Keep windows sparkling clean and streak-free with three-ingredient homemade solution
No one wants dirty windows during the best weather of the year, and there is an easy way to get spotless glass using a natural cleaner that only takes five minutes to make.
Homebase: How to keep your windows clean and streak free
Windows often become dusty in the summer as there is more pollen and other airborne particles in the air, but it can be maddening trying to clean glass without leaving any streaks.
However, Adrienne Urban, a cleaning expert and the founder of Whole New Mom, has shared there is a simple homemade solution you can make yourself that will keep windows sparkling clean.
She said: “This No Streak Homemade Window Cleaner [is] super easy to make, is much safer than a lot of the store-bought options, and leaves your windows and mirrors streak-free.
"Plus it costs almost nothing to make, so it’s easy on the budget too.”
It may sound strange, but the secret to getting streak-free windows is cornstarch, as it can stop streaks from being able to form on windows without leaving behind a residue like many other commercial cleaners.
Adrienne explained: “On a microscopic level, glass is not perfectly smooth. When you spray water on it, the water molecules get caught in the pits on the glass surface.
“Water also clings to itself through hydrogen bonding [as] the hydrogen atoms from two molecules cling together.”
Liquid sticking to the glass or becoming stuck to itself is what causes streaking, and using cornstarch in your homemade cleaner will disrupt the hydrogen bonding to prevent streaks.
How to make a no-streak homemade window cleaner
What you need:
- One tablespoon of cornstarch
- 60ml of white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 60ml of vodka
- 500ml of water
- Empty spray bottle
- 10 drops of lemon, orange or lavender essential oil (optional)
White vinegar is acidic which helps break down most dirt which accumulates on glass surfaces but does not leave a residue when it evaporates, making it very effective at cleaning windows.
Vodka also contains ethanol, a type of alcohol which can dissolve grease but also evaporates quickly so will not leave behind streaks or spots when it dries.
Adrienne also recommends adding essential oils to this homemade solution if you wish but it is optional. A lot of essential oils can be toxic to dogs and cats so be careful if using them around your home if you have pets.
Method
Combine all the ingredients in the spray bottle and make sure to shake it thoroughly before each use as the cornstarch can clog the spray nozzle otherwise.
Spray it onto your window, and then use a microfibre cloth to wipe the glass clean.
Make sure to use two cloths, one for washing the glass and the other for drying, in order to avoid streaks.
Dry the window and you should have a clean and streak-free window without any fuss.
This simple homemade cleaner can be used on windows, mirrors and other glass appliances around your home like a glass shower door or oven door.
However, do not use it on your eyeglasses as it will cause the lens coating to deteriorate, which can scratch and damage them.
This homemade solution can be used on glass near stainless steel, aluminium, ceramic or plastic surfaces but do not use it near marble, as the vinegar in this homemade solution can damage the stone surface.
