The best DIY window cleaners

Get rid of those stubborn streaks with these easy window cleaners. 

Window cleaning is already a massive undertaking  – and the South African weather doesn’t make it any easier. If you have yet to find the most effective window cleaner, or are already tired of going through the shelf at your local store, then give these cleaners a try. They are effective, versatile, and sustainable, not to mention that you probably have some of these products stocked up in your pantry already.

DIY window cleaners

1. Window cleaning solution

This window cleaning solution is easy to mix, scale up or down, and uses just three ingredients.

What you’ll need:

• Spray bottle
• 1/2 tsp liquid dish soap
• 1/4 cup table or distilled white vinegar
• 2 cups of water
• Cloth
• Water hose (for exterior windows)/extra spray bottle filled with water (for interior windows)
• Microfibre cloth or squeegee

Steps

1. Combine the water, vinegar and dish soap in a spray bottle. Close and shake to combine.
2. Spray this mixture directly onto the window pane and use a cloth to gently scrub the surface (making sure to get into the corners).
3. Use a water hose or extra spray bottle to rinse off the solution, wiping the excess water away with a microfibre cloth and/or squeegee.

2. Vinegar solution

An even easier window cleaner solution to make uses only two ingredients: distilled white vinegar and water. Vinegar is an effective and natural germ killer and dissolver of grease, making it an extremely sustainable and effective window cleaner.

What you’ll need:

• Spray bottle
• Equal parts table or distilled white vinegar
• Equal parts water
• Cloth
• Water hose (for exterior windows)/extra spray bottle filled with water (for interior windows)
• Microfibre cloth or squeegee

Steps

1. Combine the water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Close and shake to combine.
2. Spray this mixture directly onto the window pane and use a cloth to gently scrub the surface (making sure to get into the corners).
3. Use a water hose or extra spray bottle to rinse off the solution, wiping the excess water away with a microfibre cloth and/or squeegee.

3. 1 Ingredient wonder

An even easier window cleaning solution to use is methylated spirits. It easily dissolves any grease and leaves your windows (and even your shower) sparkling. However, always make sure you use this in a well-ventilated area. This purple solution might make your windows sparkle, but it’s mighty strong.

What you’ll need:

• A bottle of methylated spirits (you can decant this into a spray bottle for ease of use)
• Newspaper or an old cloth

Steps

1. Soak old newspaper or cloth with the spirits.
2. Wipe it on the window pane until the area is clean and sparkling.

How often should you be cleaning windows

Windows are constantly exposed to the weather and experience wind, rain, dust, smoke, and grease from cooking.

To keep them clear and sparkling clean, professional house cleaners advise you to clean interior windows at least once a week, or biweekly, and exterior windows should be cleaned at least once a month (stretching to every 6 months).

Also See: Carpet Guide: How to clean, refresh & remove odours