OK, I’ll admit it, I’ve always been a bit lazy with keeping my windows and mirrors clean.
I mean, I would try—somewhat—but I guess sometimes it was just a bit hard to see the point when each time I’d brush my teeth or let my kids loose, water drops or handprints would land their way back onto those clean glass surfaces.
Vinegar Fail
For a while I was using my basic vinegar spray cleaner to wipe down regular bathroom and living surfaces, and then would quickly do the glass with the same solution. This was where my real laziness was; I couldn’t bring myself to make a separate window cleaner. I had convinced myself that this diluted vinegar “worked,” but, truthfully, it often left a slight residue or glare behind.
Well, lately I’ve decided that my “clean” (but actually foggy) windows just don’t cut it anymore. Perhaps it is because I’m about to turn 30 and I feel like having sparkling windows is the grown-up thing to do. But for whatever reason, I am ready to step up my window washing game!
Secret Ingredients
You may have seen window cleaning recipes on Pinterest that add corn starch into the mix. We don’t stock corn starch in our home so I really can’t tell you how that number would go down, but I decided to try replacing it with arrowroot powder, and it worked well! No, like, surprisingly well!!
After some research, I learned that glass isn’t truly smooth or flat. When water-based solutions are used (like the diluted vinegar solution that I mentioned before), water seeps into those uneven crevices, leaving behind streaks or residues. By adding just a small amount of arrowroot powder in, it changes the molecular structure of the solution and allows it to clean the uneven glass evenly, without leaving streaks.
Another common ingredient that I have seen in DIY window cleaners is rubbing alcohol, and I am here to tell you that adding it gave my windows such incredible shine!! Though it can be left out, it will give your cleaner an extra boost.
It’s true, ethyl alcohol isn’t entirely natural in the way that it is produced, which is why you may remember me avoiding or giving alternatives for it in my diy hand sanitizer and hair perfume recipes. Though I don’t prefer to use it in personal care products, it can be helpful in non-toxic cleaning solutions, though I do recommend keeping it out of the reach of children and to avoid consuming, sniffing, or getting it into your eyes (to state the painfully obvious).
Get Sparkling Windows with this Natural Cleaner Recipe!
Ingredients
- 2 cups distilled or boiled water
- 1 tablespoon Arrowroot Powder (find organic arrowroot powder here)
- ¼ cup Vinegar (White or ACV should do the trick)
- Optional: ¼ cup Rubbing Alcohol
- Optional: 10 drops Cleansing Essential Oils (see printable below for great oils to choose)
Materials
- 32 oz Glass spray bottle (I like to reuse my Bragg’s ACV bottle with an old spray bottle attachment)
- Funnel
Directions
- Add water and arrowroot starch to your bottle. Cap it with the spray lid and shake well to combine.
- Add vinegar (and alcohol, if using) through the funnel, and then pour in any essential oils.
- Screw spray lid on again and shake well to combine all ingredients. Get cleaning!
I recommend using lint-free towels (like microfiber or flour sack cloths) to wipe your glass surfaces down with.
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As much as I dragged my heels before about making a separate window cleaner, I am so glad that I finally did it. My windows are cleaner than they ever have been (and I’d argue that I’m actually putting in less work than I used to)! I guess I’m ready to turn 30 now!!
