DIY - Homemade window cleaner

It has been a while since we last shared a DIY recipe for making your own effective and clean household products — and we have to admit, we have missed it! Making your own cleaning products at home has nothing but advantages: it is economical, easy, better for the environment, and better for your health too.

Window cleaner is one of the most toxic products in the home, yet one we tend to be fairly relaxed about. It contains ammonia, which can irritate the respiratory tract.

That is why today we are sharing a super simple recipe that is highly effective at leaving your windows spotless — with no toxic ingredients in sight!

How to make your own window cleaner at home?

Ingredients needed to make your own window spray

- 50ml white vinegar

- 50ml rubbing alcohol

- 400ml water

- 1 tablespoon of cornflour (cornstarch)

You can also add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to fragrance your window cleaner. Alternatively, you can replace the white vinegar with a solution made by steeping citrus peel in white vinegar.

Also read: Everything you need to know about white vinegar

Why use cornflour in a window cleaner?

Cornflour is the active ingredient that removes smears and streaks from windows.

Essential equipment for making your homemade window cleaner

- A measuring jug

- An empty spray bottle

- A tablespoon

We recommend using a spray bottle made from a recyclable material. Glass is the ideal choice, as it can be recycled indefinitely. Also make sure that any spray bottle you reuse is not made from single-use plastic. Most commercial spray bottles are made from PET — a recyclable plastic, but one intended for single use only, which should be put in the recycling once empty.

Also read: Common myths about recycling

As our spray bottle is made from aluminium, we made our product in a jar first before transferring it into the bottle — but that was just for the photos!

Step-by-step instructions for making your homemade window spray

It is wonderfully simple — just put all the ingredients into the spray bottle and shake well! That is all there is to it — your window cleaner is ready to use!

How do I use my homemade window cleaner?

Be sure to shake it well before use, as the cornflour tends to settle at the bottom. Then use it just like any commercial window cleaner — simply spray it onto the window and buff with a microfibre cloth.