cloth!^{[1]
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- If you can’t stand the smell of vinegar, feel free to mix in 10-15 drops of essential oil.^{[2]
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  Research source} Just be sure to store your mixture in a glass, polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) plastic, or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic bottle, since essential oils can break down regular plastic over time.^{[3]
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- Vinegar is chock full of acetic acid, which makes it a great ingredient for homemade cleaners.^{[4]
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- This mixture works well on a variety of glass surfaces, like windows and glass doors.

Method 2

Method 2 of 7:
Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol

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Alcohol helps keep your glass streak-free.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Ben Barlow
Window Cleaning Specialist
Expert Interview. 23 July 2021.} Start by filling up an empty spray bottle with 2 c (470 mL) of water. Then, add 2 US tbsp (30 mL) of white vinegar, 2 US tbsp (30 mL) of rubbing alcohol, and 5 drops of peppermint essential oil into the mix. Shake all of the ingredients together, and get cleaning with a microfiber cloth.^{[6]
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- Make sure that you’re using a bottle made of glass, PETE plastic, or HDPE plastic. This way, your essential oils won’t degrade the container.^{[7]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 7:
Vinegar and Corn Starch

1
It may sound corny, but this starchy solution is a great way to keep your glass clean. Cornstarch is a simple but effective way to keep your glass surfaces from getting streaky; best of all, you only need 1 tbsp (7.5 g) to whip everything up! Just pour 2 c (470 mL) of warm water into an empty spray bottle, along with ¹⁄₄ c (59 mL) of white vinegar, ¹⁄₄ c (59 mL) of rubbing alcohol, and a spoonful of plain ol’ cornstarch. Shake everything together, and you’re ready to get spritzing and wiping.^{[8]
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- Cornstarch helps clear away any pesky, stubborn messes that are stuck to your glass. It works in tandem with the vinegar, which tackles dirt and grime head-on, along with the rubbing alcohol, which dissolves your cleaning mixture away.
- This is an especially great option for cleaning your windows.

Method 4

Method 4 of 7:
Vinegar and Water

1
Lots of home DIYers love this 2-ingredient cleaning solution. Set aside an empty spray bottle and fill it up with a mixture of 3 c (710 mL) of water and 1 c (240 mL) of white vinegar. Shake everything together, and bam! You’re ready to get that glass squeaky-clean.^{[9]
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- This recipe works especially well on windows.
- Some DIYers like wiping down this mixture with a sheet of an old newspaper. Newspaper has a great texture for scrubbing; plus, it won’t shed any pesky fibers on your glass. Just take a moment to wipe a small corner of glass first to make sure that the ink won’t smear.^{[10]
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Method 5

Method 5 of 7:
Lemon Juice

1
Lemon juice is a bit acidic, which makes it the perfect ingredient for a glass cleaner. Plus, a little goes a long way—you only need 1 US tbsp (15 mL) to make a potent cleaning mixture. Just pour the lemon juice directly into a large spray bottle, along with 1 US qt (0.95 L) of water. Shake the bottle around to mix up the ingredients, and your lemon-fresh glass cleaner is ready to go.^{[11]
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Trustworthy Source
EDIS
Electronic database of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences's peer-reviewed articles
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Method 6

Method 6 of 7:
Dish Soap

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Dish soap’s not just for dishes anymore! When mixed with hot water, this sudsy cleaner is masterful at clearing away dirt and grime without as much as a single streak. Just pour 2 c (470 mL) of hot, distilled water into a clean bucket, along with 3-4 drops of liquid dish soap. All you need is a microfiber cloth to get your cleaning session started.^{[12]
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- You can use regular water for this mixture, but you’re more likely to end up with streaks that way.

Method 7

Method 7 of 7:
Windshield Wiper Fluid

1
Tired of your old chemical-filled windshield wiper fluid? Look no further: vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and liquid dish soap are all you need to keep your windshield spotless. The next time your washer fluid reservoir runs low, fill it up with a mixture of 1 US qt (0.95 L) of rubbing alcohol, ¹⁄₄ c (0.059 L) of white vinegar, and 3-4 drops of liquid dish soap.^{[13]
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- It might help to stir all the ingredients together in a large, 1 US gal (3.8 L) jug, which you can pour directly into the reservoir.

Community Q&A

Question

Will using the alcohol and vinegar mixture remove a window tint?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

No, it shouldn't! Both alcohol and vinegar are really effective ingredients for glass cleaners, and should leave your windows and mirrors looking in tip-top shape.
Question

What kind of window cleaner should I use to remove a residue left by the protective film on my window?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Try using the vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and cornstarch mixture! The cornstarch can help clear through the film residue on your window.
Question

What are the exact measurements of the components of glass cleaner to mix together?

Community Answer

For most of them it tells you the measurements right beside the components.
Question

I washed my windows using the Windex pad for cleaning outdoor windows, and I must not have rinsed well because the window is now badly streaked with the motions I made while cleaning it. What might get rid of these streaks?

Community Answer

Microfiber cloths with a little vinegar on them and some scrubbing should help.