Best Homemade Window Cleaner (Streak-Free Glass Cleaner)
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This No Streak Homemade Window Cleaner (known on the internet as Alvin Corn) is super easy to make, is much safer than a lot of the store-bought options, and leaves your windows and mirrors streak-free.
Plus it costs almost nothing to make, so it's easy on the budget too.
I personally think that it is so important to get Home Care and Personal Care Products that are toxin-free so that we, our families, and our world can be a lot more healthy.
Plus, you can save a TON of money by making these things yourself.
And it doesn't have to take a TON of time.
Benefits of Making Your Own Homemade Glass Cleaner:
1. Reduce Toxins In Your Home
Do you really want these things in your home?
propylene glycol
2 Hexoxyethanol
Ammonium Hydroxide
Mirapol Surf S-210
Viden EGM
Sodium C14-17 Sec-Alkyl Sulfonat
Fragrance Palette (The term fragrance can hide artificial fragrances are not healthy)
Liquitint Sky Blue Dye
Ick.
Yes, those are the ingredients in one of the more popular glass cleaners on the market.
Even if those chemicals don't make you feel bad, there's a lot of evidence that they aren't healthy, so it's a good idea to do what you can to remove toxins from your environment as much as possible.
2. Save Money
You can make your own cleaner for way less money than you'd spend on a commercial cleaner. Even if it's not cheaper, I'd still prefer to make my own for the other benefits.
3. Clean Up the Environment
Do you really want to add these toxins to our already toxically overloaded environment? I am convinced that one of the main problems regarding the onslaught of autism, auto-immune disorders, and cancer is the prevalence of toxins in our world. Every time you can use a toxin-free product over a toxin-laden one, you help the environment.
I used to use just plain vinegar to clean our mirrors and glass. Truth be told, we didn't really clean our windows often. Just didn't really think about it.
We'd put some plain vinegar on a piece of newspaper and wipe it all over the mirror.
It worked OK, but it did leave some streaks that were a little hard to get off.
This cleaner, however, is great. I found it on a number of sites all over the internet (not sure who created it, but it's called Alvin Corn) and I must say, it's a real winner.
This cleaner does contain isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, which some people may wish to avoid, but you can use vodka instead. It'll just cost more that way.
What's the Purpose of the Cornstarch?
One of the things you'll notice in this formula is that it has cornstarch in it.
Wondering what it's doing in there? Me too…
Here's what one reader shared with me:
On a microscopic level, glass is not perfectly smooth. When you spray water on it, the water molecules get caught in the pits on the glass surface. Water also clings to itself through hydrogen bonding – the hydrogen atoms from two molecules cling together. Water stuck in the glass + water stuck to more water = streaking. Cornstarch (or dish soap or oil-even a couple drops of essential oil) disrupts the hydrogen bonding, thus preventing streaks!
Cool beans! A DIY house cleaning recipe and science lesson in one!
How Much Can You Save?
A ton.
Vinegar: costs about $.59 for 32 ounces at Aldi. So even if we double the price, let's say it costs $.04
Rubbing Alcohol: Based on current Rite Aid pricing – $.25 for 1/4 cup
Cornstarch: A local Midwest grocery chain has it for $1.39 right now. If the tablespoon per pound info I got is correct, then the cost for 1 tablespoon is about $.04.
Water: I am just going to call this $0.00. The current approximate cost per gallon in my city is $.002 per gallon :-).
So – it costs a total of $.33 to make 2 1/2 cups of Glass Cleaner.
How To Use
- Windows
- Mirrors
- Glass Appliances
- Stainless Steel
- Chrome
- Aluminum
- Ceramic
- Plastic
- Do NOT use this on marble or coated eyeglasses, however!
Recipe Notes
- Shake: The spray needs to be shaken well each time you use it since the cornstarch might settle to the bottom or clog up your spray nozzle otherwise.
- Corn Alternatives: Though you're not eating this (please don't), if you need to avoid corn, other starches like tapioca or arrowroot should work as well.
