Now that spring is officially here it’s time to spring clean. Washing windows is one of the first things that we do to prepare for spring. We don’t want any of that winter grime blocking the sunshine or the view!
While washing windows may not seem like a potentially harmful activity, there are harmful chemicals such as solvents in commercial window cleaners. Each time you use them you are inhaling toxic chemicals, getting them on your skin, and putting them into the environment.
Home-made recipes  for window cleaners are not new, people washed glass windows long before chemical sprays came along. This is one of those times that looking to the past for solutions can prove much healthier to us, and the environment that so called modern day “miracle cleaners”.
Below are some inexpensive, easy-to-make recipes for effective window cleaners. You probably have some of these ingredients on hand.

1. Vinegar
No list of home-made cleaning products would be complete without some mention of vinegar. A germ killer and grease cutter, plain white vinegar is responsible for those streak-free, clear results we all desire for our windows. You can clean windows with just vinegar and water – 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon vinegar per 2 cups of water (going too heavy on the vinegar may cause fogging). Or, you can combine this ratio with:

2. Liquid soap
To the above vinegar-water solution, add 1/2 teaspoon castile soap or other biodegradable, natural liquid soap. Spray on, wipe with a soft cloth, and use a squeegee to scrape off the remaining cleaner.

Simply using soap and water is an option, too. Mix 1 tablespoon castile soap, which is made from saponified vegetable oils and thus environmentally friendly, with 2 cups of water. Soak a sponge in this soapy water and apply liberally to windows. Use a squeegee to remove the excess and wipe dry with crumpled newspaper or a soft cloth.

3. Club soda
Perhaps you have heard of club soda’s ability to remove stains. It can also be used to wash windows. Combine 1 tablespoon white vinegar per cup of club soda and spray onto windows. Use a soft cloth or crumpled newspaper to get streak-free results.

***Note that windows should be cleaned when the sun is not shining on them. If windows are warm and/or in direct sunlight, glass cleaner (home-made or commercial) will be likely to leave streaks or fogginess on the glass.

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