Tips for saving money on window cleaner as posted from the ThriftyFun community.
Windshield Cleaner
Don't pay extra for Windex. Wait until your auto parts store has car windshield cleaner on sale and stock up. Save dollars by refilling your spray bottles at home.
By Terri
Vinegar
I just use vinegar to clean my windows. It is cheap and I always have it on hand.
I use plain white vinegar and crumpled up newspapers. The ink in the newspaper shines up the glass or mirror beautifully. Easy, fast, and inexpensive!
By AnyaB
Vinegar Window Cleaner
Ingredients
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 cups warm water
Directions
Put all the ingredients into a clean spray bottle and shake to mix. Use as you would a commercial glass cleaner. Spray on glass and wipe dry with a clean cloth or newspaper.
Rubbing Alcohol
Use regular rubbing alcohol. Just a couple drops on a cottonball, paper towel or rag will clean any glass squeeky clean with no streaks for less than pennies per use.
By Mary
Dawn Ultra in Water
A couple of drops of Dawn Ultra in a spray bottle full of water works wonders on glass and mirrors. We use it everyday at the convenience store I manage. We also use it in the windshield washer container outside in the summer months. Leaves surfaces streakfree. One bottle of Dawn lasts a very long time!
Gina from Missouri
Rubbing Alcohol and Ammonia Recipe
I have the best glass cleaner recipe ever! I've been using this for over 10 years! You can also put it in your window washer container in your car. No streaks!
Mix equal parts in an empty squirt bottle.
Rubbing alcohol
Ammonia
Water
By Jane from Anaheim, California
Do you have any ideas? Feel free to post them below.
I've spent 30+ years owning and operating my own residential services business. If you have to use a "cleaner" on glass, then I suggest using auto windshield wash, cut 50% w/water. It can be bought anywhere from 69 cents to 99 cents a gallon & it wipes up clean & w/o streaking. Having said that, there's an even better, faster and cheaper method I've used for decades. Don't "wet" glass, chrome or mirrors to clean them. Instead, use 0000 steel wool and clean them dry, wiping off or vacuuming away the leftover "dust." This method works especially well with glass shower doors/enclosures and outside windows. It takes very little "elbow grease" & there is nothing better for removing those hard water spots & mineral deposits.
I read somewhere that you should not use auto windshield cleaner as window cleaner. Something to do with the toxic chemicals and breathing the vapors. That's what I don't like about ammonia. I think the dawn diluted with water is good or you can pick up a jar of window cleaner at the dollar store. I'd rather spend that $1.00 and be safe! Actually, I would rather not have to clean windows at all!!
Save the paper the cashiers wrap breakables in when shopping. Its kind of like newsprint. Places like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Pier 1, etc. wrap dishes & ceramics in it before bagging it. Along with spray of your choice, it cleans glass better than paper towels and its free.
I use a weak alcohol , vinegar and dawn detergent mix in a pail. Since I have a large amount of large surface windows and doors ( 7 sliding glass doors ) I use a squeeche (spelling ?). Sponge down -- wipe across with the squeeche--- wipe squeeche on a towel and keep going. It's so fast. For best results it should be a quality squeeche with replaceable rubber blades. It's worth the money.
NEVER, NEVER mix ammonia with any other chemical! I do know for sure that ammonia and beach is a deadly mixture. I don't know about the ammonia and rubbing alcohol mixture posted here but BE CAREFUL. Why take the chance? Ammonia is strong. Rubbing alcohol is strong. Seems best to not mix them if you ask me.
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