Green Cleaning Windows

I love cleaning windows. I love that it makes my whole house look brighter and more cheery. And I especially love that green cleaning windows is just as easy as using commercial products but safer and less expensive. Store-bought window cleaners seem rather inexpensive, until you realize that you can pay good money for some really scary ingredients. Then they start to look pretty costly.

Common ingredients found in some chemical based window and glass cleaners include dioxane, ammonia, butyl cellosolve, and dimethyl carbinol. The effects of these chemicals on the human body range from headaches and dizziness to asthma attacks, mood swings, and even cancer. Do I really want to risk all of that for clean windows? No thanks.

Thankfully I don’t have to risk my health, or that of my family, to have immaculate windows. I now make my cleaner at home, with ingredients that pose no health risks and are really inexpensive. So, without further ado, here are ten tips for keeping your windows spotless:

• Keep window tracks clean with a small brush, like a re-purposed toothbrush. Avoid letting moisture build up in the tracks or frames, as this can lead to the growth of mildew.
• Your vacuum’s crevice attachment is a great tool for getting dust out of window tracks and from around window frames.
• Lightly wipe dirt from windows with a damp cloth before you start to really clean. Rubbing dirt into the window can scratch the glass.
• Use a circular motion while washing windows rather than up and down, or side to side. This will help keep streaks away.
• Clean the outsides of windows on an overcast day. Bright sunlight dries water and cleaner too quickly, before you have time to wipe the windows clean. This leaves windows looking streaky.
• Paper towels are wasteful, but newspapers, or microfiber cloths made specifically for glass, are highly effective green window cleaning alternatives.
• A squeegee is a great tool for cleaning those hard to reach places, especially on outside windows. Buy one with a long handle and you’ll be able to reach the tops of even the tallest windows.
• Use cleaning products sparingly. Too much product leaves streaks, no matter how much you buff.
• Don’t forget the screens. You can vacuum them to remove dust, or if they’re really dirty you can remove them and wash them in warm soapy water.
• Avoid getting vinegar on the rubber seals that surround many newer windows, as the vinegar can dry them out and weaken the seal.

Following these simple tips will leave your windows super shiny and clean, but that’s definitely not the only benefit. Now you’ll know that you can easily clean off any marks your kids leave behind without worrying about what chemicals they’re coming into contact with. When you stop buying chemical based cleaners and start using products that you probably already have in your home, you’re going to save money and make your home a healthier place.

Thanks for reading our article on green cleaning windows.