- Cloth Options: You can use microfiber cloths or rags to wipe your surfaces clean. I prefer these options or newspaper to paper towels since paper towels leave lint and are more wasteful.
(Note – microfiber is plastic so I'm not really a fan, though it does tend to clean pretty well. A helpful reader commented that rags work pretty well as long as you don't use fabric softener on them (which, by the way, typically has lots of toxins in it like artificial fragrance, so here's another reason not to use it!) - Label Recommendation: As you make more and more non-toxic home cleaners you will know what is what. This handy dandy Chalkboard Contact Paper is great for label-making.
- Color It: Add natural food coloring to the bottle so kids will know it's not water. Beet juice (from canned beets) is one inexpensive natural color or you could drop a bit of powdered beet juice in as well but just a bit so it doesn't cause clogging.
- Prevent Streaking: Some readers have had streaking issues. This may be from impure essential oils or hard water. If you have streaking issues, please share in the comments what brand of essential oils you used and if you have hard water. I recommend only using pure essential oils even for house cleaning because even though it's “just” for cleaning, you still are breathing in oils (and whatever “else” might be in the oils. Another option is to leave out the cornstarch and see how that works.
- Use Two Cloths: To avoid streaking, use two cloths: one to wash and one dry cloth for drying.
- Eyeglass Warning: You can use this Homemade Glass Cleaner on your eyeglasses, but only if they are plain glass. If they are coated, avoid using this since alcohol will cause crazing (small surface cracks) in polycarbonate plastic. It can also cause the lens coating to deteriorate, resulting in less durable glasses that are easily scratched.
- Avoid Marble: Do not use this cleaner on marble as it might cause damage.
- The key to making this mixture perfect is to be sure the water is warm enough to dissolve the cornstarch, but not boiling or super hot. Also, don’t add the cornstarch to the water, add the water to the cornstarch in the bottle. If you don’t do that you’ll end up with film over your glass.
After “perfecting” Alvin Corn, I added 2 extra tablespoons of alcohol (totaling 1/4 cup alcohol) to make Alvin Corn dry quicker (for less streaking) and make it easier for it to pick up gunk.
Homemade Window Cleaner
Ingredients
- 1/8 cup white vinegar (apple cider vinegar will work as well)
- 1/4 cup isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol (vodka is a safer choice)
- 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch (reduces streaking)
- 1 cup water
- 4-5 drops essential oil of choice (optional. Lemon, orange, or another citrus would be my choice here, but lavender or others would be nice as well.
- A good glass spray bottle
or quality BPA-free plastic spray bottle.
Instructions
- Boil the water. Let it cool a little bit.
- Add the cornstarch to the bottle. Then add the water to the bottle. Shake well to dissolve.
- Add the rubbing alcohol and vinegar. Shake again to dissolve.
- Shake well before each use to prevent the cornstarch from clogging the nozzle.
- Spray onto glass surface and wipe clean.
Notes
- Shake: The spray needs to be shaken well each time you use it since the cornstarch might settle to the bottom or clog up your spray nozzle otherwise.
- Corn Alternatives: Other starches like tapioca or arrowroot should work as well.
- Best Cloth to Use: You can use microfiber cloths or rags to wipe your surfaces clean. I prefer these options or newspaper to paper towels since paper towels leave lint and are more wasteful. (Note – microfiber is plastic so I'm not really a complete fan, though it does tend to clean pretty well. A helpful reader commented that rags work pretty well as long as you don't use fabric softener on them (which, by the way, typically has lots of toxins in it like artificial fragrance, so here's another reason not to use it!)
- Label your bottle: So as you make more and more non-toxic home cleaners you will know what is what :-). This handy dandy Chalkboard Contact Paper is great for label making.
- Color It: Add natural food coloring to the bottle so kids will know it's not water. Beet juice (from canned beets) is one inexpensive natural color or you could drop a bit of powdered beet juice in as well.
