Window Cleaning Supplies

Window cleaning supplies don’t have to be store bought. In fact some store bought window cleaners can cause problems in your home. Many of us don’t know it, but some window cleaners have ingredients that can be hazardous to your health. That’s because manufacturers of commercial cleaning products aren’t required by law in most jurisdictions to include their contents on the packaging.

If they were listed, you would probably find items like:

• Dioxane, a known carcinogen;
• Ammonia, capable of causing asthma attacks and eye and skin irritation;
• Perfume, to mask the smell of the ammonia, can irritate skin and eyes;
• Dye, to make the product look more appealing, making them all the more dangerous to your children, can also irritate skin and eyes;
• Butyl cellosolve, a neurotoxin that can cause irritation to the nose, throat, and eyes;
• Dimethyl Carbinol, causes drowsiness, dizziness, and headaches.

The good news is that getting your own window cleaning supplies is safe, simple, and easy on your wallet. Here’s what you’ll need (along with a few options, so you can mix it up just the way you like it):

• Distilled white vinegar. Make sure you have the distilled kind, as the smell from this will vanish quickly. You can use lemon juice if you really can’t stand the smell of the vinegar;
• An empty spray bottle;
• A stack of newspapers and a pair of gloves if you don’t want the ink to get on your hands, or microfiber cloth, or a squeegee to wipe windows with. All of these will leave your windows free of streaks;
• A damp toothbrush to dust window frames. Spraying cleaner onto the newspaper or cloth, instead of directly onto the glass, will keep your window frame from getting too wet.

Now, compare this list to the ingredients in commercial cleaners. Big difference, right? Not only are these items more eco-friendly, they’re much cheaper. You can purchase everything you need for the price of one or two bottles of commercial cleaner, and get many more uses from them.

Microfiber and squeegees can be used many times, and newspapers are being reused before you recycle them, so these are great alternatives to paper towels. If you’d really rather do your cleaning with paper towels, try looking for ones that have a high percentage of postconsumer waste (PCW) and that are labeled ‘Processed Chlorine Free’ (PFC).

To clean your windows, fill a spray bottle with a mixture of one part vinegar to two parts water. Spray your cloth or paper with the cleaner, and wipe the window free of grime. Use the toothbrush to get the corners and frames.

You should know that many commercial cleaners contain wax, which can leave streaks when you start using homemade formulas. For the first few green cleanings, it’s a good idea to add a dash of castile soap (a plant-based soap that can be found in most health food stores) to your spray bottle before cleaning your windows. After a couple of cleanings, you’ll no longer need to add the soap.

That’s all there is to it. Your windows are clean and your home is healthier thanks to the window cleaning supplies you have used.

Enjoy the view!