With pollution, bad weather and everyday hazards, windows can quickly take on a dirty look. In this case, it’s always nice to have natural ingredients and easy-to-make homemade household products on hand! In addition, they often allow you to obtain a result without leaving a trace, especially if you apply them with old crumpled newspaper. This also allows you to remove unfriendly wipes and toxic chemicals from large surfaces! And of course, it’s obviously more economical on glass surfaces, but also mirrors. So, if you want to wash your windows or bay windows efficiently, quickly and naturally without any trace, here are your best allies for this chore according to grandmother. Grab your squeegees, newspapers and microfiber cloths!
1) White vinegar, an outstanding window cleaner
In fact, all surfaces that we want to find spotless and dirt-free love this natural ingredient. However, it is especially very effective for windows without exterior and interior traces. In a spray bottle, simply mix 750 ml of lukewarm water (if possible demineralized) and 250 ml of vinegar. All you have to do is use this window cleaner and a good wipe on your tiles to remove dirt and fingerprints.
The anti-mark recipe? Mix:
-50 ml of white or cider vinegar
-50 ml of 90° alcohol
-1 tablespoon of cornstarch (the secret against traces)
-400 ml of water
This recipe allows you to remove marks without making scratches.
2) Dishwashing liquid to wash windows
It is a cleaning solution that we all have at the edge of the sink and which is ideal for cleaning windows. In addition, this will allow limit the fogging a little in a very humid interior. Simply dilute a little dishwashing detergent in water, if possible with a small squirt of white vinegar. Here, you will just have to remember to finish the cleaning with rinsing the windows with clean water. This way, you will avoid stubborn soap marks when drying. Flawless !
3) Black tea infusion to wash windows and blinds
To effortlessly clean windows or large windows, you will need three things: a squeegee; circular movements… and an infusion of black tea. The latter contains natural tannins which will also good for your tired wooden blinds (be careful if they are white that they are not tinted by the tea). On the other hand, let the infusion cool well by leaving the tea bags in the water. This will concentrate the infusion to better combat dirt and prevent you from burning yourself when applying the product.
4) Household alcohol as a window cleaner
A few drops can be poured onto a cotton pad to remove large, difficult stains without a scraper before cleaning the windows with the desired product. However, you can also dilute 25 ml of 90° alcohol in 225 ml of water with a few drops of vinegar if possible in a spray bottle. You will thus obtain an effective and degreasing spray for windows or mirrors. Shine guaranteed with this product which leaves no trace!
5) Lemon juice or Meudon white
These two ingredients also easily replace all commercial cleaning products ! To make lemon detergent, add 3 tablespoons of lemon juice to 450 ml of hot water. As for Meudon white, we mix one volume in 5 volumes of water to create an effective paste. Brush it on each tile and wipe with a lint-free cloth once it is dry. Our grandmothers swear by this natural and non-toxic multi-use product!
The little extras for effective window cleaning
Add 3 to 5 drops of lemongrass essential oil to your homemade window cleaning products. Thus, you will disinfect the glass surfaces and keep insects away who would like to stick to it. This will also limit fly paw marks. Furthermore, think about glycerin in case of large fogging problems. Apply a thin layer to the windows by rubbing a few drops using an old nylon pantyhose.
The right steps to wash windows without leaving a trace!
To wash windows without leaving streaks, it is essential to use the right tools and adopt an adequate technique. First, gather your tools: two lint-free microfiber cloths (great for capturing dirt without scratching the glass surface, then drying it) and a window squeegee. And of course, also bring your natural cleaning product to degrease windows while avoiding chemicals by taking inspiration from our list. Moreover, choose your day wisely to do the windows. The ideal day to clean windows is when the sky is overcast without rain or the sun is not directly on the windows. By avoiding direct sunlight, you prevent the drying of the cleaning product too quickly which could leave traces.
Ready for washing? In this case, start by dusting the window with a dry cloth to remove particles that could cause scratches. This will make cleaning easier and prevent unwanted pellets from forming when applying the cleaning product. Next, apply your cleaning solution using a spray bottle. First clean the window using circular motions, then move to vertical or horizontal strokes to thoroughly cover the entire surface. Above all, it is important not to use too much productbecause excess can cause streaks. Finally, wipe the glass with another clean, dry microfiber cloth or rubber squeegee working from top to bottom. Be sure to dry the edges to avoid dripping.
By following these tips, you will obtain impeccable windows, without any streaks.