I hate ammonia. It smells awful. What is the best DIY window cleaner besides ammonia? Can I use vinegar instead? Is there some way to make the vinegar smell better?
Mila Jager, Georgetown
I agree ammonia smells awful. The best homemade window cleaner with vinegar also has a strong odor. But you can spruce it up with essential oil. Here’s the recipe below.
Grab a spray bottle and put two cups of water in it. Then add one-quarter cup of rubbing alcohol and the same amount of vinegar. After that, put in one tablespoon of cornstarch and ten drops of essential oil. Try orange, lavender, or lemon.
Once you shake the bottle well, spray your window and wipe with a lint-free cloth. It will also clean your mini blinds thoroughly. This mixture should leave your windows streak-free. If you experience anything less than the best shine possible, try cleaning the windows when they are in the shade. Bright sunlight can cause the cleaner to dry too fast.
Now if you want a straightforward cleaner, combine one part warm water with one part vinegar for washing windows with vinegar. It will undoubtedly remove any film from the glass. And if you have a significant amount of grime, wash with soapy water first. Then the vinegar cleaner will take away the soap film.
Also, if you dislike the odor of vinegar, try cleaning with lemon juice. It dissolves hard water and greasy fingerprints, too. Put a tablespoon of lemon juice into a quart of warm water. Then you’ll have a cleaner with a pleasant fragrance.
If you’re curious about other homemade cleaning recipes, check out this article: https://www.tipsbulletin.com/homemade-window-cleaner/ There’s even one to prevent your car windows from fogging.
In conclusion, I wish you all the best.
Joan