Before we tested our products, we practiced several variations of wipe strokes, amount of liquid, and timing and application. The following steps are our recommendations for cleaning all glass surfaces. How to clean glass The other finalists we tested all were capable of clearing surfaces of grease and grime. Where they mostly fell short was failing to eliminate streaks. DIY solutions are appealing because they can be personalized, can utilize natural ingredients and can be cheaper than some commercial offerings. How to make DIY window cleaner

It’s always a bonus to find a product that can work on a few different things. Just take care when it comes to using window cleaners on eyeglasses, phone screens and stainless steel – these items are more delicate and might react badly to strong cleaning solutions. While paper towels are useful to keep around the house, we found through our research that they’re not ideal for cleaning glass. First, they are made with dyes and adhesives that actually bind sheets together to make rolls of two-ply. These substances will leave streaks of their own, separate from those left by any residual cleaning liquid. Paper towels also leave behind lint, and they’re not the best choice for the environment or your wallet.It’s possible to clean your windows to a professional standard but it takes a little know-how and the right tools for the job. Other chemicals commonly used in glass cleaners offer more protection against germs, but if used improperly, they can cause irritation to the skin and respiratory system. Vinegar is a great natural antibacterial disinfectant, but many find the smell offensive, and it sometimes fails to thoroughly clean tough jobs. When you shouldn’t use glass/window cleaner Seventh Generation Free & Clear is a great product. Its plant-based cleaning agents are strong on messes, and it’s safe for the environment and your health. Another great task for glass cleaners is jewelry. Sterling silver and diamonds in particular can really be made to sparkle and shine with a just a small bit of the solution.

Corn starch is an important ingredient because it eliminates streaking. Streaking happens because glass is not entirely smooth. The surface of glass contains microscopic pits and divots that collect water molecules, which bond to other water molecules as a cleaner is being wiped off. Second story and hard-to-reach windows are easier to clean without a ladder thanks to this All-in-One Glass and Window Cleaner Tool Starter Kit from Windex. Simply dampen outdoor windows and one cleaning pad with a hose. Place the pad on the pole and wipe the windows. In our tests, we found the water-activated cleaner in the pad cut through and dissolved outdoor dirt and grime. After cleaning, simply rinse the window again with your garden hose and let it air dry. Vinegar is by far the most recommended household cleaning alternative to a store-bought product. Vinegar is a weak form of acetic acid that is formed by the fermentation of sugars or starches. It cuts through grease and dirt and is a powerful disinfectant against common household bacteria. Vinegar can also help remove odors from the air and from surfaces. Our homemade product successfully cleaned messes off windows, mirrors, and other surfaces. While windows and mirrors may be left with faint signs of streaking, the long-lasting, refreshing scent of your favorite essential oil — and the incredible low price of making the mixture — more than make up for the flaw.If the cleaner says that it’s safe on tinted glass, then yes. Otherwise, it can damage the surface. Ammonia-free cleaners are usually safe for windshields and other car windows. What is the best window cleaner for aluminum windows? Zep Streak-Free Glass Cleaner did a better job cleaning without leaving streaks, but the odor was too unpleasant. The strong scent of ammonia takes away from an otherwise very effective product. How we selected The advantage of aerosol is that it produces more of a foaming substance when it’s applied to a surface. These foams provide more complete coverage and saturation while also breaking down difficult-to-remove fats and sediment. Professional window washers tend to use soapy water and a squeegee for commercial jobs. While this is an effective technique for large outdoor projects, it’s not a practical solution for most indoor home cleaning.

Many of the products easily removed the stains, but Windex did so with only moderate pressure being applied and it required very little buffing to completely eliminate streaks. The mirror simply looked the best after it had been cleaned with the Windex solution. We opted to try one homemade recipe, one plant-based product, two cleaners containing ammonia, two aerosol sprays and one of the most well-known window-cleaning brands. We tested these products for their ability to eliminate dirt and germs on a variety of glass and other surfaces while leaving a streak-free finish. How we tested From vinegar sprays to ammonia wipes, there are many products on the market that can clean your windows. To help you sort through these cleaning products for your home, read our guide below. Type We tried several combinations of the most popular ingredients with varying results. We decided to move forward with a slightly modified version of a recipe provided by Crunchy Betty, who performed similar tests using different natural ingredients and concluded that warm water, white vinegar, and cornstarch provided the best results. Ingredients in the Crunchy Betty DIY Solution While all the products we tested are liquids, they are delivered by two different methods: spray bottle and aerosol can. The offerings from Stoner and Weiman are both aerosols, though neither contains CFSs, which have been proven to slowly deplete the ozone layer.

You don’t want glass surfaces to just look clean, you want them to be disinfected and completely free of germs. Each one of our top seven products have ingredients that specifically disinfect surfaces. Surfaces other than glass — like granite, marble, laminate, and tile — are safe to clean with most glass/window cleaners. The same ingredients designed to cut oily smudges on mirrors will also cut the greasy buildup on kitchen appliances, like blenders and coffee makers. Even stains on fabric and carpet can be broken up and easily removed by applying glass cleaner. Glass Plus was effective, but we needed to apply more effort and pressure to scrub away the toothpaste. There were also slight streaks left on the surface. Manufacturers of window cleaner rely on a variety of chemicals and compounds to create their products. Learning just a bit about these substances will help you make an informed decision about their effectiveness and potential health impact. Because glass surfaces, like mirrors and windows, are cleaned frequently and touched regularly, it’s important to understand what exactly goes into their cleaning products.

Once we selected the proper tool, we started researching the method of cleaning. Interestingly, we learned that the weather can have a significant impact. We found that if you’re cleaning windows on a hot sunny day, you’ll end up with streaks — no matter what kind of material or product you use. The sun will dry the liquid on the glass before you’re able to wipe it clean, so it’s best to wait until dusk or a cloudy day. The two aerosol products, Weiman Glass Cleaner and Stoner Invisible Glass Cleaner, proved to be powerful as well. The foaming spray loosened up even the toughest parts of the mess, allowing it to be easily wiped away. However, they also left the windows just a bit streaky. The streaks were not distracting or even all that obvious, but they were noticeable from certain angles. The Glass Plus Glass Cleaner Trigger also cleaned well but left even more noticeable streaking.

Almost all the products we tested (with the exception of Seventh Generation Free & Clear Glass & Surface Cleaner and our DIY solution) contain some type of fragrance agent. In an effort to protect proprietary information, manufacturers do not break down exactly what creates these scents. Often, fragrances are made with phthalates, which have been linked to several adverse medical conditions, including damage to the liver, kidneys, and lungs. The most fascinating application of glass cleaner is combatting insects. A small bowl of the glass cleaner can be left out on the counter to deter them from a particular area. A small amount rubbed onto the skin can even relieve pain from a bee sting. The DIY movement Water is essential to combine, dissolve and deliver all of the ingredients onto the glass. We recommend using filtered or even distilled water to avoid dirt or contaminants leaving any visible residue on the glass’ surface. Warm water will help to diffuse dust and carry away impurities. A substantial amount of information is available about many of these ingredients. It can sometimes be complex, contradictory, alarmist and hard to interpret. For those who are interested, we encourage you to look into it for yourselves. What follows is an introductory discussion about some of the most featured ingredients in glass cleaners. Ammonia