Making Your Cleaner

• All you need to make your own window cleaner is ammonia, vinegar and water. It's easiest if you make your solution in a spray bottle so you can easily spray it directly onto windows and mirrors. Mix one cup vinegar, one cup ammonia and two cups warm water. If you like, you can add an essential oil such as lemon or peppermint to give your cleaner a fresh scent. You can also add a tablespoon of liquid detergent or soap. This will help cut any oils or grease that have built up on the surface of your windows.

Using Glass Cleaner

• To use your homemade cleaner, simply spray the cleaner directly onto the glass surface and wipe it dry. To avoid lint on the glass, use newspaper instead of cloth. You can also use microfiber towels, which will not leave lint. Cotton rags will also work, although they might leave lint behind. If you want to give your windows a really perfect, streak-free shine, use a squeegee. By wiping across your window with a single stroke, you can avoid any streak marks from cleaning.

•  

Safety

• Although it is a common ingredient in household cleaners, ammonia is toxic. You should wear a mask while mixing your cleaner, and you should use gloves whenever you use it to clean. Keep your cleaner out of reach of children and pets, and label the bottle clearly so you'll know what it is. Also, never use ammonia near a cleaner containing bleach, and do not store your window cleaner near bleach. Bleach and ammonia release a deadly vapor when they are mixed.