4 great window washing recipes! Yea, don’t we love window washing? Actually, I don’t really mind it. I just hate when I think I’ve done a marvelous job and then when the sun shines on them it looks like my kids were licking them or something. Part of this has to do with what liquid you use to wash them, the other has to do with what cloth you use.
Lets tackle the cloth first.
Many people will tell you to never use a paper towel, or anything paper because of it’s wood base. They supposedly put microscopic scratches into the glass. That may be true, but what I see when I use other suggested items (like a cotton t-shirt) is the fuzz that is left behind. That drives me crazy.
Coffee filters are very soft and do not leave fuzz. They are a great option if you have some extra lying around. Otherwise, try to find a cotton cloth that does NOT leave the fuzz behind, or some terry cloth.
As for what to wash with…how complicated do you want to get? Here are 4 great window washing recipes to get you started. The vary in complication, so choose the one you like best.
#1 Water and Essential Oils
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Water
- 5 drops of your favorite essential oil
Directions:
- Combine water and essential oils in a spray bottle. I like a citrus like lemon or orange, but lavender is lovely too.
- Shake before each use.
Hey, it works, but just water can be harder to get all the streaks off. So if you’re looking for a stronger help, then try the following recipes.
#2 Vinegar and Water
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 2 cups water
- 5 drops of your favorite essential oil.
Directions:
- Combine vinegar, water, and essential oils in a spray bottle.
- Shake before each use.
#3 Vinegar, Water and Arrowroot Powder
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
- 2 cup warm water
- 5 drops of your favorite essential oil
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a large spray bottle.
- Shake before each use.
The arrowroot in this recipe helps to get any grit off the glass, while helping it to dry nicely. I like this recipe a lot. Just remember to shake the bottle to mix up the arrowroot before using.
#4 Alcohol and Vinegar
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
- 2 cups warm water
- 5-7 drops of your favorite essential oil
Directions:
- Combine alcohol, vinegar, arrowroot powder, water, and essential oils.
- Shake well before each use.
Adding rubbing alcohol to the mixture will aid it even more. My windows look brand new! And the nice thing is that I didn’t have to search for streaks in the light.
Remember that certain essential oils, like grapefruit essential oil, are natural bacteria killers, so this is an extra bonus since the fine particles will be drifting throughout your home. Enjoying the scent as you clean (It’s much better than the vinegar smell) actually makes washing windows enjoyable.
What essential oil do you like to use in your cleaners?