- Prevent Streaking: Some readers have had streaking issues. It's possible this is from impure essential oils or hard water. If you have streaking issues, please do share in the comments what brand of essential oils you used and if you have hard water. I recommend only using pure essential oils even for house cleaning because even though it's “just” for cleaning, you still are breathing in oils (and whatever “else” might be in the oils. Another option is to leave out the cornstarch and see how that works.
- Use Two Cloths To avoid streaking, use two cloths–one to wash and one very dry cloth to dry.
- Eyeglass Warning: You can use this Homemade Glass Cleaner on your eyeglasses, but only if they are plain glass. If they are coated, avoid using this since alcohol will cause crazing (small surface cracks) in polycarbonate plastic. It can also cause the lens coating to deteriorate, resulting in less durable glasses that are easily scratched.
- Avoid Marble: Do not use this cleaner on marble as it might damage it.
More DIY Healthy Home Recipes
Are you an avid frugal DIYer like me? Here are some more ideas of simple things you can make for your home to reduce your exposure to toxins and save money while you're at it!
Homemade Natural Cleaning Products
Natural Dishwasher Rinse Aid
Homemade Foaming Soap
DIY Scrubbing Cleaner (like Soft Scrub)
Best DIY Fruit Fly Trap
Easiest DIY Weed Killer
Homemade Cleaning Paste
Homemade Laundry Detergent
The images in this post were updated in Jan 2020. For reference, here's one of the original images.
What do you use to clean your mirrors and windows?
Great recipe for cleaning those windows. I use vinegar myself, and for mirrors, just splash them with cold water and rub with a dry towel! I learnt that while working as a chambermaid in hotels, and find it works perfectly for mirrors!
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous weekend!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
https://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
I can’t believe that water alone works! Why the vinegar for one and water for the other?? Thanks!
I love using natural cleaners when I can. I make my own laundry detergent. I even use natural items outside. I use vinegar a lot in the kitchen to kill germs. I have tried vinegar and water before on my mirrors and it streaked. But I am going to give your recipe a try. Thank you for sharing.
Hope you like it!!!!!
I also have a IPad that auto corrects… My spelling is off and this is why. : )
They use chemicals because honestly they work quicker and faster. Time is money.
But there are things they do chemical free. That anyone can also do. Glass clothes are the shiny clothes you can buy them at Walmart. They are smaller. I purchase mine through a janetorial supply house they are better and larger,. Anyone can shop there. You can tell them how many you want and can purchase them that way.
I use the squeegee to clean windows, mirrors and showers. Instead of using any chemicals including vinegar I use a microfiber towel that is a little bit soapy. And wash the mirror. Soap mikes the window squeegee work better and smoother. The reason I use soap instead of anything else is because things like vinegar ( mild acid)
Will etch the mirrors. If you notice sometimes around mirrors the bottom of them start flaking off. You can’t wipe in the corners to get all the cleaners off. The very best way to keep the shower from getting hard water build up is to dry it. Using the squeegee dries it faster. When I clean showers I also dry it this way faster and easy, windows your recipe is perfect for using the squeeggie keeps them streak free and faster to clean. It takes a few times to get the hang of it.
The glass clothes I was telling you about are perfect for more things. I have several people that are extremely allergic to everything so the only cleaner I use is dish soap. They can’t even use the natural cleaners they have out. I barely and I mean barely spray a little of water on the cloth. And clean. These are great for cleaning any solid surface that you don’t want dust on or streaks. Facets, sinks everything.
Cleaning green is as simple as dawn dish soap. And having the right products to clean with. It cuts down time and effort and makes it easier.
