Another common mistake is using glass cleaner to scrub eyeglasses. Yes, “glass” may be in the name, but eyeglasses are covered with a coating that’s unique to the prescription and ensures proper vision. Soap and warm water are best. The best way to clean windows While window cleaners are great products for many jobs around the house, they need to be kept away from certain tasks. For the most part, window/glass cleaners are not intended for use on automobile surfaces and tinted glass because common ingredients will damage them.

Using a microfiber towel, slowly swipe left to right once over each row, applying a gentle to slightly-moderate amount of pressure. 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. If windows account for the largest surface area of glass in the house, mirrors are probably second. And although this is technically a review of window cleaners, you may apply the cleaner in other contexts. Bathroom mirrors in particular put up with a lot of abuse. Sprays, gels, creams, lotions, and fingerprints smudge mirrors on a daily basis. Window-cleaning products became popular because they don’t leave behind the streaks that soap and other common cleaners often leave. A window or mirror looks clean when the oils and dirt are removed to reveal a crystal-clear view or reflection. But when glass is obstructed by streaky residue, it can be an eyesore.

Glass & Mirror Foam Cleaner 750ml

The most pleasing aroma came from our own mixture of vinegar, cornstarch, and essential oil. Just 10 drops of the highly concentrated peppermint essential oil in our 20-ounce spray bottle made all the difference in the user experience of the homemade cleaner. Weiman Glass cleaner did an exceptional job cleaning up our microwave chili explosion. The microwave looked as good as new with just one application of the foaming spray and a bit of easy wiping.

The do-it-yourself, or DIY, movement has coincided with the rise of the internet in the last 20 years. The substantial amount of information available on DIY projects — from automotive repair to better housekeeping — is easily accessed through blogs, video tutorials and social media. Projects that were once thought of as challenging, or even impossible, are now easily demystified. 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. Seventh Generation has a neutral scent that is hard to discern. It may not make you smile like the aroma of your favorite essential oil, but neither will it turn you off as many of the other products did. When you need to use window cleaners Most glass cleaners are made with ammonia. This ingredient provides a thorough clean and a sparkling finish. However, it can cause allergy-like symptoms, such as headaches and itchy eyes, with its strong smell. 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 movementProfessional 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. 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.

Phthalates also cause a reaction in the endocrine system that leads to disruption and ultimately impacts reproductive health, particularly male sperm count. Again, because companies are not required to disclose the components of their fragrances, it’s impossible to determine which do and do not contain phthalates and in what concentrations. Other ingredients 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. These cans are metallic, and their contents are under extreme pressure. Exposure to high heat or accidental puncture of the cans can be dangerous.

Table of contents

While the end result may not be as streak-free as a window cleaned with Windex, using a homemade cleaner could be worthwhile for those who want to save some money and also want to use a product that only includes ingredients they are comfortable with. The Your Best Digs homemade glass cleaner is an all-natural, biodegradable, digestible, non-toxic, all-purpose cleaning solution. 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. 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.

While ammonia alone may kill many germs, like salmonella and E. coli, it isn’t recognized as a disinfectant by the FDA. Even when combined with isopropyl alcohol — as in Windex — it is not an effective defense against staphylococcus and other dangerous bacteria. Those unable to invest the time in creating their own solution at home, but who also want a more natural product, can try Seventh Generation Free & Clear Glass & Surface Cleaner. Important features to consider 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 Stoner Invisible Glass Premium Glass Cleaner proved very versatile, performing well at cutting through food spills in our microwave test. But like Glass Plus, it could not completely keep away streaks. 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.Finally, we wanted to add essential oil to our homemade glass cleaner. We love essential oils because they leave a clean, long-lasting smell. (Read our post on essential oil diffusers for more information.) We also discovered that, similar to cornstarch, essential oil helps combat streaking by preventing the bonding of hydrogen atoms in water molecules. Our homemade solution easily removed the blemishes but left the mirror looking cloudy and a bit dull. It was a noticeable difference compared to the commercially available options. With the best window cleaners, there are few household tasks more satisfying – transforming windows from grubby panes into clear sheets of glass. But for so many of us, DIY window cleaning is rife with frustration and failure, with stubborn streaks and dribbles destroying all best efforts.