Clean Green

Step 3 Window cleaner

I've tested many combinations and ratios of ingredients to come up with the one which feels and cleans the best (since I hate cleaning windows this was the only way to motivate myself to get the job done).

Ingredients:
1 tsp borax
2 cups water
1 tsp liquid castille soap
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
1/4 cup ammonia
1/2 cup white (distilled) vinegar

Directions
Dissolve borax in one cup hot water. Add remaining cup of cold water, combine all other ingredients and pour into clean 32oz spray bottle.

To use, spray window and clean with crumpled newspaper

Notes on ingredients
I used 70% rubbing alcohol (which is the most commonly available) but of course 91% would work fine too.
Some people might object to ammonia, so let me say this in its defense: it won't be absorbed through your skin or give you cancer 10 years down the road. Its foul smell is an excellent protection: you (or your kids) won't be tempted to breath it in or drink it, and you will be naturally inclined to limit contact and use good ventilation. It's the chemicals which DON'T smell which you need to watch out for!
For borax, see step 2
For liquid castille soap see step 1

Comments

[billgates27]

Do you have to use crumpled newspaper? Can you use a rag or a sponge, etc?

[belsey]

I don't know about a sponge, but I've used both a cotton rag and paper towel and they work fine.

[zidakano]

just be careful to not spray any ammonia based cleaner on tinted windows

[belsey]

Thanks for the tip! I'd never heard of that, and I don't remember ever seeing any such warnings on commercial cleaners with ammonia, so it's good to know.