Micro fiber Mops. I love these mops. They are quick and easy and dhow can get into corners and behind toilets with these mops. Walmart sells them for about $10.00. Maybe a little more, shiny floors that look clean be sure and dry them. A dry microfiber pad will also dry. Cleaning floors is most of the time is as simple as adding a squirt of Dawn Dish soap. And drying. Cleaning certain tile showers you again can use the microfiber mops and dawn dish soap. And drying it. Knowing how to clean surfaces in your house without damage is my job. When I have something new…take travertine tile I contacted the manufacter he told me that I could only clean the tile with dish soap. Or their product, because if I didn’t it would void the warrenty’s . I also rinse any cleaner that I use in bathrooms very very well. Build up happens a lot of times because we don’t get all the cleaners off. I also warm the bathrooms showers, and sinks, tubs before I clean them. It helps cleaners work better and I let it set for a few minutes before I scrub. It helps it work better. Your recipe would be wonderful for glass doors. Becareful getting it on medal because some of it could discolor be sure and check. Your recipe would also probably also get hard water build up off use it carefully dabbing and wiping then rinsing really well. Half the battle is getting your family to rinse and dry the bathrooms. Another thing I have learned that keeps mold down is to turn on the fan to pull out moisture. After your done leave it running for 30 minutes. This helps more than anything. I do this for a living. I am successful doing this and I always check with the manufactor before I clean anything new. . I use chemicals because a lot of business want that clean smell. But a lot of people I can for want it chemical free which is my preference. But cleaning businesses it is faster to use chemicals, I always glove up but I can tell even with that it has affected my hands. Not only are they very dry they burn after I clean.
I hope your okay with my post? I want to be very respectful and hope everyone see’s it that way. I am OCD and I constantly research ways to make it better for myself and my customers. And I have been very successful at it. But I am always learning new things from others and I also love that.
I’m totally fine w/ your sharing. Thanks. I think it’s going to take me awhile to find what you are talking about but I sure am interested. I wonder if you could find the cloths and mops on Walmart or Amazon and send me a link. That would be great!
Glass Cleaning Cloths… google it… this is just “one” that cam up: https://www.amazon.com/Micro-Maize-Glass-Cleaning-Cloth-Package/dp/B0009KKTFC
Corn starch has been used for ages by the older generation. My Step Mother’s Mother is the fine who showed us. She used cold water and corn starch to clean windows. She recycled everything and used news papers to polish the windows. Today I use glass clothes. I have a Commerical cleaning business and you can do to a janitorial supply house and purchase these for about $1.50 a piece. For those who clean green these clothes are amazing. Lint and very little streaks. You can also spritz a little bit of water on one and use them to dust. Easier way to green clean. They are good for shingling stainless Steel. I use them for absoulty everything. You need very little products to clean your home if you have the right equipment. It is easier to clean green. You can even use soap and a rag to clean mirrors and get them squeaky clean. The real magic is a squeeie they sell them at Lowes for about $6.00 I have had some for 11 yrs. it is faster and easier to get things clean. Hope you don’t mind me posting. If you do please delete this post because I want to be respectful. Thanks
I love your suggestion! I would love to know where to get the cloths. I wonder why janitors use chemicals then…Makes no sense. What do you use the squeegie for?
This recipe is awesome!!! I can’t believe how clean my windows are, they were so sparkly I had to clean every mirror and window in the house. I have used natural window cleaner for years but this recipe is my new favorite. Thank you for posting.
Thanks for coming back to share and for making me smile this morning!!!!
This is so nifty =) Going to try it as soon as I get some cornstarch!
I’ve used vinegar and water to clean glass before but you are right, it can streak. Your cleaner sounds wonderful! I had no idea cornstarch prevented streaking. It’s so much better using natural products; we get enough chemical exposure by accident as it is!
Thanks April! I couldn’t believe it either!
wow,so much information! Thanks for linking to the first every craft link at Tasteful Tuesdays! Hope you come back again this week and show off your stuff! Party Opens tonight at 8:30. https://www.nap-timecreations.com
What a great tip!
Thanks so much for linking up at my link party! I am going to feature this idea on my blog!
Have a wonderful day!
Ashley
Thanks for the feature!!! I am so sorry for not saying so sooner! Your comment ended up in my spam folder and I just found it. Thanks again!!!